Breaking down the state of South Carolina's top senior running backs
PalmettoPreps.com has evaluated a host of senior running backs and compiled a list of many of the state's top 2020 players/prospects at the position.
Which players made the list? What do we think of each's game? PalmettoPreps.com subscribers can get our list, plus our scouting reports, below.
Braydon Bennett - Southside - Bennett's size really jumps out, and he's a guy that profile at RB, WR, or DB at the college level. He had a huge junior season in 2018, rushing for over 2,000 yards and scoring 32 touchdowns. Bennett is athletic, as evidenced by his jump numbers in high school track and field. He's a powerful runner and it's a difficult ask for high school defenders to try to tackle him.
Deshawn Boyd - Westwood - A compact runner, Boyd is not someone that defenders appear to enjoy trying to tackle on tape. He shows plus quickness in the hole, able to use above average footwork to step and go into open space. Boyd does a nice job of setting up defenders to make his next move into space.
Brandon Edwards - Blythewood - A slippery runner, Edwards excels at making plays in space whether running the ball or catching passes out of the backfield. Many believe he could play slot wide receiver or defensive back in college. He has foot quickness, vision, and is reliable.
Melik Frost - John Paul II - This SCISA standout is also valuable on the defensive side of the ball; he made tons of plays there last season and was his region's defensive player of the year. Yet he also excels carrying the ball; he's powerful and explosive. You will not see Frost go down on first contact; he's constantly fighting for extra yardage.
Jermarius Goodman - Ware Shoals - Has very intriguing size in terms of college projection at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds. Goodman makes a lot of chunk plays on film and is adept at running between the tackles or bouncing plays outside. He has some wiggle to avoid tacklers and is also an asset in the return game.
David Hall, Clover - This guy is the definition of a north/south runner. When he gets the ball, he's looking to get upfield and if you're in his way, you could pay. Despite his straightforward game, Hall also is capable of bouncing it outside and using his set up blocks to gain ground. He's just not interested in dancing.
Jonathan Hall - With fellow senior Ron Hoff off to Katy (Texas), Hall is going to step in and be the lead back for Dutch Fork this season. In that offense, he'll certainly do numbers. Aside from that, he has a tremendous skill set that's going to put him on the map as one of the state's best by season's end. Hall runs with a plus burst through the hole, and he can run around or through contact.
Rahjai Harris - Byrnes - This program has produced its share of big-time running backs in the past, and Harris is the latest who will play at a high level in college. His combination of speed, quicks in the open field, and vision is intriguing. He's a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield as well.
Stanley Hill, Strom Thurmond - Let's keep it simple: Hill is hard to tackle. He's only 5-foot-4, which makes him difficult to find and get hands on when caught up in the wash of the trenches. He's tough and explosive, and he can run away from defenders in the open field.
Kalil Jenkins - Fort Dorchester - Jenkins plays with a low center of gravity and has excellent balance, which allows him to show the ability to bounce off would-be tacklers if they don't catch him squarely. He can catch out of the backfield, and shows patient footwork in the hole.
Max Louris - Eastside - Louris is flying under the radar, in our book. Turn on the tape and you'll see him breaking tackles at a high clip, whether it's shaking off defenders who've gone too high, or slipping out of ankle attempts.
Nathan Mahaffey, Nation Ford - This prospect has some of the more intriguing film out of backs we've scouted in the '20 class. He has a nice combination of vision and explosion. Mahaffey's hard to square up in terms of getting a clean shot on him, and can make defenders miss whether in the hole or in the open field.
Jalen Montgomery - Cardinal Newman - A player who could profile as a defensive back on the college level as well, Montgomery shows playmaking ability from his spot in the backfield as well. He can run and has elusive open-field ability.
Malory Pinckney - Southside Christian - It seems like this Upstate product should be drawing more interest than he is at this time. He seems to check all of the boxes of what college coaches would want in a back, and he's been one of the state's best overall performers regardless of class on offense. Pinckney can run over and through defenders but is also a big play threat.
Dante Smith - Chapman - Smith is a big-play threat from the running back position in a Chapman offense that perennially features plenty of firepower. He's listed at 5-foot-8, 170-pounds, and at the next level is more of a change of pace type back who could also contribute as a specialist or perhaps in the slot. In high school, he plays bigger than his size. Smith looks to burst through the gap and gets upfield; he's more adept at breaking tackles than his size would indicate.
Turner Ussery, Landrum - A do-it-all type player, Ussery brings a lot of versatility to the field. He played in 7 games last year and went over 1,000 yards, so that gives one a sense of what he can do on the field.
Braden Walker, River Bluff - Walker just flat-out produces for the Gators. He has good size, and he's adept at running between the tackles or bouncing it outside and making plays down the field. One of the state's best and most productive players on offense, period.
Keegan Williams, Oceanside Collegiate - One of the smaller backs on this list, Williams is undeterred from gaining chunk yards against opposing defenses because of his skill set. He has good vision, sets up his blocks well, and can bounce the ball all around the field.
Ahmorae Wilmore - Newberry - A no-nonsense, downhill runner, Wilmore's primary objective once he gets the football is to gain ground by getting up the field. He's not a dancer, nor does he bring a wide array of moves. He simply picks up yards in chunks, and defenders have a tough time latching on to him. He plays with very good balance and has a very powerful lower body.
