Southeast Georgia can be counted on to have top running backs year after year. Sometimes you see them mature over the years, but occasionally, one comes from nowhere to take the area by storm their senior year and even the odd freshman stepping up. Some of the outstanding backs from our area include Quayvon Hicks, who went from Pierce County to the University of Georgia, James Dean, the Glynn Academy standout who now plays for Georgia Southern, and McIntosh County Academy’s Jermaine Austin, who also played in Statesboro.
This year there seems to be quite a few backfield standouts including those featured here: Dedrick Mills of Ware County, who has already verbally committed to Georgia Tech; Andrew Lee of Charlton County, who has interest from at least four Division I schools; Garrison Hurd, who helped lead Glynn Academy to the quarterfinals of the state playoffs last year; and Hollis Veal, who set a school rushing record at Frederica Academy. All four are top-tier running backs with size and speed and a knack for finding the end zone. They also share an ability to play both ways. In high school football, it is not uncommon to see running backs do double duty as linebackers or members of the secondary. That is because the skill set needed for the positions are similar. They require speed to make plays and outstanding field vision and size to deliver hits. Even the most famous Georgia high school running back ever, Herschel Walker, played linebacker as he went both ways for the single-A Johnson County Trojans.
Still, they all prefer playing offense and getting the opportunity to get the ball. Glynn Academy senior Garrison Hurd enjoys the part of the game commonly referred to as “crunch time.” A game situation where the ball is on the goal line or it is fourth down and short, and “everyone at the stadium knows your getting the ball.” He prefers playing offense, because it gives him more control of the game. “Running the ball is just simply fun. Especially if you have a good O-line,” he says, adding, “like I do.” For Hollis Veal of Frederica Academy, playing offense lets him do what he does best. “Its cliché, but I like scoring touchdowns,” he says.
Here they are, four of Southeast Georgia’s best game breakers and touchdown makers.
Andrew Lee
Senior
Charlton County Indians
Folkston, Ga.
Coach Rich McWhorter
Charlton County senior Andrew Lee has been one of the most recruited players in Southeast Georgia since becoming a starter his sophomore year. By last season, schools such as the University of Georgia, Clemson, Florida, and FSU began showing interest in the rugged 5’11 205-pound running back. He ran for 1,465 yards and 19 touchdowns on 205 carries in 2014 and was named to the Second Team All-Region 2-A squad. Meanwhile, he was also playing linebacker on defense, where he was a ball-hawking headhunter for the Indians.
Lee grew up in Folkston, Georgia, playing football and basketball with his brothers and then moving into recreation league ball. In middle school, he averaged 191 yards and 17 points per game. Before he had made it to high school, Lee had rushed for more than 300 yards to go along with five touchdowns and four two-point conversions in a single game. He attracted attention as a sophomore playing in the Georgia Dome during the 2013 State Championship. Despite falling to Marion County, Lee had an amazing game that caught the scout’s eyes.
College Plans:
“I’m thinking about sports medicine. I’d like to stick around sports,” Lee says. One thing he knows is that he would like to play football in college, and he may very well get his chance should he continue to improve.
What do you enjoy most about playing football?
“I love the game and all my coaches who have pushed me to improve. This is such a great program to be around,” Lee says of Charlton County and Coach Rich McWhorter.
Do you prefer offense or defense?
Lee prefers getting the ball and hearing the roar of the crowd. “I like playing on the offensive side of the ball. I like making big plays,” he says.
What goes through your mind when you break the huddle knowing you are about to get the balI?
“I just think about making touchdowns and just going hard. I’ve got to get there. Nobody can stop me.”
What was your most memorable play?
Lee recalls last year’s first-round battle with perennial state power, Lincoln County. Down 16-0 in the fourth quarter, Charlton County mounted a comeback and with less than 30 seconds left, Lee caught a touchdown pass that forced the game into overtime. Then, in the extra period, he got the ball on the three-yard line. “I got the ball, came around the corner and I jumped over a guy’s head and scored.” The Indians kicked the extra point to seal the 23-22 victory.
Scout.com on Andrew Lee:
“Four-Star running back Andrew Lee is easy to pick out in a crowd of talented players. His size and speed combo are hard to duplicate.”
Garrison Hurd
Senior
Glynn Academy Red Terrors
Brunswick, Ga.
Coach Rocky Hidalgo
Garrison Hurd has been the go-to running back in Glynn Academy’s offense since he became a starter his sophomore year. The Red Terror senior is also a young man of many talents. He will soon have his choice as to whether he plays football or baseball in college. At 5’10” and 205 pounds, he is the catcher on the Terrors’ baseball team, but in the fall, he becomes a beast on both sides of the ball for Coach Rocky Hidalgo. He benches 305 pounds, squats 525, and cleans 325. Last season, Hurd rushed for 845 yards and 15 touchdowns while also playing five games at linebacker and being named to the Second-Team All-Region 3-AAAAA defense.
He is working on baseball or football year-round and hitting the gym every chance he gets to constantly improve himself on the field.
Classroom Clout:
Hurd carries a 3.6 grade point average entering his senior year. “I would like to major in kinesiology, the study of human body movement,” Hurd says. So far, he has interest from Army, Kennesaw State, Charleston Southern, and Elon.
Most memorable game:
His most memorable (and frightening) game was Glynn Academy’s first-round victory over Drew last year. Down in the third quarter, Hurd scored two touchdowns in the fourth, including a 54-yard run in which he ran out of one of his shoes. He then scored another in overtime. “I also held the extra point to win the game,” Hurd recalls. “Believe it or not, that was pretty scary for me.”
