Michael Carvell’s Video Blog: Who is the state’s top high school running back?
Chat live on Fridays with the AJC's Michael Carvell
Georgia’s high schools have a heralded reputation for producing some of the nation’s top running backs every year.
This year’s crop is another strong one, led by Southwest DeKalb’s Ken Malcome and M.L. King’s Mack Brown. There’s also Grayson’s Ean Pemberton, Sandy Creek’s Rajon Neal and Charles Perkins of Collins Hill, among others.
Who is my pick for the state’s top running back? The biggest talent I have seen this year is the same guy I thought was No. 1 last year – ahead of other tremendous players such as UGA freshman Washaun Ealey. The player I mention in the video below is very rare in that he projects to play both tailback and fullback at college’s highest levels. And he’s darn good in high school this year, too.
Note: By popular demand, we’ve added McEachern’s Rajaan Bennett, Loganville’s Storm Johnson, and Stephenson’s Raymond Sanders to our short list.
Who is YOUR pick for the state’s top running back? Post your RB’s name below and why. And if we’re missing out on some great ones, then state your case.
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215 comments Add your comment
HS Fan
October 27th, 2009
10:14 am
I had been hearing bout this kid from Sandy Creek Rajion Neal.I went to watch him Fri night and i was blown away with this kid speed, power, footwork and body statue.He ran for 252 yards in just 3 quarters and 90 percent of his yards were after contact.You can tell the game has slowed down for this kid cause he does a great job on setting up his blockers.He also has excellent vison and balance and never cuts his leggs off.He already has over 1000 yards and 24 tds and has only played four qrts in one game and had more yhan 10 touches in just 4.This kid is big,fast and strong.He is the real deal.
University
October 28th, 2009
1:52 pm
Thanks for the great reading,Great Posting,I will pass this on to our ira clients to read.
tawana
October 31st, 2009
10:06 pm
Dadrian Smith of Mt. View high school in Lawrenceville. He finished the season with 31 td’s and OVER 2000 YARDS for the season(most td’s before second half of games). He’s a senior and never played before his senior year. He is playing against 5A divisions. Has anyone checked him out?
Jesse
November 3rd, 2009
11:40 pm
Juwan Thompson – Woodward Academy….and he will actually get a degree unlike most
BLOCK
November 8th, 2009
8:16 pm
”Greg frankln” over 1500 yards and 20 touchdowns! doing it on a team with the QB only throwing for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns!!! this kid is explosive!
Davis
November 11th, 2009
8:14 am
No Westminister HS running back within the school’s history accounted for a bigger percentage of his team’s offensive production than RD3 is doing in his junior year with ending the regular season with 1480 yards. That sounds like a SAT score. RD3 consistantly shreds defenses this 2009 footbal season averaging 6.4 yards per game; running his way to numerous player of the week honors and 7 regular season 100 plus yards games. While thrashing high powered Lovett, Abernathy finished with 269 rushing yards Strengths: RD3 has tremendous start-stop, change of pace & change of direction skills, like that of a Barry Sanders prototype. While consistantly running against eight-man fronts, RD3 makes averaging 6.4 per carry look simple and smooth. He is a solid slashing player that has low gravity balance that keeps defenders reaching, but missing most of the time. He is a patient runner, following his linemen until reaching a break of day. Each time he touches the ball, it is assumed and have been proven time and time again that scoring is inevidable. He is a game- changing, versitle athlete, clocking 40 times at the 4.4 level. While somewhat a undersized athlete, RD3 is considered to be a 2009 Super 6 elite junior RB in the state of Georgia and will comfortably be in the top tier nationally.
Nick
November 14th, 2009
12:28 am
rajion neal no doubt about that i give all these other running backs they props to even get this high yall need to watch storm johnson we just played he averaged some good yards alot
Urban Meyer
November 24th, 2009
4:05 pm
Tyrone Davis, Harry Smith, and Anthony Brown all three out of d.m. therrell high school
CHEE
November 29th, 2009
3:27 pm
Jon Lee, Apalachee High School
Fear god, fear me #20
December 6th, 2009
12:09 pm
Isaiah Crowell is Georgias best RB..the kid runs a 4.35 forty and got offers from schools like Auburn, Bama, Florida and LSU in only his sophmore season
JUST BEING HONEST
December 14th, 2009
5:39 pm
CROWELL FROM CARVER-COLUMBUS . ASK FLOWERY BRANCH,GAINSVILLE,NORTH SIDE WARNER ROBINS,LAGRANGE,BALDWIN THEY CAN GIVE U A HONEST ANSWER……
sc fan
April 2nd, 2010
5:38 pm
I guess after all the dust settled Rajion Neal and Storm Johnson were the best senior rb and Isiah Crowell was the best jr rb.
yea boyy
July 11th, 2010
2:09 am
Imani Cross is a great rb check him out he is playin for north hall now
coachTR
July 16th, 2011
10:57 pm
Anthony Brown out of therrell. This kid has run for 1212yds and 13tds, 322 recieving yds and 838 KR/PR yds. This young man is the real deal
andrew arnold
October 3rd, 2011
4:31 pm
check out the stats on walton high schools junior tyren jones, wow!