Small Town Running Backs Lead the State in Rushing

There are some new running backs to know in the state of Georgia, and many of them are from the smallest of towns. While some schools have played more games than others during this craziest of seasons, there are plenty of small-town backs who have made the most of the 2020 season so far. &nbsp; <strong>Jessie Phelps Jr. - Rutland</strong> It hasn’t been an ideal season so far for the 1-3 Rutland Hurricanes, but running back Jessie Phelps Jr. has been a bright spot. He’s not the biggest back at 5-foot8 205-pounds, but he’s a bruiser who knows how to break tackles. He’s not a speedster and won’t out-run any defensive backs, but he’s been a reliable bell-cow for Rutland through four games. Phelps has rushed for over 1,000 yards so far, averaging 250.5 yards per game. He’s also reached the end-zone 10 times. His biggest game this season came against the Academy for Classical Education. Not known for their football, Phelps ran all over them for 321 yards and 6 touchdowns. The senior currently leads the state in rushing with 1,002 yards. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33817" first="Phillip" last="Johnson"] - Temple</strong> If you’re looking for an impressive back to watch in West Georgia, Johnson is your guy. Through 6 games, leading his Temple Tigers to a 4-2 record, Johnson has rushed for 947 yards and 11 touchdowns. One of the bigger running backs in the state. the 6-foot-2 215-pound preseason all-state selection is a tough, physical runner with above average agility and athleticism. He has good lower body strength and runs well along the sideline. The senior also showcases good vision, patience, and burst once he finds a hole. He consistently falls forward to extra yards and tough to bring down around the goal-line. &nbsp; <strong>Narada Levett - Central</strong> Another West Georgia back who is having an outstanding season is Central High senior, Narada Levett. The 5-foot-9 180-pounder from Carrollton is extremely productive and runs with authority. He’s not the biggest or fastest, but he’s another tough runner with excellent lower body strength. He can bounce off tackles if defenders don’t wrap up, and like Johnson, he’s constantly moving forward at the end of runs. Through his first four games, Levett has rushed for 800 yards (200 ypg) and has reached the end-zone 8 times. &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33678" first="Phil" last="Mafah"] - Grayson</strong> Arguably the best overall running back in the state, the powerful Grayson tailback has been impossible to stop so far this season, rushing for 759 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 8.7 average years per rush is extremely impressive as the Rams have played some of the top teams in the state so far this season. The future Clemson Tiger is a tackle-breaking machine at 6-foot-1 210-pounds who runs really well for his size. He can score any time he touches the ball and he’ll be tough for any defense across the state for the rest of the fall.