Tour of Talent: South Florida's Top 10 Running Backs (Class of 2020)
By Jerry Williamson
The early commander-in-chief at the running back position for the class of 2020 -- is none other than Belen Jesuit Preparatory Don Chaney, Jr. Chaney, Jr. (Maxpreps All-American and first-team all-county selection) is another Rising Star product, who I brought to everyone attention dating back to the 8th grade. Chaney, Jr. will graduate high school with six years of high school experience. Chaney, Jr. will make a hard push for five-star status, come his senior season. Before suffering a mid-season nagging injury, Andre Springfield (Coral Gables) was on pace to match the same honors as his last season district opponent and fellow classmate, Don Chaney, Jr.
Trust me. Springfield is everything as advertised. He was the top player in every youth all-star game he took part in as an eighth-grader. Christopher Columbus RB Henry Parrish, Jr. has the explorers fan club excited about who they believe will be the next premier running back in the state of Florida. Parrish, Jr. show flashes of greatest the past season and hasn't disappointed this spring. Tywan Cash of Hallandale HS, is your Brandon Oliver (Los Angeles Chargers) type of running back. He's much stronger than he appears, and has a sneaky burst for his frame. Deerfield Beach RB Jaylan Knighton is another physical specimen, who displays power, strength, balance, and speed. Knighton reminds me of a big ten running back along with agility and great hands out of the backfield. Doral Academy Charter RB Shemar Paul is another Christopher Henderson (UF's freshman defensive back) in the making, in my opinion. Paul is a smooth and explosive runner, who's just as good on the opposite side of the ball at cornerback. He's football fast and track and field fast. Takori Thurston, Jahiem Grace and Roderick Grissom are the little-known running backs of the group. They are both talented and versatile ball carriers. The talented names I mention above weren't the only running backs to earn lofty spots in the list.
South Florida's Top 10 in no particular:
Don Chaney, Jr - Belen Jesuit Preparatory
Chaney, Jr. (5-11, 175) is a name, that has already made national headlines entering his sophomore campaign after being named a freshman all-american. The first-team all-county selection, who plays in the highest classification in South Florida, hold verbal offers from Uni. of Miami (FL), South Carolina, Boston College and FAU just to name a few. He returned three kicks for scores as well as several rushing touchdowns the past season and was named the district high jump champion as an eighth-grader.
Chaney, Jr. is a high school All-American in waiting. How fast is he? He finished top 10 overall in the illspeed challenge held at Gulliver Prep. Andre Springfield - Coral Gables
Springfield (5-8, 175) is someone I predict, will be ranked top 5 in the nation, as an all-purpose running back come National Signing Day. The physical specimen recorded a vertical jump of 34.8 and clocked an electronically timed (4.5) 40-yard dash at the Nike Football Combine in Miami.
Before his nagging injury, Springfield was averaging two touchdowns per game. Despite missing the second half of the season, he still accumulated over 500 all-purpose and 9 TD's (7 rushing, 1 kick return, 1 punt return). His early offers are from Southern Miss and Kentucky.
Shemar Paul - Doral Academy Charter
The 5-foot-10, 155-pound ATHLETE, who's a former well-known South Florida youth football super star (from Gwen Cherry Bulls 2-time Pop Warner Nat' Champion team) who goes by the nickname "Jesus", is a prospect, that decided to attend up-and-coming Doral Academy Charter program over several powerhouse programs.
The decision has resulted in an early SEC verbal offer from Kentucky, and early varsity success. Paul (#1) accounted for 488 All-purpose yards and 3-TD's on 27-touches. One of his three touchdowns included a kick return for over 80 yards. He'll be a 1,000 yard rusher this upcoming fall, book it.
Paul earned the prestigious Rising Stars All-South Florida Freshman Team. In his high school debut Doral Academy versus Pine Crest Prep, the speedster scored 3 TD's (2 rush, 1 KR) and finished with over 130 AP yards.
Jaylan Knighton - Deerfield Beach HS
Knighton, 5-foot-10, 175-pounds, holds early verbal offers from the likes of Auburn, Southern Miss and FAU. The rising sophomore is rated a 3-star prospect according to Rivals.com. He's a north-south runner with a blend of speed and power -- the word in Deerfield Beach is that he's going to have a monster season.
This off-season, Knighton earned Rivals 3 Stripe Camp Miami: Top underclassmen running back MVP. The bucks' young talent, caught and ran for several touchdowns the past season on varsity.
Calvin Montgomery - Champagnat Catholic
The Class 2A state runner up, led the Lions' in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Montgomery holds an early verbal offer from Bowling Green and reminds you of a BIG TEN runner. His performance this past spring vs. Keys Gate Charter, rushing for over 50 yards and 1 touchdown on limited touches, is a great sign for the Lions offensive coordinator coach Stubbs.
The Lions' offense started four freshmen in the class 2A state championship game. Montgomery hard running and perhaps the class of 2020 Top duo wide receivers in South Florida with Johnquai Lewis and Mark Britt, look out for the Lions again this season.
Tywan Cash - Hallandale
The 5-foot-7, 165-pounder, who runs more like a pounder with a burst -- earned All-County honorable mention the past season. Cash most notable game was upsetting the highly favored and undefeated Deerfield Beach HS, where he earned every single yard and scored a 1-yard touchdown.
Cash accounted for over 400 all-purpose yards and 3-touchdowns. He's someone to keep an eye on the next three years.
Henry Parrish, Jr. - Christopher Columbus
Parrish, Jr. holds an early verbal offer from FAU and showcased a glimpse of stardom -- on limited carries. His most notable individual game took place against Belen Jesuit Preparatory, where he amassed over 120 all-purpose yards and 1 touchdown.
He'll rush for over a 1,000 yards this upcoming season unless an injury slows him down. He'll certainly jump on the national radar at the end of the season.
Roderick Grissom - Keys Gate Charter
Grissom (5-9, 165) is someone I spotlighted as a middle school football league star, who was responsible for over 15 all-purpose touchdowns and well-over 1,000 all-purpose yards.
Grissom received limited action on varsity regarding touches, but if you watch his film, it's very productive. He's an ATHLETE (HB, SLOT, CB) Keep an eye on him. He's also a really good cornerback.
Takori Thurston - Mater Academy Charter
Thurston (5-7, 165) is another middle school football talent, who rushed for 5 touchdowns and over 200 yards from scrimmage in the championship game vs. Keys Gate Charter as an 8th grader.
His varsity production was limited playing behind two running backs who finished top 25 in rushing yards the past two seasons. Thurston still managed varsity production. Everyone on his team is raving about him being the next big name from Mater Academy.
Jahiem Grace - Western HS (No picture)
Grace moved up to varsity after a stellar JV showing. He has the size college football coaches look for standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 180-pounds. He's someone that will surface over the next three years.
