Top Running Back Performances From Week One In Georgia

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which peach-state backs ran wild in week one?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1345979' first='Gus' last='Martin'] - East Forsyth</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We wrote about Martin this summer as a "breakout" running back to know in the 2025 class, and now, Martin is off to a tremendous start to his senior season. A versatile, shifty back who can also help in the return game, this sleeper running back ran wild in week one, leading East Forsyth to a big 44-10 win over Forsyth Central. Martin, who played offense, defense, and special teams, ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass, and took a kick return back for a touchdown as well. One of the best prospects in the Forsyth and Hall County area, look for Martin to continue making big plays at multiple positions throughout the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1201795' first='Malachi' last='Character'] - Upson-Lee</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>An outstanding two-way standout from Middle Georgia at Upson-Lee High School, this 6-foot-1 200-pounder dominated on both sides of the ball during their week one win over Union Grove. He's a passionate, driven competitor who plays with maximum effort no matter where he's lined up. He had a big day defensively, making 10 tackles and three TFLs, but he ran through defenders with ease, carrying the ball 18 times for 123 yards and three touchdowns. He runs with authority, loves contact, and can barrel through defenders after first contact. Look for Character to light up the stat sheet on both sides of the ball this season as a junior with some offers likely coming his way at some point.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='422543' first='Jonaz' last='Walton'] - Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the very best running back prospects not only in Georgia, but across the country for the 2026 class, Walton has run wild on defenses through his first two seasons and is now off to a tremendous start to his junior season. The dynamic, speedy back has plenty of size at 5-foot-9 200-pounds and will be tough to stop throughout the 2024 season. This West Georgia back ran through the Spadling defense with ease, carrying the ball just 11 times for an impressive 125 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged an outstanding 11.4 yards per carry and will likely do the same for opposing defenses all season long. He has a giant offer list for a reason, and his best football is still way ahead of him.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://x.com/rajecki_will"><strong>Will Rajecki</strong></a><strong> - Sequoyah&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another back we mentioned this summer as a "breakout" candidate to know, Rejecki is a natural athlete who brings a versatile skillset to the Sequoyah offense. He brings good size at 5-foot-11 195-pounds who can make an impact both as a runner and as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. He was productive last year, but it's clear he's taking his game to another level. In his season opener last weekend, leading Sequoyah to a big 38-35 victory over Denmark. The junior ran for 170 yards on the ground while making plays as a pass-catcher as well with 42 receiving yards. He shows good patience, hits the hole hard, and is clearly one of the top 2026 backs in the area. Look for him to play even better as the season moves along.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://www.maxpreps.com/ga/mcdonough/ola-mustangs/athletes/nigel-newkirk/football/stats/?careerid=f5ibg4t70vd00">[player_tooltip player_id='662615' first='Nigel' last='Newkirk']</a> - Ola</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A fast-rising sophomore back with a massive season ahead of him, Newkirk put the state on notice this past weekend, running wild through the Trinity Christian defense for an eye-opening 259 yards and four touchdowns.  The powerful, shifty 5-foot-11 185-pounder from south of Atlanta is tough to tackle and showed that even as a sophomore, he can put the Ola offense on his back. He averaged an outstanding 10.3 yards per carry and will likely do the same against other defenses as he attempts to have a record-breaking sophomore season this fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><a href="https://x.com/danye_garvin">[player_tooltip player_id='1251985' first='Danye' last='Garvin']</a> - Bulloch Academy</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A sleeper back from Statesboro bound for a giant 2024 season, Garvin is a small-town back who deserves recognition after a massive week one performance on the ground. A two-way standout who can also make an impact at linebacker, this 5-foot-9 175-pound junior ran wild for 184 yards and two touchdowns. He's great around the goal-line, and when given space to run, he knows how to step up and turn on the speed. This South Georgia back has a chance to open a lot of eyes this season as he attempts to have a fantastic junior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->