In the state of Georgia, it’s easy to find talent no matter where you are. Whether you’re in the Atlanta area or in one of the smallest towns in the peach state, the talent is always there. There are plenty…
In the state of Georgia, it’s easy to find talent no matter where you are. Whether you’re in the Atlanta area or in one of the smallest towns in the peach state, the talent is always there. There are plenty of 2023 running backs in Georgia who will play at the next level, and many come from small, rural towns.
Here are some of the top 2023 small-town running backs in Georgia…
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 and running backs 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’s looking to score. He can change 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 and works the sideline well when he gets to the edge. He’s a tough runner for someone his size, and he has no problem delivering some blows as a runner. Not only can he run the ball, but he’s an excellent returner as well. He’s one of the top overall backs in South Georgia, and he’s going to really open some eyes in 2022.
Dontavious Braswell – Washington County
One of the fastest and most explosive backs in the entire state, the small-town back from Washington County is the No. 2 running back in Georgia according to Prep Redzone. Braswell is a do-it-all back with dynamic playmaking ability who can torch defenses each week. He’s incredibly quick and shifty at 5-foot-11 190-pounds, but he also breaks tackles on a consistent basis. He’s consistently one of the best athletes on the field, and he’s without a doubt one of the fastest. Braswell has been timed at 10.7 in the 100 meter, proving he has game-changing type of speed on the gridiron. He can stop on a dime and shows great burst when he gets in the open field. When that happens, there aren’t many who can stop him. He holds plenty of D1 offers, and his speed should translate instantly to the next level.
One of the toughest and most productive backs across Georgia last fall, the South Paulding back, coming off an excellent junior season, has seen plenty of impressive D! offers come his way. Not only is he a bruising, tackle-breaking back with size at 5-foot-10 19-5pounds, but he’s shown recently that he’s also one of the fastest backs in the state as well. Rushing for over 1,500 yards last season, Wilcox dominated on Friday nights, and he runs extremely well for someone with his frame. Wilcox has been times at 4.46 and a 4.49 this year in the 4–yard dash, an excellent time for someone his size. For a guy who breaks a lot of tackles, and who can also make defenders miss, his speed makes him to tough to handle for opposing defenses. He’s a threat to score whenever he has the ball, and we expect him to continue running past defenses on a weekly basis next fall. Prep Redzone has Wilcox ranked as the No. 3 running back prospect in Georgia.
DJ Bell – Pierce County
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. The Southeast Georgia star also led the entire 3A classification in rushing last fall. After leading Pierce County to a state championship as a sophomore, Bell had an outstanding junior season last year, carrying the load and torching defenses week after week. A leaner, quicker back at 6-foot-0 180-pounds, 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 and stay on his feet for more yards. As a junior last fall, Bell rushed 263 times for 1,887 yards (210 rushing yards per game) and 23 touchdowns. He’s dangerous in space with a true nose for the endzone. He’s consistently one of the quicker and better overall athletes on the field, making it easy to add him to the Prep Redzone Rankings.
