Khalan Laborn fills crucial role in trio of 2017 FSU running backs

In most recruiting classes, Khalan Laborn is the type of running back that could highlight a class. In Florida State’s 2017 class, he is one of three blue-chip backs who has the potential to serve as a major player in FSU’s offense next season. That competitition being acknowledged, don’t let it take away from Laborn’s abilities which have earned his rating as the No. 1 all-purpose back in the entire 2017 recruiting class.

Laborn, a five-star running back according to the 247Sports composite rankings, finished the 2017 recruiting cycle as the No. 28 overall player and the No. 1 player from the state of Virginia, marking the third consecutive year in which the Seminoles have landed the No. 1 player from the Old Dominion State.

Out of Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan, Laborn, who measures in at 5’10 and 199 pounds, jumped into national notoriety after a junior season which saw him accumulate 2,228 rushing yards and 32 touchdowns over 13 games.

Florida State was the second FBS program to offer Laborn, extending him a scholarship offer in February of 2015. He visited FSU that summer, came back for Junior Day in February of 2016, took an unofficial visit to the Florida State spring game in Orlando last April, and announced his commitment to FSU in style at last summer’s The Opening when he arrived at practice in a Lamborghini covered in Florida State stickers. Laborn took his official visit to FSU the weekend of January 20th.

Along with Florida State, Laborn held offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, Auburn, Louisville, Miami, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and Penn State, among others.

As mentioned above, Laborn is one of three stellar running back commits in Florida State’s 2017 recruiting class. Along with Cam Akers, the No. 1 running back and No. 2 overall player in the 2017 class who is already enrolled at FSU, and four-star running back Zaquandre White out of North Fort Myers (Fla.), Laborn will be fighting to be among those who share the carries in the FSU backfield in 2017 and going forward. However, the competition extends beyond the incoming freshmen as junior Jacques Patrick and redshirt freshman Amir Rasul have also shown the potential to replace Cook in 2017.

Included below is our scouting report on Laborn, from a high school coach on our staff.

Laborn, the MVP of this year’s Under Armour All-America Game, is the second five-star running back of this class. He is a homerun back with elite burst. Laborn has the knack for the jaw-dropping play, whether it be leaping over a defender or making someone miss. He sees plays develop past the first level and is able to set blocks up for chunk yards.

But, Laborn isn’t all flash and can be a physical interior runner when asked. The back runs through arm tackles and does not go down easily in the open field. Laborn has good hips that keep him balanced when running, cutting, or bending around the edge. He also catches the ball well on screens or flares, which will allow him to be a three down back. Laborn uses his impressive lateral agility to jump cut in and out of holes at the line of scrimmage. He cuts at full speed, which allows him to keep gaining yardage even when he’s making a move.