Austin Stinson’s 411-yard rushing game moved him up the AJC Varsity leaderboard this week. It also apparently moved him up on some recruiting boards, something Houston County coach Jeremy Edwards believes is overdue.
“To me, he’s been grossly overlooked,” Edwards said of his senior back who is committed to Colorado State. “Obviously, a lot of people are calling now. He’s a 10.7 track guy in the 100. If he hits the open field, he’s gone. Colorado State is getting a really good back if they can hold on to him.”
Stinson’s 411 yards came in a 73-66 loss to Central of Carrollton. Also in the game, he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and had another kick-return touchdown called back on a penalty. He scored seven touchdowns.
His performance against Central was the latest of three monster games. Stinson rushed for 226 yards the previous week against Jones County and 311 in the opener against West Forsyth, both victories.
Stinson is averaging 316 rushing yards, highest in the state. He’s second in total rushing yards to Monroe Area quarterback Cooper Shumate, who has 1,035 in four games.
Edwards says Stinson isn’t having a breakout year. He’s always been good, the coach says.
Stinson rushed for 956 yards and 10 touchdowns as a sophomore. He ran for only 642 as a junior because of a lingering high-ankle sprain. Houston County had another top back, Cole Anderson, now at Air Force.
But when healthy late in the season, Stinson ran for more than 100 yards against top-10 teams Thomas County Central, Lee County and Rome.
This season, Stinson is the feature back.
“I challenged him to be (a) 25- to 30-carry back, so he went to work in the offseason,” Edwards said. “He’s only about 5-9, about 190-ish pounds, so maybe that holds him back a little bit (in the eyes of college coaches), but he’s pound for pound one of the strongest players on our team. And look at the region (we) play in (with Thomas Central, Lee County and a third top-10 team, Coffee). We’re playing against some good teams.”
Below are the state’s leading rushers, passers and receivers.
GHSA
Rushing
- 1,035 - Cooper Shumate, Monroe Area [Class 4A leader]
- 948 - Austin Stinson, Houston County [Class 6A leader]
- 878 - Jae’Veon Williams, Pierce County
- 743 - Danarri Brown, Jackson [Class 3A leader]
- 703 - Quintin Edwards, Calhoun County [Class A leader]
- 667 - Jayden Johnson, Stephenson
- 660 - Tyrese Dorsey, Shiloh
- 637 - Kalil Charles, Cass [Class 5A leader]
- 628 - Donterrius Mincey, Toombs County
- 572 - Emmanuel Ajayi, Villa Rica
- 571 - Derrell Brown, Crisp County
- 564 - Jake Orton, North Cobb Christian [Class 4A-2A Private leader]
- 560 - Javarris Warner, Troup
- 554 - Deron Foster, Valdosta [Class 7A leader]
- 553 - Daylan Maxwell, Jackson County
- 551 - