Best Backs: Region II-5A Is Loaded At RB
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Region II-5A will boast some of the top talent in the state in the fall, and nowhere is that more evident than in the offensive backfield. All five teams in the region boast a handful of standout runners, stables of…
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Continue ReadingRegion II-5A will boast some of the top talent in the state in the fall, and nowhere is that more evident than in the offensive backfield. All five teams in the region boast a handful of standout runners, stables of players more than capable of shouldering the load on the ground. However, there ARE some players emerging as the top dogs in the region. Here’s a look at several who provide some serious punch in the ground game.
Dorman’s Demarius Foster Demarius Foster 5'9" | 160 lbs | RB Dorman | 2023 State SC is a true dual-threat back, but there’s no mistake about his ability as a run-first guy. Foster led the Cavaliers on the ground last season with 955 yards, scoring 11 touchdowns and averaging 7.7 yards per carry. He’s an adept pass-catcher, too, but he made the Cavaliers’ offense go in the running game, first and foremost.
Byrnes’ Mack Long Mack Long 5'7" | 170 lbs | RB Byrnes | 2023 State SC is athletic enough to play defensive back, but is a rugged, bruising runner who also possesses some top-end speed. All Long did in his very first start for the Rebels two years ago was to rush for more than 300 yards, breaking the program’s single-game mark that had been held by Marcus Lattimore. Long missed the bulk of last year with an injury, but should be ready to go and should make the Rebels’ offense downright scary.
Spartanburg’s Drek Carter was also hampered a bit by injury, but when he was active, he was a handful for the Vikings. Carter is another player who seems at home both as a straight-ahead power runner and a guy who can use a little more flash to elude tacklers when he gets in space. He’s a good receiver as well, and serves as a perfect complement to QB Raheim Jeter Raheim Jeter 6'3" | 220 lbs | QB Spartanburg | 2023 State SC in the Vikings’ offense.
Carmelo Martin was a bright spot for Boiling Springs a year ago, and should be even better in new coach Matt Reel’s offense. He averaged 8.5 yards per carry and scored 9 touchdowns once he earned the job last year, with three games with more than 100 yards rushing. He added eight catches for 121 yards and another touchdown.
The only team in the region without a standout returning back is the defending 5A champions. Nobody was as good on the ground in the Upstate 5A ranks as Gaffney last season, with Tyler Smith Tyler Smith 5'11" | 180 lbs | RB Gaffney | 2022 State SC and Ken Littlejohn combining to lead the Indians to the state title. They’re both gone, taking more than 3,000 rushing yards with them, as is Javari Bonner, who recorded carries in 10 games and averaged 6.8 yards per carry. We’ll be watching to see who the Indians turn to as an answer at the position.