Top Returning Rushers in 3A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 3A classification is full of talented running backs, and some of the state's best from last year are returning for the 2023 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are they? Let's take a look...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='262995' first='Gavin' last='Hall'] - Hebron Christian Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He may be a quarterback, but make no mistake, the rising senior from Dacula is one of the best pure runners in the state. An explosive, speedy dual-threat quarterback has good arm talent, but his ability to run through defenses on a weekly basis made him one of the more productive players in all of Georgia last year. Hall's 4.49 speed was on display all season long as he rushed for an incredible 2,547 yards and 32 touchdowns as a junior last season. He can burst through a hole and has enough speed to out-run defenses with ease. Hall ran for over 300 yards twice last year with his best game coming in a win over Commerce where he ran for 360 yards and six touchdowns. He rushed for at least 200 yards in seven games last year and reached that mark in each of the final three games of the season. There was only one game where ehe didn't rush for 100 yards, and it was a game where he rushed for 97. He was a true game-changing runner and a touchdown machine last year as a junior, so look for him to light up the stat sheet again next year. Hall earned a recent offer from Marshall and it likely won't be his last.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='325154' first='Duke' last='Watson'] - Mary Persons</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Arguably the top returning runner in all of Middle Georgia, Watson is committed to the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets and it's easy to see why. A quick, agile back from Forsyth who also runs with power, Watson is a tough 5-foot-10 175-pounder who rushed for 1,669 yards last year as a junior with 14 touchdowns. Watson rushed for over 100+ yards in eight games last year while reaching the 200-yard mark four times. His best game last year came in a week two win over Spalding where he took off for 290 yards and three touchdowns in a big 41-28 victory. He was able to put his Mary Persons team on his back, rushing 200 times on the season while still averaging 8.3 yards per carry. He shows good vision in the backfield and knows how to slip through small holes between the trenches. He breaks a lot of tackles but brings plenty of speed as well. He's a back that does so many things well, and someone the Yellow Jackets are glad to have on board.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chris Roper - Adairsville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An under the radar back from North Georgia with plenty of wiggle, Roper is a quick, instinctive runner who knows how to slip through tackles. A good athlete and multi-sport standout at Adairsville, Roper showed great footwork and balance last year while running all through his opponents as a junior on the ground. The 5-foot-11 185-pounder was named Region 6-3A POY last year after an outstanding season where he rushed for 1,521 yards and 23 touchdowns. He showed excellent straight-line speed and great balance along the sidelines. Roper went over the 100-yard mark nine times last year with his best game coming in a win over Bremen where he rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns. He can change directions on a dime, gets upfield in a hurry, and is one of the fastest overall players in the area. He was incredibly productive as a junior last year, and could be in store for an even bigger senior season in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->