Breakout 4A Running Backs To Know In 2024

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which 4A backs are going to have massive seasons in 2024?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've got the details below...</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1201831' first='Xavier' last='Rucker'] - Allatoona</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A dynamic 2026 back on the rise, Rucker is an explosive overall athlete who was consistently one of the best players on the field last year. Just a sophomore last fall, Rucker showed consistent big play ability and was tough to corral any time he had the ball. A natural runner with impressive vision and burst at running back, Rucker has reliable hands and the potential to make more plays out of the backfield as a pass-catcher. He's versatile, shifty, and a natural playmaker. He ran for 543 yards and three touchdowns in nine games last year and should see those numbers increase even more as a junior this fall. He's an easy breakout candidate who could see more offers come his way with a giant 2024 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Baylon Long - Cartersville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The mighty Purple Hurricanes will be without their two leading rushers from last season, and Baylon Long, a rising senior who showed promise last year, is positioned to have a possible breakout year this fall as one of the lead backs for the Cartersville offense. He's a strong, tackle-breaking back who can power through defenders and stay on his feet after initial contact. He runs with authority, behind his pads, and showed he can keep the chains moving with tough runs between the tackles. As a junior last year. Long rushed 65 times for 373 yards and five touchdowns. Look for him to get plenty of carries and a possibly giant season this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1636867' first='Juelz' last='Davis'] - Cedartown</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A sleeper running back in Northwest Georgia who has a chance to be one of the area's leading rushers this fall, Davis is a strong two-way player with good vision at running back. He follows his blocks well, understands his role in the run-heavy Cedartown offense, and shows good burst when he hits the hole. He was a consistently productive back for the Bulldogs as a junior last year, rushing for 637 yards and five touchdowns. He's not the biggest back around at 5-foot-9 170-pounds, but runs hard up the middle with enough speed to get out to the perimeter as well. He flashed breakaway speed and should only be better as a senior this year. He's an easy underrated senior back to know about this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='908912' first='Kaden' last='Hamilton'] - Hiram</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the top sleeper backs in West Georgia, Hamilton is an electric back coming off an outstanding junior season where he was named 1st-Team All-Region last year while totaling 1,828 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns. He's not the biggest back in the 5A class, but his speed, burst, and breakaway speed allowed him to live in the endzone last fall. He was a consistent back all year long in 2023, rushing for 1,143 yards and 18 touchdowns in 12 games. He rushed for a touchdown in every game but one last year and hit the 100-yard mark in five games. He's a shifty, durable back who is still flying under the radar, but has a chance to have a massive final senior season in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1155912' first='Tyler' last='Blalock'] - Cambridge</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An under-the-radar Fulton County back who flashed easy D1-caliber potential last fall as a junior, Blalock is a speedy back who should have a big senior season under a new Cambridge staff that knows how to move the football. Blalock is coming off a fantastic 2023 season where he rushed for an impressive 1,090 yards and 12 touchdowns. He ended the season strong games of 133 yards, 213 yards, and 94 yards in his final three games of the season. A scoring machine, this playmaking Bears backs also rushed for a touchdown in every game but one last year. He's one of the more talented backs in the area and has enough speed and big-play ability to find the endzone even more this fall as a senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='283775' first='Ahmontae' last='Pitts'] - Blessed Trinity</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A shifty, hard-running back from Roswell, Pitts is flying under the radar heading into his junior season, but many will know his name throughout the fall. As a sophomore last year, Pitts ran for a respectable 719 yards and nine touchdowns, leading the mighty Blessed Trinity Titans in both categories. He's a back with natural vision, burst, and the ability to elude defenders in the open field. He's strong enough to run through tackles with enough speed to out-run defenders. He's one of the fastest-rising 2026 backs in the area and is bound for a giant junior season in 2024. If he does, look for his recruitment to really pick up down the road.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->