1A Region 2 Returning Rushing Leaders

While some of the state’s top returning backs play for some of the bigger 7A programs, there’s a region in single-A that may be one of the deepest running back regions across the state. That would be 1A Region 2. The South Georgia region is home to most heavy-hitting programs and is home to historic Brooks County and Irwin County, two programs that are constantly pushing for state championships. It’s a run-heavy region so they don’t throw it around much, but that helps produce quality running backs who have their sights set on possibly playing at the D1 level down the road. Here are a few top returning RBs from the region to know for the 2021 season... &nbsp; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="33919" first="Omari" last="Arnold"] - Brooks County</strong> Arnold is a guy that Prep Redzone has mentioned a lot now and it’s well deserved. He may not get the attention he deserves yet, but the 5-foot-10 190-pounder still holds some smaller offers from Georgia Tech, App State, and East Carolina. The Quitman native is coming off an excellent season in 2020 where he led the region in rushing, carrying the ball 178 times for 1,666 and 26 touchdowns. He beat defenses with power, speed, and overall athleticism. He showed some explosiveness for his size and has enough mass and strength to bounce off tackles. He shows great balance and patience behind the line of scrimmage and knows how to burst through the line of scrimmage when a hole opens up. He shows good vision and can sneak through a crowded line of scrimmage to get to the second level. He was one of the most productive backs in the entire state as a junior last year and will look to lead Brooks County to a state championship as a senior. &nbsp; <strong>Elijah Stephens - Turner County</strong> He may not be the biggest back in South Georgia, but he's certainly one of the most explosive. Standing at just 5-foot-8 160-pounds, Stephens is a good athlete with quick feet and excellent speed. He'll play some defensive back for Turner County too, but he proved to be one of the best backs in the region last year as he rushed for 1,118 yards and 16 touchdowns. He's dangerous in the open field and can change direction as well as any back in the area. He's quick, shifty, and has the ability to out-run defenses for big gains. He has great instincts and made it look easy at times last year. Stephens is expected to have an even bigger season this fall as a senior, and if he does, Turner County could push for the region championship this year. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=540101cf-8be7-40a0-a3d7-73f5dfbef409&amp;ssid=a9cbf684-16ef-4997-9539-15fefe9df410"><span class="first-name">Dayton</span> Davis</a> - Atkinson County</strong> Atkinson County ran the ball a lot this year between Davis and QB Denzel Stewart, but it was Davis who led the team in rushing last year with his 704 yards and 8 touchdowns. Another back on the smaller side, Davis is one of the best athletes on the team and will likely play both on offense and defense as a senior. He showed a lot of promise last year, and if he has a big offseason and continues to add muscle, he could see his stock rise over the next few months as he enters his senior season.