BREAKOUT CANDIDATE: Sleepers 5A Running Backs To Know This Fall

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Who are some sleeper 5A running backs to know about this fall:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Amir Thomas - Houston County</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An explosive back with breakaway speed, the Bears will be led by quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='321465' first='Antwann' last='Hill'] this fall, but Thoms should still see the back plenty as a senior this upcoming season. He had a strong junior season in 2023 where he took off for 586 yards and seven touchdowns on just 69 carries for an impressive 8.5 yards per rush. He's quick, shows excellent burst, and can be an option as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He's a weapon who should see more carries come his way as the leading returning rusher for the Bears heading into this 2024 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tyrese Hansley - Coffee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Trojans will be looking for a new leading rusher this fall, and Hansley, a senior this season, is the next man up as far as the possible leads back goes at Coffee. This is a tough, winning football program that loves to run the football, so Hansley is a name in the region to keep a close eye on this fall. As a junior last year, Hansley ran for 744 yards and 11 touchdowns. The shifty, athletic back brings good size at 5-foot-10 180-pounds and could be in for a massive senior season for a Trojans squad looking to make another deep playoff run.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Ahmad Ponder - Thomas County Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With last year's leading rusher Trey Benton gone, the returning 6A state champions will have a new leading back in 2024, and Ponder has a chance to be that guy. He made an impact last season as a junior, rushing 84 times for the powerful Yellow Jackets for 363 yards and six touchdowns. He's a little on the smaller side, but he runs hard and can be tough to bring to the ground if not wrapped up properly. He flashed quickness, burst, and vision, and with more opportunities, Ponder could turn into one of the "breakout" backs in the area this fall. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jamarious Towns - Brunswick</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An explosive back with outstanding change of direction, Towns is a big play waiting to happen every time he has the ball. He's quick, shifty, and versatile enough big plays all year long both as a runner and a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He's coming off a promising junior season in 2023 where hr ran for 771 yards on just 82 carries for an impressive 9.4 yards per carry while adding five touchdowns. He's the team's leading returning rusher and is bound for a giant senior season this fall. He's a dynamic back to know in Southeast Georgia with the potential to be one of the region's leading rushers in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brandan Ridley - McIntosh</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leading returning rusher for the McIntosh Indians, Ridley had a very productive sophomore season in 2023 where he took off for 863 yards and 8 touchdowns, averaging 6.4 yards per carry and 86 yards a game. He also showed his versatility on a weekly basis, catching 22 passes for 231 yards and one touchdown. He's a good overall athlete with reliable hands who should be even better as a junior this fall. He's already one of the best backs in area, but he has a chance to make it known he's one of the best across the state in the 2026 class with a big upcoming season. The potential and versatile skillset is easy to see, so he's one to keep an eye on south of Atlanta. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marlin Mathis - Shiloh</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A tough, balanced back who has no problem picking up yards after contact, Mathis is a tackle-breaking back who is coming off a respectable junior season where he ran for 448 yards and three touchdowns. He shows good vision between the tackles with enough burst to run through it. Once he does, he knows how to lower his shoulder and fall forward at the end up runs. He's a chain-mover who averaged 5.5 yards per carry. He's a Gwinnett County back on the rise at 6-foot-0 190-pounds who could easily see his numbers improve this upcoming season as a senior.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->