Year after year, DeKalb County continues to produce some of the state’s most dynamic running backs, and the 2026 season is no different. From established stars chasing history to underclassmen with sky-high potential, this group features a blend of power, speed, vision, and game-breaking ability. Here are the top five running backs to watch heading into the 2026 high school football season.
1. Jayden Johnson | Sr. | Stephenson | 5’9”, 200 lbs
By the end of the season, Jayden Johnson could cement himself as not only the greatest running back in Stephenson history, but arguably the greatest to ever come out of DeKalb County.
Already coming into his senior season needing 157 yards to become Stephenson’s all-time leading rusher and just 1,359 yards to surpass Roddy Jones as DeKalb County’s all-time career rushing leader, the three-star Middle Tennessee State commit is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, including a spectacular 2,099-yard, 23-touchdown campaign in 2025 while averaging an astonishing 10 yards per carry.
Perhaps even more impressive is that Johnson accomplished those numbers while sharing carries with now-Valdosta State running back Anthony Booker—something few elite backs have had to do. His ability to make defenders miss in space is elite, but his vision between the tackles, balance through contact, and deceptive breakaway speed make him one of the most complete backs in Georgia.
Prediction: 1,700 rushing yards, 15 touchdowns
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2. Thaddeous “Champ” Tillman | Sr. | Tucker | 5’10”, 190 lbs
DeKalb’s second-leading returning rusher enters his final high school season looking to build on an outstanding junior campaign.
Tillman rushed for 1,179 yards and 14 touchdowns while averaging an incredible first down every time he touched the football. He also averaged over 106 rushing yards per game, earning First Team All-Region honors.
A 10.83-second 100-meter sprinter, Tillman possesses true home-run speed. Once he hits the hole, he’s capable of taking any carry to the house. His game isn’t built on flashy moves or highlight-reel jukes—it’s based on patience, decisiveness, and explosive acceleration. If he replicates last season’s production, he’ll once again be among the county’s best.
Prediction: 1,500 rushing yards, 14 touchdowns
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3. De’Quarrion “Hollywood” Trammell | So. | Columbia | 5’10”, 200 lbs
Leading your team in rushing as a freshman is impressive. Doing it in only eight games is even more remarkable.
De’Quarrion “DQ” Trammell enters his sophomore season with enormous expectations and for good reason. Already holding more than 20 Division I offers, Trammell has quickly become one of the nation’s premier young prospects.
At 5-foot-10 and 200 pounds, he combines elite physicality with outstanding vision and burst. His ability to identify cutback lanes and explode through them is what separates him from most backs his age. Even in what figures to be a pass-oriented Columbia offense, don’t be surprised if Trammell flirts with his first 1,000-yard season.
Prediction: 900 rushing yards, 10 touchdowns
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4. William Bryant | Sr. | Southwest DeKalb | 5’10”, 180 lbs
Despite sharing the backfield with Joshua Jones and Tamir Rudolph last season, William Bryant still finished as Southwest DeKalb’s leading rusher and touchdown scorer.
Now entering his senior year, Bryant is poised to become the Panthers’ featured back. His combination of speed, agility, patience, and vision makes him a dangerous weapon, and after adding noticeable size during the offseason, he’s become an even more complete runner.
If Jones and Rudolph were once considered “PB&J,” Bryant now has every opportunity to become the entire sandwich. With his expanded role, expect him to be one of the biggest reasons Southwest DeKalb emerges as a legitimate contender in Class 5A.
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Prediction: 900 rushing yards, 12 touchdowns
5. AJ Tillman Jr. | Sr. | Lithonia | 5’11”, 180 lbs
Replacing the production of Xavier Butler and Albert Gooding—who each eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards and scored 15 touchdowns last season—is no easy task.
Fortunately for Lithonia, they landed one of the state’s most explosive transfers in AJ Tillman Jr.
The four-star Louisville commit arrives from McDonough alongside quarterback Drayden Gibbs, bringing blazing 4.3 speed, elite elusiveness, and a physical edge that’s often overlooked. While he totaled just over 450 rushing yards and five touchdowns last season in limited opportunities, Tillman now steps into a much larger role in an offense built to generate explosive plays.
Expect him to make an immediate impact on Friday nights.
Prediction: 1,100 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns
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Honorable Mentions
- Frank Johnson | Jr. | Miller Grove
2025 stats: 173 carries, 988 yards, 9 touchdowns
- Bradley Stephens | Sr. | Dunwoody
2025 stats: 131 carries, 659 yards, 9 touchdowns
- Johnte Garner | Jr. | Martin Luther King Jr.
2025 stats (3 games) 8 carries, 34 yards
- Chase Livsey | Sr. | Lithonia
2025 stats: 39 carries, 251 yards, 3 touchdowns
- Christian Copeland | Sr. | Tucker
2025 stats: 70 carries, 403 yards, 7 touchdowns
- Zyeir Carswell | Jr. | Arabia Mountain
2025 stats: 104 carries, 625 yards, 4 touchdowns
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Final Thoughts
The depth of running back talent in DeKalb County remains among the best in Georgia. Whether it’s Jayden Johnson chasing history, “Champ” Tillman looking to repeat another stellar season, or young stars like De’Quarrion Trammell continuing their rise, expect this group to headline one of the state’s most exciting collections of backfield talent throughout the 2026 season.
