Running back position is deep across the area

As it’s proven to be a task every year to find out exactly who are the top returning players at their respective skill positions, Friday Game Night has put together a series of top returning players in 2021. 

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Some of these players already have accepted college offers, some have offers on the table, and some are starting to blip on the radar. 

We begin our series with, perhaps, the richest position in the Northeast Georgia area: running backs. 

Last season, the area had some bruising rushing attacks, and most are back this year. 

Of course, some did graduate like Gabe Ervin Jr at Buford, Jaizen Ellingham of Flowery Branch and Jonah Daniel at Union County. But the bulk of the hard-churning backs return to wreak havoc on the opposing defenses around the area. 

Below are the top returning running backs in our coverage area: 

Buford – Sr. Victor Venn, 137-1,211 yards, 18 TD (committed to Colorado)

Buford – Sr. CJ Clinkscales (committed to Boston College), 38-360 yards, 5 TD

Cherokee Bluff – Sr. Jayquan Smith, 150-1,079 15 TD (Offers from Air Force, Georgia State, Arkansas State, Charlotte and Yale)

Commerce – Sr. Dreylan Martin, 127-858, 12 TD 

Flowery Branch – Jr. Myles Ivey, 145-678 4TD

Gainesville – Jr. Naim Cheeks, 1,207 yds in 10 games, 6.32 yds/carry, 13 TDs rushing - 17 rec., 118 yds, 1 TD. All-Region as a Soph. 

Jefferson – So. Sammy Brown, 133-1,368, 14 TD (offers from Georgia, Auburn, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Ole Miss and South Carolina)

Jefferson – Sr. Jordan Perry, 51-434, 5 TD (holds offers from Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Kansas State, Kent State and MTSU)

Rabun County – Jr. Lang Windham, 160-1,392, 12 TD; 497 yards receiving, 5 TD

North Hall – Sr. Kevin Rochester, 899, 13 TD

Towns County – Sr. Kyle Oakes, 1,025 (8 games), 14 TD

White County – Sr. Silas Mulligan, 155-1,052, 15 TD 

West Hall – Sr. Tilil Blackwell, 70-351 10 TD

• UP NEXT: WIDE RECEIVERS

Buford running back Victor Venn rushed for 1,211 yards and 18 touchdowns last season, including a 134-yard performance against Valdosta to help lead the Wolves to the Class 6A championship game. (Photos by Seth Chapman)

Gainesville's Naim Cheeks rushed for 1,207 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Myles Ivey, who rushed for 678 yards and four touchdowns in 2020, returns to lead Flowery Branch's backfield this season.

North Hall's Kevin Rochester rushed for 899 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2020.

Jefferson's Jordan Perry is back for his senior season. He rushed for 434 yards and five touchdowns last season.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/8/1029595/running-back-position-is-deep-across-the-area