What goes through your mind when you break the huddle knowing you are about to get the balI?
“I usually plan on hitting the hole as hard as I can looking for cut backs. But if there’s no hole and no cut back I just lower my shoulder and hit whoever is in front of me and try and gain yards.”
Who has helped you the most and how?
Hurd credits Glynn Academy running backs coach David Bailey. “He made me a much better running back. I was more of a power runner growing up, and he taught me how to juke and all the fancy stuff,” Hurd says. “And Coach Rock has definitely helped me get recruited.”
Coach Hidalgo on Garrison Hurd:
“Garrison is just such a physical kid. He helps to dictate our identity: We are going to run the football, and we are going to have a physical running game. Another thing is his will when he runs the ball. He just overpowers tacklers and breaks a lot of tackles, and it’s demeaning to the defense. And then, on top of that, he is just such a great kid. He sets such a great example for our other players, especially the younger ones, not just as a football player, but as a person.”
Dedrick Mills
Senior
Ware County Gators
Waycross, Ga.
Coach Franklin Stephens
Dedrick Mills is a combination linebacker and running back for Coach Franklin Stephens’ Ware County Gators. At 5’11” and 215 pounds, he runs a 4.5 40-yard dash. Mills can bench 285 pounds, squats 500, and cleans 320. He has been impressive on both sides of the ball, and before summer workouts got started, Mills verbally committed to Georgia Tech as a running back. He was being recruited as both a running back and linebacker by Auburn, Florida State, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Offensively, he is a power and speed threat out of the backfield, as well as being a dangerous receiver. Defensively, he has the speed to cover a lot of ground at linebacker.
He is also a track athlete and runs the 110-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, the long jump, and triple jump.
Classroom Clout:
Mills has a 3.2 grade point average and will pursue a degree in business while at Georgia Tech.
On the field:
“I started playing football in fifth grade. I didn’t know what I was doing at first, but somehow I got the hang of it and became better every time I touched the field. I never thought I would end up in the position I’m in with football. It’s brought me a long way.” Mills’ first big hit came his freshman year in the Gators overtime win Northside-Warner Robins in the state semifinals. In his sophomore year, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution named him Honorable Mention All-State. His most memorable game came last season against Coffee County in a game that would decide state rankings most of the season.
What goes through your mind when you are on the field?
“Got to make every play.”
Favorite Part of the game?
“Running over and hitting other great players.”
Coach Franklin Stephens on Dedrick Mills:
“Dedrick is a physical football player with a unique skill set. As a running back, he has great vision and enough speed to go the distance. His size, at over 200 pounds, gives him the ability to break tackles and rack up yards after contact. Defensively, he has great instincts for the football. Those instincts along with his speed and explosiveness gives him the ability to make plays all over the field.”
Hollis Veal
Senior
Frederica Academy Knights
St. Simons Island, Ga.
Coach Brandon Derrick
Hollis Veal would have college offers even if he weren’t a standout three-sport star at Frederica Academy. “He’ll get a scholarship because he scored a 33 on the ACT,” joked Knights’ head football coach Brandon Derrick. The 6’0″, 170-pound all-around athlete was the focal point of the Frederica offense last year and played both sides of the ball, leading from his defensive back position as well as his running back position on offense. He was voted All-GISA Region 2-AAA and Honorable Mention All-State. “He was the focal point of our offense last year,” Coach Derrick said. “He was the skill guy we called on to score points.” In baseball, he was named the Academic Athlete and All-Region, and in track, he was the GISA Class AAA State Champion in the 400-meters.
Veal became a starter for the Knights’ football team his sophomore year. Before that, he was a standout at Glynn Middle School and was a teammate of Glynn Academy’s Garrison Hurd. This year will see Veal move out of the backfield more often, as he takes on the receiver role as Frederica adds more skill players to their offense to complement Veal.
Classroom Clout:
Veal carries a 3.92 grade point average and is a member of the Model UN, Film Club, Chess Club and Debate Team. His academic honors include the Headmaster’s List and summa cum laude. He plans to attend the University of Georgia and then graduate school to become a computer programmer.
What goes through your mind when you break the huddle knowing you are about to get the ball? “I just think about getting my yards and helping the team. I know that after I get it, I’m going to try to find a hole, and if I don’t, I’m going straight downhill to just get a few yards.”
Favorite part of the game?
“Competing with my teammates,” Veal says.
Your most memorable game?
“It was either the state championship game my freshman year, when we came back from a 28-7 deficit to win, or the Homecoming game last year, when we ran a halfback pass and I threw a 60-yard game-winning touchdown pass to Luckett McKeown as time expired.”
Your first big play:
“My freshman year, in the region championship, I started at free safety because our starter, Tyree Tresvant, had the flu. I remember catching the game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter.”
Coach Brandon Derrick on Hollis Veal
“He was the focal point of our offense last year being the leading rusher. He’s the skill guy we go to. He’s really our leader defensively in the secondary, and offensively, he’s got breakaway speed. He’s run a 4.57. He’s going to be surrounded this year by a lot more skill kids, and we can move him around. He will have a little different look this year. We’re going to give it to him in different packages.”
SE-PS-0915-Running Backs
Player Spotlight
September 2015
By Rob Asbell
Game Breakers and Touchdown Makers
