Roquan Smith is not a running back, per se. The Macon County senior is a linebacker who plays a little offense when needed.
On Friday, Smith was needed, according to Macon County coach Larry Harold, who made Smith his feature back in a 36-21 victory over Lamar County for the Region 4-AA title.
"We knew that they were going to make us play small ball, not give us any explosive plays in the passing game and make us drive the football the length of the field methodically," Harold said. "In a situation like that, we knew we needed to run the football with a bigger running back who could break tackles and take a pounding."
Smith - who had only 134 yards rushing on the season coming into the game - pounded out 263 yards on the ground. He also made 24 tackles at linebacker.
"I knew Roquan was quick and explosive, but the cuts he made, the tackles that he broke and his just plain outrunning a fast defense was definitely unexpected," Harold said. "Let's just say I've received several calls from coaches around the state, including coach [Jamie] Abrams from Lamar, who claim that he is without a doubt the best player in AA football and quite possibly all of Georgia after that performance."
Smith is back in GHSF Daily's Player of the Year Watch, along with Griffin RB Malik Miller, who ran for more than 300 yards against Eastside last week.
1. QB/DB A.J. Gray, Washington County:Gray rushed for 93 yards and a touchdown on only three carries and was 8-of-15 passing for 161 yards and three touchdowns, all in the first half of a 54-7 victory over Hephzibah. He also returned an interception 62 yards for a touchdown. For the season, Gray has rushed for 1,161 yards and 20 touchdowns on 104 carries and is 64-of-110 passing for 1,278 yards and 17 touchdowns with five interceptions. He has returned four interceptions for touchdowns. Gray has not played in the second half of five games. Washington County (10-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class AAA. Gray is committed to Georgia Tech.
2. RB Sihiem King, Colquitt County:King rushed for 234 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries in a 28-24 victory over Camden County. For the season, King has rushed for 1,350 yards and 20 touchdowns on 172 carries (7.8 ypc). He has scored at least one touchdown in every game. Colquitt County (10-0) is ranked No. 1 in AAAAAA and owns three top-five national rankings. King has more than 10 scholarship offers, including those from Georgia Tech, Georgia State and Georgia Southern.
3. LB/RB/WR Roquan Smith, Macon County: Smith rushed for 263 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries and made 24 tackles on defense, two for losses, in a 36-21 victory over Lamar County. For the season, Smith has 154 tackles, 10.5 for losses, and two defensive touchdowns. On offense, he has 397 yards rushing and 183 yards receiving and six touchdowns. Smith, an AJC Super 11 pick, is the consensus No. 7 senior prospect in Georgia. His college favorites reportedly are Florida and Georgia.
4. RB Shannon Brooks, Pickens:Brooks rushed for 116 yards on 30 carries but no touchdowns in a 27-2 loss to Cartersville. He had four catches for 42 yards. Brooks had scored at least two touchdowns in every game, For the season, Brooks has rushed for 2,159 yards and 31 touchdowns on 211 carries (10.2 ypc) and caught 12 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown. He is 2-for-2 passing for 108 yards and two touchdowns. Pickens is 8-2. Brooks is committed to Minnesota.
5. RB/DB Ruben Garnett, Aquinas:Garnett rushed for 176 yards and three touchdowns on 22 carries in a 49-21 victory over Tattnall Square in a game between unbeaten Class A teams. For the season, Garnett has rushed for 1,671 yards and 23 touchdowns on 216 carries (7.7 ypc) and has four TD receptions. He has made 46 tackles, intercepted a pass and forced two fumbles. Garnett has rushed for at least 125 yards and scored a touchdown in every game. Aquinas (10-0) is ranked No. 1 in Class A. Duke reportedly leads to sign Garnett among 15 Division I offers.
6. DL/OL Trenton Thompson, Westover:Thompson had five tackles, two for losses, in a 27-6 victory over Crisp County. For the season, Thompson has 79 tackles, 32 for losses, four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. He also has started and played several games at offensive guard. Thompson, an AJC Super 11 pick, is the consensus No. 2 recruit in the nation. He is committed to Georgia.
7. RB Malik Miller, Griffin: Miller rushed for 304 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries and threw a 31-yard TD pass in a 48-28 victory over Eastside. For the season, Miller has rushed for 1,579 yards, caught 16 passes for 329 yards and scored 26 touchdowns. Griffin is 10-0 at ranked No. 2 in Class AAAAA. Miller is 5 feet, 10 inches and 200 pounds. He reportedly has committed to Furman.
8. LB Quarte Sapp, Milton:Sapp had five tackles in a 35-9 victory over Wheeler. For the season, Sapp has 97 tackles, 58 solo, 11 tackles for losses, two sacks, five interceptions, a fumble recovery, a safety and a defensive touchdown. Sapp is rated the consensus No. 23 outside-linebacker prospect nationally. Milton is 9-1 and ranked No. 7 in Class AAAAAA and a region champion for the first time since 1952. Sapp's reported leader is Tennessee.
9. WR Josh Imatorbhebhe, North Gwinnett:Imatorbhebhe had three receptions for 21 yards in a 35-14 victory over Mountain View. For the season, Imatorbhebhe has 59 catches for 1,072 yards and 15 touchdowns. He is rated the No. 25 junior prospect in Georgia by 247Sports. He has 14 reported scholarship offers. North Gwinnett is 8-2 and ranked No. 5. A 4.0 student, Imatorbhebhe is believed to favor Michigan and Vanderbilt.
10. RB Russell Halimon, Allatoona:Halimon rushed for 88 yards and one touchdown on eight carries in a 42-6 victory over Chapel Hill. For the season, Halimon has rushed for 1,681 yards and 19 touchdowns on 245 carries (6.9 ypc). Allatoona (10-0) is ranked No. 4 in Class AAAAA. Halimon is the classification's leading rusher. A 5-foot-9 junior, Halimon has no reported scholarship offers.
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