Despite playing for a national powerhouse in Westlake Village (CA) Oaks Christian and rushing for over 2,000 yards as a junior, running back Zach Charbonnet has mostly flown below the radar of the recruiting services. (Yes, this drumbeat again.) While he's ranked as a four-star prospect on all three sites, only 247 has posted an evaluation. Ever-useless ESPN doesn't even have his picture, let alone a scouting report. Rivals evidently only writes up camps now:

Charbonnet is a very talented RB, doesn't do the camp and 7on7 circuit but very impressive when I saw him last season #GoBlue @BSB_Wolverine https://t.co/yClmiLWBe1

— Adam Gorney (@adamgorney) June 25, 2018

Meanwhile, Charbonnet racked up an offer sheet befitting a top-100 prospect: Florida, LSU, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, TCU, Tennessee, and Wisconsin were among the national programs to offer in addition to local recruiting powers UCLA, USC, and Washington. According to 247's Steve Lorenz, Michigan has long regarded him as the top back on their board over more touted prospects:

Even with Quavaris Crouch on the board, Charbonnet has been the staff's top target at the position for the duration of the cycle. This is partially because they believe he is better purely as a running back and because Crouch may play defense at the college level.

A decisive runner, Charbonnet is the best prospect Michigan has recruited at the position under Jim Harbaugh in my opinion. I believe the staff feels this way as well.

After watching his film, I don't think this is smoke-blowing.

GURU RATINGS

Rivals	ESPN	247	247 Comp
4*, 5.8, #20 RB, #31 CA	4*, 80, #26 RB, #47 CA	4*, 91, #9 RB, #31 CA, #220 Ovr	4*, #15 RB, #306 Ovr

So, yeah, I've already started this discussion again. I'm very confident in predicting Charbonnet is going to move up all of these lists unless ESPN doesn't bother scouting one of the most prominent programs in the country, which... can't rule it out, actually. 247's Greg Biggins has already posted that he's in line for a "big rankings bump" and looks like a top-five back nationally.

Charbonnet is a big, strapping back, listed between 6'1", 190 (Rivals, ESPN) and 6'2", 215 (247). While many taller backs struggle to stay low enough to translate that size into power, that doesn't look to be an issue with Charbonnet.

[Hit THE JUMP for scouting, must-watch video, and the rest.]

SCOUTING

Yes, because Charbonnet doesn't do the camp thing, and apparently scouting actual games and writing them up isn't a thing anymore, there's little in the way of scouting on one of the most coveted and productive running backs in the entire country.

247 is, as usual, the exception. Barton Simmons mentioned two 2019 backs in the context of a post on takeaways from the 2018 NFL Draft—composite #4 RB Noah Cain and Charbonnet:

Zach Charbonnet out of Oaks Christian in California caught my eye. He’s got the prerequisite production having topped 2,000 yards as a junior against elite competition. At first glance a 11.2 100 meter time in track may restrict him from that elite future first rounder tier until you realize that Saquon Barkley and Rashaad Penny had similar track times in high school. His listed height at 6-foot-2 can be seen as a positive or a negative. Certainly he can carry the big back label but considering the ‘busts’ of Ty Isaac and Chris Warren, the late-round brand on Bo Scarbrough and the still-pending fate of Jalen Hurd, is a 6-foot-2 frame too big? Turn on the film and I see great feet, suddenness and twitch out of Charbonnet and I lean towards optimism on his trajectory.

Their other evaluation comes from West Coast-based scout Greg Biggins, who said "there aren't really any discernible weaknesses" with Charbonnet, and there are plenty of strengths. A sampling:

He’s a between the tackles banger who never goes down on first contact and is always falling forward for extra yards. He also flashes some plus top end speed and can run away from a defense. He’s a decisive runner ... all about getting up the field. Saying that, he does have some wiggle to him, can you miss in the open field and runs with a lot more fluidity then most 215+ pound backs. He also runs with good pad level, again something you don’t see a lot with 6-2 H.S running backs. He has a very good natural feel for the position and shows instincts and hole awareness. Some backs have a nose for the pile, Charbonnet has a nose for finding a seam and then exploding through it. He catches the ball well out of the backfield and should be a threat in the passing game. He’s an every down back who will never need to leave the field and barring an injury, has all the tools and makeup to play early in his college career.

I'm gonna guess Biggins and Co. will follow through on the potential rankings bumped he subsequently mentioned. If you have any lingering doubts, proceed directly to the tape.

OFFERS

USC, UCLA, Washington, Florida, LSU, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, TCU, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Arizona, Arizona State, Boise State, Boston College, Cal, Colorado, Iowa State, Oregon State, Utah, and Wazzu, among a few others. Given Charbonnet's reputation for avoiding the media, there may be some unreported offers, too.

HIGH SCHOOL

Oaks Christian has produced the likes of Jimmy Clausen, Casey Matthews, Chris Owusu, Marc Tyler, and 2019's #1 overall prospect, DE Kayvon Thibodeaux.

STATS

Oaks Christian is so loaded that Charbonnet was a backup as a sophomore despite this stat line: 82 carries for 844 yards (10.3 YPC), 23(!) rushing touchdowns, and eight receptions for 88 yards. He also played defense, tallying 24 tackles, two picks, and 11 passes defensed.

He was only slightly less efficient as the full-time back as a junior, recording 265 carries for 2,049 yards (7.7 YPC) and 23 rushing TDs and adding 169 yards and another score on 27 receptions. He added 36 tackles, five TFLs, four sacks, an INT, and three PDs as a linebacker. (All stats via MaxPreps.)

FAKE 40 TIME

None listed, as Charbonnet hasn't bothered throwing out a fake in lieu of getting timed at camps. His burst looks good, however, and his long speed pops out on tape; he does have that 11.2 100-meter dash, which is short of elite but plenty fast, especially for a back of his size.

VIDEO

Junior highlights. You will enjoy these:

Sophomore highlights and single-game reels can be found on his Hudl page.

PREDICTION BASED ON FLIMSY EVIDENCE

It probably won't happen right away unless there's unexpected attrition, but I can't watch that tape and not believe Charbonnet is going to be the team's feature back. He's got a rare combination of size, athleticism, balance, and instincts. Running back is a position where top-tier talent translates quickly to the next level. Charbonnet looks like a top-tier talent.

UPSHOT FOR THE REST OF THE CLASS

According to Lorenz, Michigan will continue to pursue Quavaris Crouch—who may end up at linebacker—and four-star RB Eric Gray, but they could stick with Charbonnet in the class and feel quite pleased with themselves. Here's the class, which now ranks eighth in the country and first in the Big Ten, as it stands: