2023 Small-Town Running Backs To Know
There’s plenty of rural area in the peach state and some of the state’s top prospects come from small towns. From the North Georgia mountains, all the way down to TitleTown in Valdosta, small-town prospects from Georgia always find a…
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Continue ReadingThere’s plenty of rural area in the peach state and some of the state’s top prospects come from small towns. From the North Georgia mountains, all the way down to TitleTown in Valdosta, small-town prospects from Georgia always find a way to make a name for themselves on the gridiron.
Here are a few under the radar running backs from small towns that everyone should know about in 2021.
Charlie Pace – Colquitt County
The Packers are always pumping out talent, especially at the running back position. The small-town 7A power house produced four-star UGA running back Daijun Edwards in 2020, and they have a new star on the rise in sophomore Charlie Pace. He didn’t load up the stat sheet this year, but he did have an impressive season playing against some of the best teams in the state. As a sophomore playing in 7A, one of the toughest classifications across the country, Pace rushed 62 times for 500 yards (8.1 ypg) and seven touchdowns. As he continues to develop in the Colquitt County system, Pace should get better and better and could be a force to deal with for opposing defenses over the next two years. He’s without a doubt one of the top under the radar running backs in South Georgia.
Jojo Haynes – Rockmart
He may have a few small offers at the moment, but Haynes is one of the top overall athletes in West Georgia and he’s only a sophomore. The 5-foot-9 160-pounder plays both running back and defensive back for the Yellow Jackets but should be the go-to back in 2021 with senior Javin Whatley graduating. Whatley rushed for 1,365 yards and those carries and numbers will go to Haynes this fall. In a backup role last year, Haynes rushed for 414 yards and four touchdowns while starting at defensive back. He’s quick, athletic, and has the burst and acceleration needed to have a big year in 2021. Haynes currently holds offers from Ole Miss and Duke.
Trey Bowles – East Coweta
Like Pace down in Colquitt County, Bowles is a small-town back from Sharpsburg who played in a backup role in 2020 with the potential to have a monster season in 2021 now that he’s the lead back. Senior back Jayden Bolton has a big senior season where he rushed for 1,385 yards. He rushed 179 yards and most of those carries will now be Bowles’. As a sophomore, Bowles rushed 110 times for 719 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a back, Bowles has great feet and the ability to change directions in a flash. He’s not a burner, but he has decent speed and balance that makes him tough to bring down by just one defender. He has a chance to be one of the best backs in the region this fall.
Dayshawn Lawson – Wilcox County
Down in Rochelle you’ll find another up and coming running back. After sitting behind two seniors in 2020, Lawson will be the lead back for the Patriots this fall and has a chance to become one of the more impressive running back prospects in the region. As a sophomore, Lawson rushed 81 times for 587 yards and four touchdowns.