School has just begun, and the fall months mean football is headed our way. Each year just prior to football season, In The Game High School Sports Magazine highlights a particular position in the game of football. For the 2015 school year, ITG put out the call for local high school coaches to send us the best running backs around. The result was 16 outstanding running backs from the Chattahoochee Valley showing up at Calvary Christian School’s new football field for this feature. These guys are a testimony to the kind of talent high schools in this area produce. Each one has unique abilities and is a vital part of their individual teams. Friday nights under the stadium lights will be a little more exciting because of these stellar athletes.
Name: Prather Hudson
Age: 18
Parents: Edward and Maxine Hudson
High School: Brookstone School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’1”
Weight: 185
Position: CB/RB
Coach: Scott Pethtel
How long have you been playing football? Since I was four.
Favorite food: Steak
Best Movie: Remember the Titans
What do you like to do in your spare time? Fishing
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Auburn
Person you would most like to meet: Gale Sayers
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? The brotherhood that forms between the players.
Name: Anthony Santiago
Age: 17
Parents: Hector Ostolaza and Lorina Santiago-Ostolaza
High School: Calvary Christian School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 207
Position: FB
Coach: Brian Osborne
How long have you been playing football? Three years
Favorite food: Red Snapper
Best movie: Inception
What do you like to do in your spare time? Shoot
Favorite sports team (college or professional): New England Patriots
Person you would most like to meet: Tom Brady
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? It’s challenging and fun.
Name: Jaquaze Gaines
Age: 17
Parents: Tanetia Gaines
High School: Carver High School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 195
Position: RB
Coach: Coach Kegler
How long have you been playing football? Since 7 (years old)
Favorite food: Cubed steak
Best movie: Gridiron Gang
What do you like to do in your spare time? Work out and chill with my family.
Favorite sports team (college or professional): I like Auburn
Person you would most like to meet: Tavon Austin
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? Because when I play football is the only time I am happy and at peace.
Name: Jaxton Carson
Age: 16
Parents: Jason Carson and Tomeka Carson
High School: Central High School
Graduating class: 2017
Height: 5’8”
Weight: 201
Position: RB
Coach: Jamie Dubose
How long have you been playing football? 11 years
Favorite food: Pizza
Best movie: Friday Night Lights
What do you like to do in your spare time? Draw and play video games
Favorite sports team (college or professional): University of Alabama
Person you would most like to meet: Trent Richardson
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? The thrill of displaying my talents on the field.
Name: Kenjavis Poole
Age: 17
Parents: Salanda Brown
High School: Chattahoochee County High School
Graduating class: 2017
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 190
Position: RB
Coach: Josh Kemp
How long have you been playing football? All my life
Favorite food: Fried chicken
Best movie: American Sniper
What do you like to do in your spare time? Lift weights
Favorite sports team (college or professional): LSU
Person you would most like to meet: Jesus
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? I like to knock dudes out.
Name: Ja’Quan Mason
Age: 18
Parents: Shaletha Mason
High School: Columbus High School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 6’
Weight: 193
Position: RB/SS
Coach: Phillip Marino
How long have you been playing football? Five years
Favorite food: Pizza
Best movie: Step Brothers
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Seattle Seahawks
Person you would most like to meet: Kam Chancellor
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? I love the contact. It’s a sport where everyone and anyone can be aggressive.
Name: Quan Holt
Age: 17
Parents: Sabrina Holt
High School: Glenwood School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 6’
Weight: 220
Position: RB/OLB
Coach: Tripp Henderson
How long have you been playing football? Six years
Favorite food: Chicken, pizza, milkshakes
Best movie: Grease
What do you like to do in your spare time? Sleep
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Auburn Tigers
Person you would most like to meet: Ray Lewis
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? I enjoy the sport of football because it teaches you how to build character and it separates the men from the boys.
Name: Marco Lee
Age: 15
Parents: Tiffany and Marco Lee
High School: Hardaway High School
Graduating class: 2018
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 185
Position: RB/LB
Coach: Jeff Battles
How long have you been playing football? For six years
Favorite food: Hot wings
Best movie: Friday
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play basketball
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Oregon Ducks
Person you would most like to meet: Adrian Peterson
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? I enjoy playing football because I enjoy working hard and having physical contact.
