Southern Recruit Rankings - The Running Backs

All week Scout.com - South will be updating the rankings for the southern players. The states included are Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas. This is a look at the Top Running Backs in the South.

Wide Receivers
Corners
Quarterbacks

With the tradition that running backs have had in the south the past generation, the tailback spot has transformed into the glamour position in the deep south. Whether it's the Goal Line Stalker, Bo Knows, pr the NFL's All-Time leading rusher, fans are always looking for the next big thing at the tailback spot.

At the top of the heap is a pair of running backs that are truly thunder and lightning. 

C.J. Spiller of Union County High School in Florida may be the fastest prospect in the country. He has timed sub 4.4 forties in each of the past two years at our camps. The only player to do so, and one of only a dozen to hit the 4.4 mark.

Cordera Eason of Meridian High School in Mississippi is the big back. At close to 230 pounds, Eason has a good burst, and he is a complete back with terrific hands out of the backfield.

I don't see a lot of can't miss type of running backs in this class, but what I do see is a deep, deep year of quality backs. The backs in the lower half of the Top 45 have as good a chance to be contributors as those in the upper half. 

I also included a couple of mighty mites on this list. Desmond Gee, Brandon James, Lynn Williams, Gaston Miller, and Kirby Watson are players that don't break 5-8 between them, but they are all outstanding football players. Each of these guys will be playing on the next level, and odds are, at least one of them is going to have a breakout college career.

Rather than list the players' height, weight, and speed, I have listed the school they are committed to if any. Click on their player page to see more information including scouting videos and schools of interest.

If you have any feedback on the formatting, or questions about the rankings, please come see us on the Scout Recruiting Message Board:

Rank	Name	School/City	Commit
1	C.J. Spiller	(Union County) Lake Butler, FL
2	Cordera Eason	(Meridian) Meridian, MS
3	Charles Scott	(Jonesboro-Hodge) Jonesboro, LA	LSU
4	Cameron Smith	(Brookwood) Snellville, GA
5	Carlos Brown	(Heard County) Franklin, GA
6	Anthony Dixon	(Terry) Terry, MS
7	Chevon Walker	(Riverdale) Fort Myers, FL	Florida
8	Javarris James	(Immokalee) Immokalee, FL	Miami
9	Richard Murphy	(Rayville) Rayville, LA	LSU
10	Derrick Davis	(Meridian) Meridian, MS
11	Dustin Lindsey	(Alcoa) Alcoa, TN	Tennessee
12	Chris Brown	(Alexandria) Alexandria, LA
13	Alex Carpenter	(Biggersville) Corinth, MS	Mississippi State
14	Randell Bell	(Roswell) Roswell, GA
15	Fred Munzenmaier (FB)	(Norcross) Norcross, GA	Georgia
16	Courtney Jones	(Pensacola) Pensacola, FL	Mississippi State
17	Anthony Allen	(Jesuit) Tampa, FL	Louisville
18	Terry Grant	(Lumberton) Lumberton, MS
19	Eugene Sowell	(Shades Valley) Irondale, AL
20	Graig Cooper	(Melrose) Memphis, TN
21	Joe Joe Cox	(Twiggs County) Jeffersonville, GA	Clemson
22	Dontae Jones	(Evans) Orlando, FL
23	Preston Brown	(Antioch) Antioch, TN
24	Andre Anderson	(Stephenson) Stone Mountain, GA
25	Tim McAdams	(Hart County) Hartwell, GA
26	Shaun Chapas (FB)	(Bolles) Jacksonville, FL	Georgia
27	Demetrice Goode	(Troup County) LaGrange, GA
28	Erroll Wynn	(Mundy's Mill) Jonesboro, GA
29	Matt Pridemore	(Buford) Buford, GA	Duke
30	Gaston Miller	(Riverdale) Murfreesboro, TN	Vanderbilt
31	Reggie Hicks (FB)	(Madison Central) Madison, MS
32	William Griffin (FB)	(Patterson) Patterson, LA
33	Brandon James	(Saint Augustine) Saint Augustine, FL
34	Devon Freeman	(Niceville) Niceville, FL
35	Brandon West	(Camden County) Kingsland, GA
36	Chris Evans	(Alexandria) Alexandria, AL
37	Chance Attaway	(Blountstown) Blountstown, FL
38	Rock Robinson (FB)	(Collins Hill) Suwanee, GA
39	Myke Compton	(Tucker) Tucker, GA
40	Dexter McCluster	(Largo) Largo, FL
41	Sheldon Dennis	(George W. Jenkins) Lakeland, FL
42	Lynn Williams	(Lowndes) Valdosta, GA
43	Desmond Gee	(Madison County) Madison, FL
44	Kirby Watson	(Mainland) Daytona Beach, FL
45	Michael Brown	(South Cobb) Austell, GA