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West Columbia (SC) The most glorified unit in the game of football is the offensive backfield. With good support personel, a backfield can make a team’s dreams come true – or bring your nightmares to a reality. Here’s a look at the MIdlands’ top offensive backfields in this ELITE UNIT PREVIEW.
1. GILBERT INDIANS – The Indians return two of the top rushers in the state from 2021, and to add to the bowl of hell they bring to your defense, they have a quarterback that can run, as well. Senior Alias Graham-Woodberry (5’9,170) is definitely the Lightening in this backfield. This slasher with blazing speed rushed for more than 1,600 yards last season and 16 touchdowns. And if facing lightening isn’t bad enough, they bring the Thunder with junior running back Jaden Allen-Hendrix (6’2,230) who was a 1000 yards rusher last season.Allen-Hendrix is a beast in the weight room and a punishing runner. He is SCVarsity.com’s top MIdlands Player for the 2024 Class. The quarterback can make a difference and if they keep senior Chance Jennings taking snaps, the Indians instantly have another rushing threat when the air is not open. Jennings rushed for more than 600 yards as a junior. Now, Jennings’ natural position is at wide receiver and he has an offer from The Citadel. Should rising junior Drake Braddock be able to get the job done at quarterback, we will see Jennings move back to wide receiver. Either way, the dynamic duo of Woodberry and Hendrix is enough to make any defensive coordinator have nightmares.
2. DUTCH FORK SILVER FOXES – This isn’t exactly a reach. The Midlands’ top running back for 2023 and one of the top backs in the state returns after rushing for 1,735 yards and 35 touchdowns a year ago. Jarvis Green (5’11,185) is back to lead the charge behind a big offensivbe line and a coach well known for grinding out games on the ground. Joining him in the backfield will be senior Maurice Mcquire (5’7,165), who is a legit 4.5 40 guy. Last season in limited touches, McQuire rushed for 276 on just 38 carries and scored two touchdowns. These two guys in this type of offense behiund a big line will spell trouble for defensess.
3. CARDINAL NEWMAN CARDINALS – The Cards have a New Head Coach and he knows he already has a horse in the stable. Senior AJ Reyes (5’9,175) rushed for 1000 yards in 2021 in just eight games. I’ve seen this kid paly and can tell you that he is not only the best running back in SCISA, but he’s one of the best running backs in the state. He’s shifty, very quick in his transitional movement and can navigate traffic as good as anyone, and when he gets to daylight, he has that second gear. This year, he is goined in the backfield by a transfer from Airport, “K9” Kinard (5’7,175), who rushed for 879 yards and 7 scores for Airport last season. He is a legit sub 4.6 40 guy. Two other players who will add to this assault are Jahi Garvin-Mingo (5’8,170) and Troy Seal (5’9,170); both of those guys play both ways and at WR but they will get some carries from the backfield as well.
4. RIVER BLUFF GATORS – The Gators of River Bluff struggled with some injuries in 2021 but they return one of the best backfield duos in the Midlands. Senior Cooper Johns (5’10, 190). He only played six games in 2021 with a collar bone injury but went for 788 yards and had 100 yards receiving in thos six games. He is a weight room warrior and benhes 315 and cleans 300 so he has significant power. Senior Gray Herring (5’7,175) is a stick of dynamite running the football. He reminds me so much of former USC great Ryan Brewer when I watch him. He only started 2 games last season but in his limited play, rushed for 512 yards and 5 scores. Like, Gilbert, they have a qarterback who can move the football with his legs in sophomore Parker Murray (6’1,170). Murray had a hand injury last season but his one game he played, he threw for 160 yards and a touchdown. He is one of my top dual threat quarterbacks in the 2025 Class and one of the top three in the Midlands in that class.