Name: Jacob Rovig
Age: 17
Parents: Tim and Tracie Rovig
High school: Harris County High School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 6’
Weight: 200
Position: RB/LB
Coach: Dwight Jones
How long have you been playing football? 13 years (since I was four)
Favorite food: Prime Rib
Best movie: Shooter
What do you like to do in your spare time? Hunt and fish
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Georgia Bulldogs
Person you would most like to meet: Mark Wahlberg
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? I love running the football, big hits, and Friday Night Lights
Name: Jaden Jordan
Age: 16
Parents: Jeneka Jordan and Meredith Benton
High school: Jordan Vocational High School
Graduating class: 2017
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 170
Position: FS/DB/RB/WR
Coach: Jim Brown
How long have you been playing football? Since 7th grade
Favorite food: Pizza
Best movie: Any Given Sunday
What do you like to do in your spare time? Listen to music
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Auburn University/Seattle Seahawks
Person you would most like to meet? T.J. Yeldon
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? It’s physical and I enjoy the teamwork from players, and I am a team player.
Name: Walter Boze IV
Age: 17
Parents: Amanda and Frank Walker; Walter Boze III
High School: Kendrick High School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’7”
Weight: 165
Position: RB
Coach: Cedric Ware
How long have you been playing football? All my life.
Favorite food: Chicken
Best movie: Gridiron Gang
What do you like to do in your spare time? Work out
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Oregon Ducks
Person you would most like to meet: De’Anthony Thomas
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? It builds character and I love the game.
Name: Mykelle Kelley
Age: 18
Parents: Marie Burton; Michael Kelley
High School: Marion County Middle High School
Graduating class: 2017
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 170
Position: RB
Coach: Mike Swaney
How long have you been playing football? Since middle school
Favorite food: Pizza
Best movie: Fifty Shades of Grey
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play street basketball
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Georgia State
Person you would most like to meet Todd Gurley
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? Very competitive, fun, physical and it takes a man to play the sport, so I’m a man.
Name: Kalan Watts
Age: 17
Parents: Frank Watts
High School: Northside High School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 185
Position: RB
Coach: Morgan Ingram
How long have you been playing football? Since I was five years old.
Favorite food: Pizza and hot wings
Best movie: When the Game Stands Tall
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play Xbox
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Lebron James
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? My first love
Name: DeAndre’ Bowman II
Age: 17
Parents: DeAndre’ and Chari Bowman
High school: Pacelli School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 180
Position: RB
Coach: Alan Griffin
How long have you been playing football? 12 years
Favorite food: Pizza
Best movie: Bourne Legacy
What do you like to do in your spare time? Video games
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Lakers
Person you would most like to meet: Reggie Bush
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? The high intensity of the game and the contact.
Name: Jermaine Hernandez
Age: 17
Parents: Brendaliz Medina-Torres
High School: Spencer High School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 145
Position: WR
Coach: Pierre Coffey
How long have you been playing football? ??
Favorite food: Pizza
Best movie: Spirit
What do you like to do in your spare time? Hang out with friends
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Ohio State/Dallas Cowboys
Person you would most like to meet? Dez Bryant
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? Football helps me to realize what I’m capable of and reminds me that I can be successful. Football has always been my favorite thing to do.
Name: Sydarrian K. Cobb
Age: 17
Parents: Velyon and Cory Cobb
High School: Shaw High School
Graduating class: 2016
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 175
Position: RB
Coach: Coach Charles Stamey
How long have you been playing football? Since I was seven years old
Favorite food: Pizza
Best movie: Friday Night Lights
What do you like to do in your spare time? Play my PS3 and PS4, fish, and watch football highlights
Favorite sports team (college or professional): Alabama
Person you would most like to meet: DeMarco Murray
Why do you enjoy the sport of football? I just love the game and hope my talents can take me somewhere in life.
Columbus Valley/Football feature/August 2015
Running Backs
By Beth Welch
Photos by Jerry Christenson
Local running backs rushing to begin football season
