Behind The Box Score

As Northeast Ohio and the Cincinnati area dominate Division I football in Ohio, the Central Ohio region has some supreme talent of their own. After a drubbing from Pickerington Central over California’s Orange Lutheran, Central Ohio showed just how much talent is in the region. With Kirk Herbstreit’s Varsity Series showcasing the top players in the country, a trio of running backs not only put their names on the lists of scouts everywhere but showed once and for all that football is here to stay in Columbus. Fresh off the press here on Behind The Box Score, here are the top running backs here in the 614 if not all of Ohio.

5. Rico Butler-Hilliard Davidson- Bursting onto the scene for the Wildcats as a sophomore in 2008, Butler a native of south Columbus, rushed for over 600 yards and seven touchdowns last season in route to becoming one of the fastest players in the area. Showcasing a 40 time that has been clocked numerous times around 4.3, Buter is a prize prospect who at the ripe old age of 16, will only continue to get better and add to his 5’9″ frame. As the big back is fading in college football, we could see Butler going to a MAC school if not a small BCS school. Dueling against one of the top backs last week in the Herbstreit Classic, Butler gained 70 yards on the ground along with two long kick returns that nearly broke open the game. Butler is evolving into one of the best backs in Ohio, and the production this year will show. With Davidson, blowouts are common, so don’t put him down if his yards aren’t as high as the others, he gets the job done when it matters. If Rico can stay healthy and continue to produce, his name will move up on this list.

4. Carl Washington-Eastmoor Academy- Showing a rare combination of size and speed, Washington will be key in Eastmoor’s rise back to the top of Division II football. Going down with a broken leg last season, Washington unfortunately put an end to a spectacular four games of the ’08 season. With over 600 yards and eight touchdowns in only four contests, Washington set forth the precedent for the Warriors season. Although missing the rest of the season besides the state title loss to Aurora, Touche Hopkins stepped in just fine. This season, it’s Carl’s time to shine as Eastmoor returns West Virginia recruit Ronald Turner at quarterback and looks to wreak havoc in the Columbus City League yet again. Look for a solid 1,200 yard season out of #2 as the Warriors are the top team inside I-270 for the second year in a row.

3. Speedy Hammond- Pickerington Central- In an epic battle against the Orange Lutheran Lancers, Hammond came up big shaking off tackles and getting into the end zone. Rushing for 88 yards and two touchdowns, Hammond was arguably the key player in the Tigers’ win as the senior was the toughest player to bring down in a game involving a Lutheran team that had players at college size. Accumulating around 800 yards last season, Hammond is a key component to an explosive offense ran by the Tigers. Looking to rock the OCC, Pick Central is a sure bet as long as Hammond is getting multiple carries a game. To put him here is a gamble, but after the performance on Sunday, Hammond bills up to his nickname as he ran around the Orange Lutheran defense all day and should only improve throughout the season.

2. Shaun Jones-Dublin Coffman- Jones, who is the 211th ranked running back in all of America according to ESPN, showed his prime time talent in a rout of Olentangy Liberty. Scoring four touchdowns, Jones showed the ability to run between the tackles, make defenders miss in space, and catch passes out of the backfield. Gaining over 1,000 yards last season behind a stellar Rocks line, Jones should up his production this season. With an improved squad led by D-I prospect Cole Stoudt, Jones will be the balance that this offense needs. Bigger than most of the running backs on this list, Jones is likely to continue to rise in the prospect rankings and put Coffman on the map with a state title this season.

1. Jayshon “P-Nut” Jackson-Westerville South-A victim of the failed SWCS levy, Jackson, a former Central Crossing Comet, has been an elite runner all three years of his high school career, but this season with the Wildcats, he will only improve his stock and give him D-I looks from all across the country. Only standing at 5’9″, “P-Nut” doesn’t let his size affect him, as he gained 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns last season behind a seemingly mediocre Comet offensive line. Now, in the spread oriented Westerville South offense, Jackson will only continue to improve on the start of the season he had last week in Ohio Stadium. Becoming only the third running back to rush for over 100 yards against Hilliard Davidson in the past four years, Jackson made defenders miss all day along with showing his deceptive power. Grounding up 105 yards and two touchdowns, Jackson showed his combo of speed and game breaking ability, easing Tevin Favor into the quarterback job along with causing the Davidson defenders to see medical attention for ankle injuries. Running similar to Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers, who was the Pac-10′s Offensive Player of the Year as a true freshman, Jackson will undoubtedly receive much attention this season from schools around the area. Jayshon was the unanimous Player of the Game after conducting scoring drives when touching the ball more than five times each possession. Playing behind a talented Warrior offensive line, I see a 1,500 yard season in the near future from “P-Nut” as even the haters continue to build, nothing can break his 179 pound shell, as Jackson is unquestionably the best running back in Central Ohio if not the entire state.