Here are the top 5 returning RBs for the 2018 high school football season
The Anderson area lost eight of its top 10 tailbacks from the 2017 season to graduation, but there are others looking to make a statement in 2018.
In advance of the 2018 season, the Independent Mail will break down the top five returning players by position.
This week looks at the running backs.
5 - Jason Wright-Mann, Jr., Pendleton
Wright-Mann split time in the backfield with Antwin Jackson and Jaylon Walker in Pendleton's Wing-T. During the spring game, Wright-Mann was the feature back. Last season, he rushed for 498 yards and four scores. The 6-foot, 160-pound back gives the Bulldogs a hard-nosed runner with the ability to break big runs.
More:Pendleton growing in spring under new coach Yon Radford
More:Pendleton hires Byrnes assistant to be offensive coordinator
4 - Mondez Frazier, Jr., Palmetto
In 2017, Frazier supplemented starter Daron Wiliford with 453 yards and 13 touchdowns. This year, Frazier will be counted on to fill the void left by Wiliford's graduation. He came on strong in the playoffs, rushing for 144 yards with three touchdowns in games against Camden and Chapman. He also plays linebacker on defense.
More:Check out the top 5 returning QBs for the 2018 high school football season
More:Palmetto turns to 2018 after loss to Chapman
3 - Jaydon McKinney, Sr., T.L. Hanna
T.L. Hanna is in the market to replace its top two rushers in Tylei Morrison (908 yards, 14 touchdowns) and 2017 Independent Mail Player of the Year Braylon Peterson (875 yards, 12 touchdowns). McKinney is the top returning rusher with 683 yards and seven scores to his credit. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound back can play wingback or fullback, and is also a solid blocker.
More:TL Hanna quarterback Alex Meredith commits to West Point
More:Football player of the year: Change makes all the difference for Hanna's Braylon Peterson
More:TL Hanna's Zacch Pickens commits to South Carolina Gamecocks
2 - R.J. Ellis, Jr., Belton-Honea Path
Ellis, a 5-11, 196-pounder, exploded onto the scene in 2017 as a sophomore, eventually becoming the feature back in BHP's offense. Ellis ran for an area-high 1,414 yards with 17 touchdowns. BHP has had a runner eclipse 1,000 yards every year since 2012, and if Ellis does it in 2018, he will join Juwan Abney as the only runners to accomplish the feat in back-to-back seasons in that span. He is currently 15th in the school's all-time rushing list. Ellis is currently recovering from a traffic accident at the end of June. Coach Russell Blackston believes he will probably play this season, but is unsure which point of the season he may return.
More:BHP football player in traffic accident, recovering
More:Local tight end gets offer to play football for Clemson
1 - Paul Johnson, Sr., Westside
During the past two years Johnson has been the model of consistency in the Westside backfield. With 2,027 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns during that span, the 6-1, 180-pound back has earned all-region and all-area honors in back-to-back seasons. Johnson enters this year with a scholarship offer from Yale, and will again be a driving force in the Rams' offense.
More:Westside's Paul Johnson gets football offer from Ivy League school
More:Hard-nosed Paul Johnson brings football mentality to the basketball court