Leading Returning Rushers in 4A

In Georgia, if you can't run the football, you aren't going to win many football games. The peach state is one that produces high-caliber running backs on an annual basis, and there are many in the 2023 and 2024 class who really impressed last year. Specifically, we saw multiple top running backs in 4A have big years in 2021, and could have an even bigger year in 2022. Here are some of the top leading returning rushers in Class 4A... &nbsp; <strong>Kam Davis – Dougherty</strong> There isn't much the South Georgia back can't do on the football field. A top young running back in Georgia, the Albany native is currently committed to Florida State and is one of the best two-sport stars in the area. As a sophomore last fall, Davis rushed for 1,363 yards and 16 touchdowns, proving he was one of the top running backs across the state. He lined up at quarterback as a freshman but he’ll likely play running back in college a few years down the road. He loves contact and he’s already as strong as the upperclassmen he plays against. He runs well for his size, he’s incredibly coordinated, and has a very bright future on the football field. He’s an absolute touchdown machine and should have another outstanding season as a junior in 2022. Right now, Davis appears to be one of the top overall running backs across the country in the 2024 class. &nbsp; <strong>Javon Graham – RB – Fayette County </strong> If you're looking for one of the top 4A backs in metro-Atlanta, Graham is your guy. A smaller, shiftier back, Graham is really tough to tackle for his age. He’s made a big impact last season as a sophomore, making plays as both a back and a pass-catcher. The 5-foot-10 170-pounder showed he was one of the more productive backs in 4A, rushing for 1,146 yards on 145 carries for an impressive 7.9 yards per carry while rushing for 12 touchdowns. He’s also been a major weapon in the passing game, catching 13 passes for 473 yards and five touchdowns. When he catches a pass this year, he’s averaging over 36 yards each time. He’s an explosive playmaker who has totaled 1,325 total yards so far this season. He’s a 2024 back to keep an eye on over the next two and a half seasons. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=c5aec059-4399-401f-b801-057c2c2fd969&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Autavius</span> Ison</a> - Riverdale</strong> A shifty back with speed from the Atlanta area, Ison showed plenty of balance and playmaking ability last fall as a junior. Ison plays bigger than his size and knows how to break tackles once he gets through the line of scrimmage. He slips through tackles with ease and knows how to take off for a big gain. He's one of the more underrated backs in the Atlanta after showing big play potential in 4A last fall. He runs well between the tackles and can get to the sideline and down the field in a hurry. He's strong enough to power through tackles and fast enough to fly by linebackers and slower defensive backs. Ison rushed for 1,155 yards last fall and averaged just under 11 yards per carry. He also rushed for 13 touchdowns on the year. His biggest game of the season came in mid-November where he rushed for 188 yards and 4 touchdowns against Central. He's a back to know in the Atlanta area for the 2022 season. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=d0f4be22-dc59-49a1-a899-7a72d0b8a17e&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Harlem</span> Diamond</a> - Cedartown</strong> He's another back on the smaller side, but don't let that fool you, Harlem Diamond is a dynamic back from Northwest Georgia who made defenders look really bas last fall. Playing for an impressive Cedartown team, Diamond is a nautral back with quick feet and explosion with the ball. He has good vision, hits the hole hard, and can take off down the field when given a sliver of space. He catches the ball well as a receiver, but he showed he can be a game-changer at running back last year. As a junior last fall, Diamond rushed for 1,075 yards and averaged 11.4 yards per carry, tied for best in all of 4A. He's a threat to make a big play every time he has the ball, and he proved to be one of the top backs in the classification last year. &nbsp;