Player of the Year Watch: Running backs Bryant, Williams enter the chase

Kawon Bryant of North Oconee and Stanley Williams of George Walton Academy, two running backs who are on pace for more than 1,500 yards rushing for Top 10 teams, are the newest members of GHSF Daily’s Player of the Year Watch.

They replaced running backs Taj Griffin of McEachern and Treyvon Paulk of Milton, who lost significant playing time last week because of injuries. Both are expected to be back at full speed soon.

Liberty County’s Raekwon McMillan maintained his lead after a four-sack performance against Cross Creek.

Here’s the latest 10:

1. LB/RB Raekwon McMillan, Liberty County: McMillan had 15 tackles, four sacks and a forced fumble in only 2.5 quarters of a 49-0 victory over Cross Creek. On the season, McMillan has 43 tackles, nine tackles for losses, five sacks and two forced fumbles. He has scored nine touchdowns on offense, rushed for 279 yards on 28 carries and caught three passes for 79 yards. Liberty County is 4-0. The consensus No. 2 college prospect in Georgia made the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Super 11 team.

2. RB Nick Chubb, Cedartown: Chubb rushed for 257 yards and scored three touchdowns on 37 carries in a 36-14 victory over defending region champion Ridgeland. For the season, Chubb has rushed for 987 yards on 95 carries (10.4 ypc) and scored 16 touchdowns in four games, all victories. Chubb, the No. 1-rated running back prospect in Georgia, finished with 2,721 yards rushing in 2012, a state record for the regular season. Chubb is committed to Georgia.

3. QB Deshaun Watson, Gainesville: Watson was 24-of-29 passing for 372 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-6 victory over Apalachee. For the season, Watson is 91-of-138 passing (65.9 percent) for 1,255 yards and 13 touchdowns with two interceptions in four games. He has rushed for 150 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. Watson, who is committed to Clemson, is the all-time Georgia leader in career passing yards with 10,616.

4. DE Dante Sawyer, North Gwinnett: Playing only the first half, Sawyer had three tackles in a 63-0 victory over Meadowcreek. For the season, Sawyer has 25 tackles, a team-leading seven for losses, for the No. 1-ranked team in AAAAAA. Sawyer is rated among the top 10 defensive end prospects in the country.

5. QB Adam Choice, Thomas County Central: Choice rushed for 249 yards and one touchdown on 28 carries in a 28-21 victory over Tift County. He was 6-of-8 passing for 98 yards and a touchdown. His 70-yard TD run in the fourth quarter gave Thomas Central a 28-14 lead. For the season, Choice has rushed for 838 yards on 114 carries (7.4 ypc) and scored six touchdowns in five games. He is 24-of-38 passing for 390 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. Choice also plays in Central’s secondary. A member of the AJC’s Super 11 team, Choice rushed for more than 1,500 yards each of the past two seasons.

6. LB Korie Rogers, Buford: Rogers’ team did not play. For the season, Rogers has 18 tackles, including a sack, in Buford’s 3-0 start. He also has caught a 19-yard pass. Rogers, who is committed to Clemson, is the leader of the No. 1-ranked team in Class AAA. He was the AAA defensive player of the year in 2012.

7. Kawon Bryant, North Oconee: Bryant rushed for 368 yards and five touchdowns on 28 carries in a 56-0 victory over Athens Christian. In three games, Bryant has rushed for 736 yards and 13 touchdowns on 76 carries and has seven catches for 92 yards. His rushing yards per game (245.3) is second to Cedartown’s Nick Chubb (246.7). Bryant is a junior.

8. Stanton Truitt, Monroe Area: Truitt rushed for 71 yards on six carries and was 2-for-3 passing for 59 yards and one touchdown in brief action in a 49-3 victory over Lumpkin County. The score was 42-0 after the first quarter. For the season, Truitt has rushed for 549 yards on 64 carries (8.6 ypc) and is 13-of-24 passing for 342 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions. Monroe Area is 4-0. Truitt is committed to Auburn.

9. RB Stanley Williams, George Walton Academy: Williams rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns on nine carries in a 39-14 victory over Warren County. For the season, Williams has rushed for 713 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in four games. Rated the No. 6 all-purpose back nationally in 247Sports’ composite rankings, Williams is committed to Kentucky.

10. RB Joshua Bettistea, Allatoona: Bettistea rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries in limited action of a 49-0 victory over Lithia Springs. Allatoona led 35-0 at halftime. On the season, Bettistea has rushed for 662 yards and scored 13 touchdowns on 61 carries (10.9 ypc). He has rushed for at least 110 yards and two touchdowns in all four games, all victories. A junior, Bettisttea rushed for 1,190 yards and nine touchdowns as a sophomore despite not being the feature back.

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