Who will be Georgia’s top RB prospect for 2013?

We’ll be providing updates all week from the 2011 Junior Bowl, which features 90 of the top college football prospects that are high school juniors from across the state of Georgia. Friday’s game will be played at 7 p.m. at Grady High School and televised on ESPN3.com

The state of Georgia has a national reputation for producing college running backs. Herschel Walker and George Rogers, who both won the Heisman, along with Jamal Lewis, are just a few of the top homegrown tailbacks.

Who is Georgia’s top prospect at running back for 2013?

2013 North Cobb RB Quinten James (AJC)

That is still being decided, but Quinten James of North Cobb High School is stating his case at this week’s Junior Bowl practices. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder said he has early offers from Clemson, Vanderbilt, Illinois, Purdue and Kentucky.

“I didn’t realize he was that fast,” said Rusty Mansell, National Recruiting Analyst at 247Sports. “He was able to get the edge in practice against defense loaded with major-college prospects … he had that extra gear.

“At 6-2 and 215 pounds, I had projected him to play linebacker at the next level. But after seeing him turn the corner against these type of prospects, he’s definitely a college running back. He’s big, he’s strong and he’s fast. If he continues to play like he has this week, he’s going to moving up on everybody’s list.”

Said Kipp Adams of ESPN’s DawgNation: “I think Quinten James has a chance to be a star if he can tote the rock with his size/speed combination.”

James is taller than Walton’s Tyren Jones (offers from UGA, Georgia Tech, Vanderbilt, Oklahoma State and Duke), East Paulding’s Kamani Thomas (offers from Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Southern Miss and Troy) and Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy’s Keyante Green (offers from TCU, Vanderbilt  and Purdue) and may be a step faster that Elbert County’s Tyshon Dye (offers from Clemson and UGA). Grayson’s Wayne Gallman (offers from Georgia Tech, Auburn, Clemson and Vanderbilt) is injured this week but still attending practices.

Now onto Wednesday’s unofficial awards:

Clemson was the first to offer Dooly County DL Montravious Adams, who will get many more very, very soon (AJC)

• West offense, MVP: Quinten James, RB, North Cobb. Next was Calhoun QB Taylor Lamb.
• West offense, biggest surprise: “Demarcus Robinson of Peach County is the early favorite for top wideout in Georgia for 2013, but his decision to not participate in the game has given several others a chance to emerge as FBS talents as well,” Adams said. “Standouts in Wednesday’s practice include Chris Sanders-McCullom of Creekside and Dee Smith of LaGrange. Sanders-McCullom used his height (6-5) and leaping ability to make several Redzone catches, and Smith, cousin of UGA cornerback Brandon Boykin, was one of the most impressive performers on offense for the West on Wednesday.” Smith has no offers yet while Sanders-McCollum said he has offers from Cincinnati, Tulane and Pittsburgh.
• West defense, MVP: Rueben Foster: The No. 2-ranked overall prospect in the USA for 2013, and has lived up to his advanced billing this week. The 6-foot-2, 232-pounder committed early to Alabama but is still communicating with UGA. We’ll have more on Foster later this week.
• West defense, biggest surprise: It’s a surprise, only from the standpoint that he plays in a remote area of Georgia that is not often visited by college scouts. That would Dooly County defensive lineman Montravious Adams, the 6-foot-4, 275-pounder who has only one early offer but will be getting more any minute. Scout.com’s Chad Simmons has had Adams ranked as one of his top 10 juniors. Said Mansell, “He has the potential to be a top five player in the state next year. He’s very, very good. He’s strong, he has got good feet, he plays with a good pad level … he’s had a great week.”
• East offense, MVP: Ryan Jenkins, WR-DB, Milton: “He was explosive today – he made every catch and ran past guys that are fast,” said one observer. “He separated himself from the rest of the pack of WRs.” The 5-10, 160-pounder has an early offer from Clemson, where his older brother plays football. Elbert County RB Tyshon Dye also turned heads. “He has runs with so much power and speed, and catches the ball great out of the backfield. But he has got some serious speed.”


Milton DE Carl Lawson was called a "young David Pollack" by one scout (AJC)

• East offense, biggest surprise: Delando Crooks, OL, Carver-Atlanta: The 6-5, 255-pounder said he has offers from Georgia Tech, UGA, Virginia Tech, Marshall, UAB and Samford. Crooks had a deer-in-the-headlight look on the opening day but played with a ton of more confidence on Wednesday. “He held his own today,” said one scout.
• East defense, MVP: Carl Lawson, DE, Milton: He may be the week’s overall No. 2 performer this week after Rueben Foster. As an undersized defensive end at 6-3 and 250 pounds, Lawson is earning comparisons out of high school to David Pollack. “Carl Lawson can’t be blocked, he’s very disruptive and he has a high motor,” said one observer. Next would be Central Macon LB Nigel Bowden, who has a 4.0 GPA and an early offer from Vanderbilt. Lawson has no early offers.
• East defense, biggest surprise: Donnie Miles, DB, North Gwinnett: The 5-foot-11, 197-pounder has an early offer from Duke. “He was moved to safety and was everywhere. I mean, he flew to the ball.” Next was Southwest DeKalb FS Juston Mincy, who has an offer from Tennessee and has an older brother that plays at Auburn.

Actually, Wednesday’s biggest surprise was the reaction by many players after being introduced to Charlie Ward before he spoke to the teams in evening. Some were whispering “Who is Charlie Ward?” while one said “I know that name from somewhere. What video game is he on?” In fairness to the high school juniors,  Ward won the Heisman Trophy in 1993 — before any of the players were born. Ward coaches high school football in Texas.

Back to the 2011 Junior Bowl: For rosters for both teams, go here

1993 Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward (center) with RisingSeniors.com co-founders Izell Reese (left) and Joe Burns. Ward spoke to both teams on Wednesday night.

– By Michael Carvell, AJC Recruiting Blog

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