Top Under the Radar Running Backs In South Georgia

In South Georgia, if you can't run the football, you aren't going to win many games. It's one of the most important phases of the game, and there are many South Georgia programs who have mastered running the football. Of course, you have to have a back talented enough to carry the load, and there are many in South Georgia who had monster seasons rushing the ball last fall. Here are some of the top returning running backs in South Georgia for the 2022 season... &nbsp; <strong>Jaylen Johnson - Appling County</strong> One of the top two-way players in all of South Georgia, Johnson showed last fall as a junior that he's an excellent weapon with the ball in his hands. One of the top overall athletes in the area, Johnson is quick, shifty, and knows how to run away from defenders. He's a slippery back that breaks tackles, and once he gets into space, he can be really tough to stop. He can chance directions well, and he's a big-play waiting to happen every time he touches the ball. He's not the biggest back in the state at 5-foot-9, but he's got some muscle on his frame at 190-pounds. He shows good balance when running down the sideline, and he's an excellent in the return game as well. He's a tough runner for someone his size, and he has no problem delivering some blows as a runner. He's one of the top overall backs in South Georgia, and he's going to really open some eyes in 2022. &nbsp; &nbsp; <strong>DJ Bell – Pierce County</strong> One of the most productive backs not only in South Georgia, but across the peach state, Bell was the 2nd leading rusher last fall for all juniors. He also led the entire 3A classification in rushing last fall. After leading them to a state championship as a sophomore, Bell had an outstanding season last year, carrying the load and torching defenses week after week. A smaller, quicker back, Bell showed great balance, an impressive spin move, and the ability to score very time he has the ball. He’s a natural runner with great vision, but more importantly, he knows how to escape defenders. As a junior last fall, Bell rushed 263 times for 1,887 yards (210 rushing yards per game) and 23 touchdowns. He’s a true playmaker who is deadly in space, and has a true nose for the endzone. He’s consistently one of the quickest and better overall athletes anytime he’s on the field. Look for him to have another unbelievable season next fall as a senior. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=fc644953-351f-456c-bc40-6e016194eca0&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Jordan</span> Triplett – RB – Frederica Academy</a></strong> There could be a young star in the making in the.Savannah area, and it’s the sophomore back at Frederica Academy. Triplett is an excellent runner who took the region by storm last year as a freshman, and he’s improved this year in year two. The 6-foot-0 185-pounder is a big play waiting to happen with great speed and strength for his size. He knows how to make a defender miss, he's elusive, and so tough to tackle for just one defender. A true game-changer at running back as a sophomore, Triplett put the offense on his back last season, rushing 261 times for 1,699 yards and 26 touchdowns. His biggest game of the season came against St. Andrews where he rushed for over 440 yards and six touchdowns. He breaks tackles, runs away from defenders, and can dominate in the small Savannah region that he plays in. Look for him to load up the stat sheet once again as a junior in 2022. &nbsp; <strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/local/player/stats.aspx?athleteid=894897e7-352e-4508-9467-9b4503f798d0&amp;ssid=97e3f828-856d-419e-b94f-7f41319fe3d3"><span class="first-name">Damarkas</span> Lundy</a> - Irwin County</strong> If you're looking for a South Georgia back who can run between the tackles, there aren't many better in the 2023 class than Damarkas Lundy. A strong, compact runner, Lundy breaks a lot of tackles and is deceptively fast for his size at 6-foot-0 193-pounds. Once he gets through the line of scrimmage, Lundy is tough to bring down by defenders who don't take quality angles. He shows quick feet, burst, and the ability to break tackles around his feet. He does a nice job of staying balanced when tripped up, and knows how to find the endzone once he breaks through the line of scrimmage. Lundy rushed for over 100 yards in 10 games last fall, showing he's one of the most consistently productive backs across Georgia. He finished his junior season with an outstanding 1,668 yards and 21 touchdowns on the year. Look for him to load up the stat sheet again as a senior this fall. &nbsp;