BEST RUNNING BACKS IN TSSAA HISTORY

[THE KING]

Some of the best to ever come out of Morgan County include:

Coalfield: Josh Sheldon, Tony Bird, Michael Paul Gilbert, Lewis Carson

Oakdale: Jimmy McGill, David Cooney, David Goins, Herbie Jones, Steve Marshall

Sunbright: Doug Morgan, Joe Galloway, Curtis LaRue

Wartburg: Marty Cox, Donnie Mouse Shadden, Steve Garrett

Kingbrian, we're talking about the great ones, not small town heros.

[kingbrian3]

Elvis too bad you are not good enough to make this list. If we start a Best Water Boys in TSSAA History then we can add your name. Heard you did a good job for Cloudland for quite a few years.

[REBELRON]

I don't know how they stack up in yardage but here are the best I have seen.

 

Leroy Thompson Austin East 1983-86. I watched him torment Maryville for 4 seasons. AE had their best team in 1986. Leroy Thompson was a great running back and a great defensive back.

 

Dante Hickey Cleveland 1992-94. He was a slasher who could take it to the house on any play. If he could have went to UT he would have probably been a defensive back. He should be playing in the NFL right now. That is how good he was.A wasted talent.

 

Reggie Brown Loudon 1981-83 He was an awesome back. He ran through people. A power back with speed. Went to UT but got in trouble right off the bat. Another wasted talent.

 

Santonio Beard Pearl Cohn 96-98 He was a great running back.

 

Travis Cozart Lenoir City 90-92 He is the best I have seen. He was the whole team at Lenoir City. I saw him rush for 275yds and have 150yds receiving vs Maryville in 1991. That was the best overall performance I ever seen. MHS won the game 24-17 in overtime. Had he stayed out of trouble he would have beat out Jay Graham at RB when he was at UT.Another waste of talent.

[medman]

I believe Reggie Cobb played for Knoxville Central.

[12yr.oldchamps]

Earnest Fields (Milan 83'-86')

 

Teams knew he was getting the ball and still couldn't stop him.

[ShaneC]

In the past 20 years the 2 best backs have been Gerald Riggs and my boy Troy Fleming... And for the person that said Reggie Cobb went to Knox Rule, he actually went to Knox Central... He only got dominant went he got to UT...

[Skunk@home]

Sorry about the Reggie Cobb mistake...sorry to all the Knox Central fans... (my favorite cousin graduated from there)

 

Roll Tribe Roll

[Owlsrasslin145]

Before I say this, I think Gerald Riggs was a great back, and Troy Fleming is probably the best, but I think Patrick Flanagan should be ranked in the top ten at least. He ended his career with more yards than Riggs (partly due to Riggs' injury, but nevertheless)I believe, and he carried Ooltewah to the state final four in 2001.

[Punisher-whs pride]

How about Rafeal Hill (99-03) from Westview!

Edited June 30, 2004 by Punisher-whs pride

[wheelz44]

one of the best backs i ever saw was adam tipps of CPA only b/c he had no speed, no size, or any of the talents most great backs have, but he always found a way to gain yardage. I believe he was a mr. football awrd winner too.

 

now looking at the best backs to ever come out of Tn my list is so

 

Travis Stewart and Fred Lane...NFL says most of it.

stats wise you gotta go with Troy Fleming, but then again mostly all those yards were in single A.

 

Ralph King. His stats were in 5A so i see him being purdy darn good.

 

Kirsten Biggers...anyone who saw him play will say he was awesome at the highschool level.

[rollredroll]

Keith Davis was a fabulous back at Overton (Nashville) in the early 80s, although I thought he underperformed at UT (still is in the Top 20 in career rushing yards at UT).

[BattleBornVolunteer]

These may not be considered some of the best backs ever but certainly standouts: Damon Floyd-Bradley Central

Clint Scoggins-Bradley Central

Tyler Westmoreland-Bradley Central

Levonte Barber-Cleveland