Top 10 Grand Strand And Pee Dee Running Backs To Watch

Ian Guerin July 21, 2023 @ 01:19 PM

Ranking the running backs in this zone is no easy task.   There are some freaking dudes. And we're not even sure that there aren't a couple situations where a player not listed below couldn't rise up to show off something special during the 2023 season.   But these 10 tailbacks have shown us they can produce and are in excellent spots surrounded by the type of talent to help them do so again.   10. Rodrick McRae South Florence - Before leaving Marion for South Florence, McRae pumped out a 900-yard rushing campaign. The 5-foot-9, 225 pounder looked good at the Palmetto Combine in April, putting up a respectable 4.78 40 and a 35-inch vertical.   9. La'Ontray Knox Loris - Much like Knox (681 yards, 10 TDs last year) benefits from having quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='327302' first='Jackson' last='Huff'] on the field, Huff is as thankful for his tailback. The duo work extremely well together and prevent defenses from keying too much on the other.    8. [player_tooltip player_id='448998' first='Lavon' last='White'] Andrews - White was certainly not a high-volume back, as he averaged just 11 carries per game. However, he made them count, going for 802 yards and nine scores for the Yellow Jackets.   7. [player_tooltip player_id='346196' first='Jamarion' last='Fling'] Dillon - Fling waited his turn last year as Ty Martin went off for some 2,600 yards. Now, a junior, the 5-foot-8, 170-pounder looks like he's going to get every chance to improve upon his 800-yard 2022.   6. [player_tooltip player_id='272722' first='Zion' last='Gilbert'] South Florence - Gilbert won't be considered the biggest name to transfer into South Florence, but like McRae, he's going to get every chance to perform. The leading rushing for Class 5A Carolina Forest a year ago, Gilbert is a potential game-changing back who can handle big carry numbers when asked but works well in a split role.   5. [player_tooltip player_id='272717' first='Tre' last='Leonard'] West Florence - In 12 games last season at Trinity Collegiate, Leonard had 1,123 yards and nine touchdowns. He transferred to West mid-semester, meaning he had spring ball and the entire summer program to get a jump start. He's a big part of the Knights' plans.   4. [player_tooltip player_id='402500' first='Malachi' last='Washington'] Myrtle Beach - Washington (pictured) not only eclipsed 1,300 yards last season and then spent the spring improving his speed. He also picked up a highly talented running backs coach in former Conway head coach Carlton Terry. The possibilities are endless.   3. [player_tooltip player_id='996926' first='Jamarion' last='Jones'] Latta - As a junior, Jones averaged 7.74 yards per carry over the course of 208 running plays. That equated to 1,609 yards and 17 touchdowns. On top of that, he fumbled only one time every 50 carries. Add in that Latta has two other huge playmakers, and Jones will have room to run.   2. [player_tooltip player_id='464882' first='Jamarcus' last='Williams'] Hannah-Pamplico - To average just 9.51 yards per carry for 200-plus carries? That's sort of insane. Yet, it's exactly what Williams did as a sophomore last fall. Add in 15 touchdowns and nine two-point conversions, and Williams is verging on the ridiculous for such a young age.   1. [player_tooltip player_id='208339' first='Carmello' last='McDaniel'] Hartsville - McDaniel put up 1,400 yards as a sophomore and another 1,800 as a junior. What can he do this season now that Hartsville appears to be up to full speed again for the first time in three seasons? He's part of a very small group of players in the conversation to lead the entire state in rushing yards.

Ranking the running backs in this zone is no easy task.