Under The Radar 2025 Running Backs To Know

Matt DeBary December 31, 2022 @ 08:55 AM

The state of Georgia is full of talented running backs, and we saw quite a few sophomores step up in a big way during the 2022 season. Young players are seeing the field earlier and earlier, meaning there are more sophomore backs to keep an eye on next fall.   Which 2025 backs have a chance to have a massive junior season next year?   Let's take a look...   [player_tooltip player_id='1572515' first='Emadd' last='Howard'] - Walnut Grove   A promising young back with vision and elusiveness, Howard ran hard over and over again last year as a sophomore. At 5-foot-11 180-pounds, Howard shows quick feet and patience behind the line of scrimmage. When he sees a hole, he knows how to burst through it and run with power past the line of scrimmage. He's not a burner, but he has enough speed to pick up big yards once he gets through the first level. He's a natural runner with a great feel for the game. He shows good footwork, breaks tackles, and was productive all season long. He ran like a seasoned veteran last year and it's easy to see him playing somewhere at the next level down the road. As a sophomore last year, Howard rushed 230 times for 1,236 yards and 11 touchdowns on the season. He rushed for over 100 yards in seven games with his best game coming against Jasper County, rushing for 175 yards and two touchdowns. He's a back who can carry the load, and as good as he was as a sophomore, look for him to be even better next year as a junior. He's certainly a back to keep an eye on in the off-season.   [player_tooltip player_id='1080824' first='Javen' last='Parker'] - East Paulding   An explosive back with burst and impressive balance, Parker proved last season as a sophomore that he's one of the top under the radar backs west of Atlanta. The 5-foot-9 190-pounder has plenty of speed and can out-run defenders down the field once he gets through thee line of scrimmage. He has natural vision and the ability to elude defenders with ease. He's tough to corral in the open field and was one of the more productive young backs in Paulding County last year. A shift back with a great spin move, Parker knows how to break tackles in a number of different ways. He shows quick feet, can make defenders miss, and runs with a mission. He gives it 100% every time he has the ball, and it turned into 1,051 yards and 10 total touchdowns last season. He averaged over 5.5 yards per carry last year, a solid number for any back in just their second season. He went over the 1,000 yard mark as a sophomore, so you can expect even more from him as a junior in 2023. Look for him to have a possible breakout season and maybe see some D1 interest come his way.   [player_tooltip player_id='1555614' first='Anthony' last='Jeffery'] - Thomson   A tough, physical, bruising back who helped lead Thomson to a state championship this season, Jeffery was an outstanding backup running back for the Bulldogs last year who had a monster sophomore season on the ground. While senior Jontavious Curry was the lead back all season, Jeffery, at 5-foot-9 190-pounds, was an excellent option as well who rushed for over 1,000 yards in a backup role. A powerful back who runs bigger than his size, Jeffery was a tackle-breaking back who consistently helped move the chains all year long. He has impressive lower-body strength and did a great job of carrying defenders a few extra yards at the end of runs. He was a reliable option in short-yardage situations and dominated around the goal-line, finishing the season with an impressive 18 touchdowns. With Curry gone next season, look for Jeffery to carry the load as the lead back. He has a real chance to light up the stat sheet and have a true breakout season in 2023.

The state of Georgia is full of talented running backs, and we saw quite a few sophomores step up in a big way during the 2022 season. Young players are seeing the field earlier and earlier, meaning there are more sophomore backs to keep an eye on next fall.