5. LEXINGTON WILDCATS – The Wildcats have
several weapons in their backfield that are going to make them scary. First of all, senior running back Jonah Norris (5’10,200) comes in aftt limited play in 2021 due to injury but is a powerful running back. He’s got power in his legs, squatting 405 in the weight room. On film, you see a guy who sees the field and explodes through the holes. When h e sees daylight, he is an “as the crow flies” running and is not easily brought down. Joining him in the backfield is senior Tyler Walker (6’0,170). Walker was injured in basketball but returns to the lineup in September. Until then, the Wildcats also have junior Christian Sexton (6’0,195) who is a defensive starter at linebacker for the Wildcats and senior Kam Coulter (5’9,170), who is also a defensive starter at cornerback for the Wildcats. Joining a great group of running backs is one of the top quarterbacks in the MIdlands with junior Taiden Mines (5’10, 180), who rushed for 420 yards and 10 scores as a sophomore.Oh, and just for good measure, add in junior H-back/TE Cam Sutton (6’3,240) who gives the Wildcats a power game.
6. BROOKLAND-CAYCE BEARCATS – The Bearcats are, by nature, a running football team. This season, they have some very good running backs behing what may be their biggest OL ever. Last season, Nahzekiel Mays (5’9,180) was the primary ball carrier starting out. But rising junior DeShawn Washington (5’11,200) won the starting job by mid season and Mays moved to a more natural slot back position. Both of these guys return after rushing for near 1000 yards each, and they will be joined by sophomore Tyrone Jackson (5’11,220), who starts at linebacker for the Bearcats but will get significant carries in their ground offense. Their quarterback, Elon commit Tanner Staton (6’2,210) rushed for 662 yards and 6 scores hinself last season. So the Bearcats are loaded in the backfield.
7. AC FLORA FALCONS – The Falcons return one of hte top running backs in the Midlands to their lineup, senior Markel Townsend (5’8,175), who had over 1,500 yards rushing last season with 23 touchdowns. He will have junior Noah Kelson (5’9,190) who is a powerful back and could play H-back in the offense, along with sophomore sensation Aiden Mosley (4’11,185), who was impressive as a freshman last season. The key is not only do they have solid running backs but they have the top offensive line in the Midlands.
8. SPRING VALLEY VIKINGS – Spring Valley has two backs that make them one of the top ground units in the Midlands. Senior Evan Javis (6’0,200) is back and in limited carries last year (33) he averaged 11 yards per carry. He plays a lot of defense for the Vikings, as well. KJ Jefferson (5’11,175) rushed for 658 yards on 111 carries last season, averaging over 5 yards per carry. This team lost their all-everything quarterback to graduation and USC, which leads me to believe the thinking on the scheme will change slightly, giving the backs a more prominent role in the game.
9. GRAY COLLEGIATE WAR EAGLES – How does a team who loses the best player in the state, who happened to be their running back, make this list as an elite unit? Well, introducing two sophomores who have the prowess on field to make them dangerous. Caleb Ford (5’10,220) is an animal in terms of strength and the bruiser who can get tough yards and is difficult to bring down. BJ Montgomery (5’9,170) is the speedster in the duo, who can slash through traffic or hit the edge with speed. The War Eagles are calling these two Thunder and Lightening and with a solid passing game with Junior quarterback Riley Staton, this offenses will be dangerous again.
10. CRESTWOOD KNIGHTS – The Knights of Crestwood have to make the list with solid running backs and a quarterback who is as dangerous with his legs as he is with his arm. Senior RB Senior RB Ryan Cowell (5’9,190) is a bruiser who runs for tough yards and rushed for close to 700 yards in just 100 carries in 2021. Senior Jaden Hatcher (5’10,185) is a guy who will get carries and has the speed to get to the edge but he will also line up as a slot back or wide receiver at times. Junior Azarion Yates (5’11,230) is another physical runner who rushed for 360 yards last season in just 49 carries. Junior quarterback Javion Martin is mobile and if he’s flushed out by a defense, he will run and will hurt them. He rushed for 400 yards as a sophomore to compliment his 1300 yards passing. He was the Region co-offensive player of the year.
OTHER ELITE GROUND GAMES:
CA Johnson Hornets – Dawan Rice *5’8,170) and Nigel 5’9,190)
Keenan Raiders – QB Hernandez O’Neal (5’10,200) and RB Quay Howard (5’11,210)
