Freshman Under the Radar Backs To Know In 2023

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Is there another state in the country that produces running backs like the peach state? I'm not sure. Every year we see D1-caliber backs emerge and there are plenty in thee 2026 class who had massive seasons last fall as a freshman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are they? Let's take a look...<br></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1201802' first='CJ' last='Givers'] - Fellowship Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top freshman backs in Georgia this fall, the Roswell native showed great balance, vision, and change of direction in his first season, allowing him to run through defenses on a consistent basis. He didn't necessarily play against the best competition, but he still played at a high level and did it as a freshman. He's a good athlete, has above-average speed for his age, and put in an extremely productive season, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns. He was named 2022 All-Region 8AA and showed early D1 potential. He has good size at 5-foot-10 185-pounds and has a chance to have a real breakout season next fall as a sophomore. What's clear is that Givers should be in the conversation for one of the top 2026 backs in Georgia.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='908956' first='Tamari' last='Curry'] - Washington Wilkes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's never easy to carry the load as a freshman, but that's what Curry was able to do this fall as a freshman. Curry is a natural runner and dangerous in the open field. His best football is still way ahead of him and that should scare plenty of defenses in the area. He shows quick feet, burst, and the ability to make defenders miss down the field. He's rushed for over 70 yards in six games this season, giving Washington-Wilkes a durable, dependable freshman who can carry the ball and make plays. His best game of the year came against a tough Aquinas team where he rushed just 14 times for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He had another impressive games against Warren County where he rushed for 139 yards and one more touchdown. In the end, Curry ended his fantastic freshman season with 869 yards and 9 touchdowns.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='401491' first='Devon' last='Caldwell'] - Hebron Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A promising young back out of Dacula, Caldwell showed big-time ability and put up some really impressive numbers as a freshman last year. In his first season, the small, shifty back went for at least 50 yards rushing in six games this season, going over the 100-yard mark twice. His best game came against Franklin County where he took off for 130 yards and two touchdowns. As he continues to get bigger and stronger, Caldwell has a chance to really break out next fall as a sophomore. He rushed for just under 5 yards a carry this fall and 58 yards per game, numbers that should increase more and more next year. He was one of the more productive freshman backs in Gwinnett County this past season and should be on everyone's radar more and more over the next two to three years.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->