Vote: Who has been the top high school running back in Georgia so far in 2023?

Here are 10 candidates for your voting consideration

Prolific football offenses, on all levels, have become more vertical over the years, but to win and be successful you still need a top tier running game, and a dynamic running back to make it go. Georgia has a long tradition of producing great running backs who have gone on to stardom on the college and professional levels. That tradition figures to extend with excellent crop of young high school stars in the state, but who is the best.

We want you to help us to determine the answer by voting in our latest poll: Who has been the top running back in Georgia in 2023? We've selected 10 candidates we believe are in this conversation and we're asking you to help decide by voting in our poll. Voting will conclude on October 31st at 11:59 p.m.

Here are the nominees:

Zion Johnson, Newton

Johnson’s stellar start to the season has been a direct correlation to Newton having its best start to a season, arguably, since 2015 if not ever. Johnson is a three-star at the moment but that is bound to be upgraded soon. He has been unstoppable when he gets the ball, currently with 887 rushing yards and averaging nearly 10 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns. He shows off his hands a good bit too, being the team’s third best receiving option with 130 yards and a touchdown. Newton has seen three huge wins in a row versus Grayson, Westlake and McEachern and in those three games he had over 300 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Jordan Mccoy, Tucker

Mccoy is shining bright in his senior season. He seems to be single-handedly pulling the Tigers to victories. In five games that he has played in this season, he has over 100 rushing yards in all of them, totaling 1,011 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns for the season. When Mccoy turns it up to another level it seems like Tucker is unbeatable. Tucker has three wins on the season, and Mccoy had stellar performances in all three. Game one versus Miller Grove, he ran for 172 yards and scored all five of his team’s touchdowns. In the win over Decatur, he ran for 337 yards on 33 carries and five touchdowns. He also had a big-time performance of 276 yards and two scores versus Dacula, but that game did end in an eight-point loss.

Mason Sullens, Lumpkin County

Sullens' 200-yard effort in the win over Wesleyan gave him the lead in the rushing category in Georgia. Sullens is the perfect combination of an every-down work horse and a scoring machine. Six games through the season, he sits at 1,119 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has run for over 100 yards and two touchdowns each game, while having four games scoring three or more touchdowns with a game-high of 250 rushing yards. Sullens is a huge reason why Lumpkin County is 6-0 with big wins over Union County and Wesleyan.

Cam Robinson, Mill Creek

Robinson is the engine to Mill Creek’s high-powered offense. He is creeping up on 1,000 yards and has 12 rushing touchdowns on the season. He has the most all-purpose yards on a team that averages 41 point per game. One key thing that makes Robinson stand out is that he doesn’t need super high attempts to impact the game. He only averages 16 rushing attempts a game but is getting nine yards per carry. This is a big reason why Mill Creek is 6-0 and he is the 7-A rushing leader thus far.

David Eziomume, North Cobb

The Clemson commit is only 12 yards away from Cam Robinson for the 7-A rushing title. His 933 rushing yards have come in abundance in recent weeks. North Cobb is on a three-game win streak and in those three games Eziomume has run for 205, 268, and 326 yards with 10 touchdowns. His 326-yard/four-touchdown performance was not only the biggest in yards/touchdowns but the fact that it came against Milton.

Ousmane Kromah, Lee County

Kromah is a four-star recruit with 16 offers including Alabama, Florida, Colorado, Auburn, and Florida State. It is a reason that he has all these offers and recognition, because on the field he is a true baller. With 913 rushing yards (6-A Leader), he has led his team to a 5-1 record. In his most recent game versus Houston County, he may be coming off his best high school performance. Houston County is one of the best schools in the state and he put up 327 rushing yards and four touchdowns, almost outscoring a Bears team that averages nearly 50 points per game. The scary thing for Lee County opponents is that Kromah is only a junior and for the rest of this season and next he will give a lot of opposing defenses nightmares.

Duke Watson, Mary Persons

Mary Persons is having its best season since 2018 and its in large part due to Duke Watson. The three-star Louisville commit is the key cog in this Mary Persons’ offense. In only five games played, a game behind most of the state’s leading rushers, he has 953 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging nearly 10 yards per carry. He has had big games all season helping his team get wins over Northeast, Trinity Christian and the biggest one yet Prince Avenue Christian. Watson has been balling all season, with each game over 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns, but his last two games may have put him on the map to some who weren’t already following. He ran for 123 yards and four touchdowns on only nine carries versus Columbus and then the big one was 315 yards and five touchdowns to outscore Prince Avenue Christian by himself.

Nick Woodford, Northeast

Woodford is right behind Duke Watson. He is only two yards back with 951. He leads his team in all purpose yards and has played phenomenal all season being a key piece if not the key itself when it comes to his teams 5-1 record. The thing that stands out with Woodford is he balls out against the best. Versus Fitzgerald he ran for 219 yards and two touchdowns, versus Mary Persons he ran for 134 yards and versus Carver he ran for 100 yards and two touchdowns.

Matthew Fuller, Wayne County

The three-star South Carolina commit has been a rock steady superstar for Wayne County. He currently sits at second in the state for rushing yards with 1,075 yards (first in 4-A) and 10 touchdowns. The senior leads his team in all-purpose yards and is a viable receiving option with the second most receiving yards and tied for most receiving touchdowns.

Jeanarion Kamga, Westside

The junior from Westside currently has the third most rushing yards in the state with 1,040 and he is the 2-A leader. Kamga has never had a dull moment this season. He has rushed for over 120 yards each game and scored a touchdown in five of six games. The only game he didn’t score was a game in which he went for 200 yards for the second time this season. His play can be directly linked to Westside’s wins. In games where he has two or more touchdowns Westside is 3-0.