Football, often called the ultimate team sport, can still be very selfish. Playmakers want the ball – every down, every play, every series. They don’t always like to share and they want to be in the spotlight.
Unless you’re talking about the Valdosta Wildcats backfield.
For the last several years, the ‘Cats have had two of the best running backs in the region splitting time. Seniors Nelson Herring and Malcolm Joseph, best of friends on and off the field, complement each other well in Valdosta’s offense. They are unselfish, enjoy playing together, and don’t mind sharing playing time. The two running backs have tallied almost 3,500 rushing yards in the last two seasons and are a big reason why the Wildcats are returning to the playoffs for the fifth straight season.
Herring is a 5’8”, 165-pound speedster. More of a finesse back than Joseph, Herring would rather run around a defender than run him over. Don’t let that last statement fool you – Herring doesn’t mind contact and won’t hesitate to lower his head when he has to. Herring has amassed about 850 yards rushing and nine touchdowns this season, including a 223-yard game (on just seven carries) against Thomas County Central in the first game of the season. He also scored the game-winning touchdown to give the Wildcats a 28-24 victory. “I felt like I was patient that night. I was waiting on the big run to open up,” he says.
Herring’s playmaking ability has attracted the attention of several college programs. He plans to attend Marshall, where he hopes to figure prominently in the Thundering Herd’s fast-paced, no huddle offense.
At 5’10” and 187 pounds, Joseph is more of a power back. He is confident in his ability to make big things happen and he believes he can turn a game around every time he touches the ball. Despite his belief in his talent, he doesn’t come across as cocky or arrogant. He is simply convinced that every time the ball is in his hands, he can make a big play.
His confidence received a big boost when, as a sophomore, Joseph earned a starting spot in the Wildcats line-up. That Joseph was even there as a sophomore is a minor miracle itself. After his freshman season, Joseph left Valdosta for Cypress Lake High School in Fort Myers, Florida. He spent the second semester of his ninth grade year in Fort Myers before returning to Valdosta for his tenth-grade season. Herring was one of the reasons for Joseph’s return. “The coaches called me but Nelson did, too. He kept calling me and asking me to come back. He said he wanted me on the team with him,” recalls Joseph. He relented and came back to Valdosta. Even after he returned, he had his detractors. “A lot of people didn’t think I would start. But I knew I could start that year. I ended up starting and surprised a lot of people,” says Joseph.
Coming back home was a good decision for the running back. Over the last two seasons, Joseph has rushed for around 1,800 yards. This year, he has 960 yards and 11 touchdowns. He has committed to Georgia State, though other schools are still courting him. “Colleges started contacting me during the summer before my junior year. It surprised me. I always heard I wasn’t good enough to play in college,” he says. “When I started getting those letters, I knew I could play at the next level. It also inspired me to get bigger, faster, and stronger.”
Herring and Joseph are always pulling for each other. They want each oth
er to play well and they pay attention to what the other is doing. There is no jealousy, no animosity between them. They genuinely want the other to do well. When asked about Joseph’s most impressive moment, Herring doesn’t hesitate. It happened last season against Colquitt County. The ‘Cats and Packers were playing in Valdosta and Joseph broke an almost impossible run of 73 yards. He crisscrossed the field, going left then back to the right. Eventually, he outlasted the Packers defense for one of his three touchdowns that night. Valdosta won that game, 28-26, over a Colquitt team that advanced to the semifinals. For Joseph, Herring’s biggest play came this year against Newton. Herring took the ball up the middle and was immediately swarmed by the Rams defense. The players away from the line of scrimmage thought the play was over and started getting ready to huddle for the next play. All of a sudden, Herring broke through the pile for a 75-yard touchdown.
Herring and Joseph entered the season hoping to win a region championship then make a strong run at Valdosta’s first state title since 1998. The ‘Cats didn’t win region. They finished 6-4 and entered the playoffs as the fourth seed. Their first game was against Langston Hughes. “We don’t compete against each other. There’s no animosity and we feed off each other,” says Herring.
Perhaps they can feed off each other for five more weeks.
Special Feature/South Georgia/December 2013
Nelson Herring and Malcolm Joseph
Valdosta High School
Valdosta, Georgia
Photography be Micki K. Photography
Robert Preston Jr.
Wildcats’ running backs help lead Valdosta to a fifth-straight playoff appearance
