The Best RBs of 2024 (Part 1)
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There is a wave of running backs coming through the ranks in South Carolina that make us wonder if the state is going to earn a reputation. The Class of 2024 includes 15 players (out of 77 total) who have…
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Continue ReadingThere is a wave of running backs coming through the ranks in South Carolina that make us wonder if the state is going to earn a reputation.
The Class of 2024 includes 15 players (out of 77 total) who have already notched impressive campaigns from their spots in the backfield. Their skill sets are vast, and some of their numbers are already making some schools abandon previous ideas for spread offenses.
In Part I of the positional breakdown, we’ll address the first eight tailbacks who made it into rankings.
Dashun Reeder Dashun Reeder 5'10" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church | 2024 State SC , Christ Church
Want to talk about eye-opening performances? In the first round of the playoffs, with senior starter Grayson Klue Grayson Klue 5'11" | 175 lbs | RB Christ Church | 2022 State SC out with an injury, the relatively lightly used back rushed for 200 yards and a pair of scores. Klue is graduating, and Reeder looks primed follow in Klue’s impressive foot steps.
Kalil Johnson Kalil Johnson 5'7" | 160 lbs | RB Carolina Forest | 2024 State SC , Carolina Forest
Marc Morris and Shane Dular base everything they do around the running game, and Johnson the 5-foot-7, 160-pound sophomore proved himself capable of carrying the load in spurts. He finished with 730 yards and 11 scores, including his best game of the season in the playoffs.
Jayden Little Jayden Little 5'8" | 170 lbs | RB Chesterfield | 2024 State SC , Chesterfield
Senior Kevin Diggs Kevin Diggs 6'2" | 195 lbs | QB Chesterfield | 2022 State SC was impressive, going off for 1,016 yards and 23 rushing yards. The other half of the two-headed attack, Little, wasn’t too shabby either. He put up 1,044 yards and seven scores. Now, he’s about to get more of the work load.
Joenathan Peeples Joenathan Peeples 5'9" | 205 lbs | RB Silver Bluff | 2024 State SC , Midland Valley
Want to talk about low center of gravity? Look no further than the 5-foot-8, 195-pound Peeples. The Mustang sophomore rushed for 614 yards and nine touchdowns. That was despite the fact that Midland Valley was frequently going one-dimensional trying to make up for early deficits.
Malachi Washington Malachi Washington 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Myrtle Beach | 2024 State SC , Myrtle Beach
Washington obviously needs to put on some weight (coach Mickey Wilson admits that 160-pound listing is generous). But what is also obvious is Washington has a nose for the game. His 758 yards and seven touchdowns mostly came against opponents in the toughest Class 4A region in the state.
Knai Cook Knai Cook 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2024 State SC , Byrnes
When it comes to trust in a young player, Byrnes clearly had it with Cook. Consider this: The Rebels rushed the ball 351 times in 2021. Of those, 174 carries belonged to Cook, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder. He made them count to the tune of 766 yards and 10 scores.
Cortez Lane Cortez Lane 5'11" | 170 lbs | RB Cardinal Newman | 2024 State SC , Camden
Lane rush for 298 yards and and four touchdowns and caught another 158 yards worth of passes despite missing half of the year due to injury. Lane is a huge part of the plan moving forward, and if the Bulldogs reach a third straight state title game, he’ll be a big reason why.
Dee Robertson Dee Robertson 5'6" | 150 lbs | ATH Westside | 2024 State SC , Westside
Robertson missed all but three games last fall due to a shoulder injury. But the film is already there from his freshman season. Westside’s offense will give him every opportunity to re-establish himself early in 2022, when he’ll a starter for the third straight season.