The state of Georgia is known for its top tier high school football teams and for producing great players. While we usually focus on great individual talent, the truly great programs in Georgia usually have achieved success through the old adage of team before me.
In researching the best running backs and quarterbacks for our ranking of the Top 5 offensive backfields of all time in Georgia high school football, it was easy to find the best QBs and RBs. However, a pattern began to emerge as I tried to find the best combination of these two positions on one team: During most seasons of a quarterback with record-breaking stats, there weren’t necessarily that many running backs having the same type of performance in that same year. The search for the best units consisting of a top QB and at least one RB was not as easy to find as you may think.
1. West Rome, 1985
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QB Jamey Jones
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RB Joe McCluskey
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TB William Kent
This offensive backfield led West Rome to an undefeated 15-0 season and the Georgia high school 2A state championship in 1985.
Kent and McCluskey actually led West Rome to four straight state championships from 1982 to 1985 and a 59-1 record over that period. Jones started the 1985 season only at QB, meaning all three were in the same offensive backfield.
Kent signed with Alabama, and McCluskey signed with Jacksonville State.
Charles Winslette was the head coach of the 1985 state champion West Rome Chieftains.
2. Camden County, 2012
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QB Bryce Ramsey
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RB JJ Green
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RB Kalvarez Bessent
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RB Antonio Wimbush
These four players combined to give Camden County one of the most complete offensive backfields of any high school football team in Georgia.
Green, Wimbush, and Bessent all saw plenty of action in head coach Jeff Herron’s triple-option offense, while Ramsey’s passing game actually thrived in the offense built around the run.
Ramsey threw for 1,396 yards with 19 TDs during his senior season in 2012. Camden County finished 11-2 that season.
Green rushed for 919 yards with 13 rushing TDs while adding one receiving TD during his senior season in 2012.
Bessent rushed for 481 yards with five TDs and added 244 yards receiving with three TDs during his junior season in 2012.
Wimbush rushed for 488 yards with nine TDs as a sophomore that year.
Ramsey and Green signed with the University of Georgia following the 2012 season.
Bessent, who also played at cornerback, signed with Auburn as a defensive back following his senior season at Camden County, then transferred to Eastern Arizona.
3. Milton, 2023-2024
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QB Luke Nickel
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RB TJ Lester
One of the most dominant one-two punches of an offensive backfield in Georgia’s highest classification in 2023 and second-highest classification in 2024, Nickel and Lester led the Milton Eagles to a 13-2 season in 2023, an undefeated 15-0 season in 2024, and back-to-back GHSA state championships during that time.
As the team’s primary back last year, Lester rushed for 1,848 yards with 27 TDs and added 111 yards receiving with two TDs for a total of 29 TDs.
In 2023 Lester had 744 yards rushing with eight TDs as one of the backs in Milton’s rushing game.
Nickel put together one of the state’s most dominant performances from any QB in any classification in 2024, passing for 3,744 yards with 44 TDs and completing 68% of pass attempts. He also rushed for 300 yards with six TDs in 2024.
In 2023, Nickel passed for 3,914 yards with 39 TDs while completing 66% of pass attempts. He also had six rushing TDs in 2023.
Over his four-year high school career, Nickel passed for 10,065 yards with 107 TDs.
Nickel signed with the University of Miami, and Lester signed with the University of West Georgia.
4. Lee County, 2024
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QB Weston Bryan
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RB Ousmane Kromah
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RB Canton Williams
These three players combined for 69 TDs last year and were each instrumental in leading head coach Dean Fabrizio’s Lee County Trojans to the region title in Region 2-5A, one of the state’s toughest regions, with an undefeated 5-0 mark while finishing 13-1 overall. Lee County advanced to the 5A semifinals in 2024, where they suffered their first loss of the year against Milton.
Quarterback Weston Bryan actually led the team in rushing with 1,528 yards and 34 TDs. He also passed for 2,407 yards with 29 TDs in 2024.
Ousmane Kromah was a four-year starter and became the talk of the state with his unique style as a slashing and power-type back. In 2024 he rushed for 1,356 yards with 15 TDs and was effective as receiver out of the backfield, catching 34 passes for 741 yards and eight TDs. He showed his versatility as a vicious lead blocker for Bryan while still being recognized as one of the best backs in the state and in the country.
Kromah was selected as an AJC Super 11 player in 2024.
Williams quietly had a productive season in 2024 in the shadow of his two fellow backfield mates. He rushed for 630 yards on 70 carries, scoring 11 TDs. Williams will take over the primary rushing duties as a senior for Lee County in 2025.
Bryan signed with Georgia Southern University, and Kromah signed with Florida State University.
5. Lowndes, 2008
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QB Khari Franklin
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RB Greg Reid
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RB Gerald Demps
Seniors Reid and Demps lined up behind junior quarterback Franklin, and all three combined to lead Lowndes to an undefeated region record and a region title in what was then Region 1-5A in 2008. The Vikings finished 12-1 overall that season, advancing to the GHSA Class 5A quarterfinals under head coach Randy McPherson.
Reid was one of the most electrifying running backs in the state as he ran over and around defenders on his way to 1,242 yards rushing and 16 TDs in 2008. He also caught two TDs out of the backfield with 234 yards receiving that season.
In 2008 Franklin had 456 yards rushing as the team’s option quarterback, adding 278 yards passing and four TDs in Lowndes’ run-heavy, triple-option offense.
Demps carried the ball 59 times for 451 yards with nine TDs and had a receiving TD that season.
Reid signed with Florida State University, Franklin signed with Troy University, and Demps signed with Florida State University.
Honorable Mention: Douglas County, 1988
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Kevin Ellison
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Michael Welch
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Monte Lovelace
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Tony Riley
These four players, together known as the Four Horsemen, led Douglas County to the region title and Georgia high school football semifinals in 1988. While I can’t find any information or stats on these guys, just about every coach I have spoken to includes them as one of the best backfields they had ever seen.
I was told that all four players received college scholarships, but I cannot find any information to support that.
