Video: Running backs get ready to run

Barrington's Sam Ojuri (left) and WW South's Peter Jarrett are two of the better running backs in the area.
(For the Sun-Times News Group)

Font Size

Email

Bookmark

Black Text

White Text

Some of the top running backs in the Chicago area chatted with Yourseason.com this summer about their goals and expectations.

This installment of videos includes Barrington’s Sam Ojuri, Downers Grove South’s Scottie Williams and Wheaton Warrenville South’s Peter Jarrett.

Of the three, Ojuri is the most seasoned, accumulating more than 1,200 all-purpose yards as a junior last season.

Ojuri (6-1, 185 pounds) ran for more than 940 yards and 14 touchdowns last year, but is also capable of lining up and succeeding as a receiver.

Ojuri, an All-Mid-Suburban League selection, has scholarship offers from Akron and Eastern Michigan, but Cincinnati, Michigan State, Wyoming, Ball State, Northern Illinois and Western Michigan are reportedly interested in him.

“People that I have talked to and coaches too have all said positive things about [Ojuri],” recruiting analyst Tim O’Halloran said. “He definitely passes the eyeball test. He catches the ball out of the backfield, and he’s pretty darn good at running the ball, too.”

Jarrett is a powerful and an imposing runner, who stepped in and excelled late last season for WW South. The 6-2, 195-pound Jarrett replaced injured starter Francis Adarkwa for the Tigers' playoff run. Jarrett ended up rushing for more than 800 yards in five playoff games, as WW South reached the Class 7A state championship game.

Williams is listed at 5-7, 170 pounds, but he is shifty and explosive. He was slowed during his junior season by a groin injury, as he missed six of 10 games. As a sophomore, though, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards on the Mustangs’ varsity squad.

ajahns@chicagosuntimes.com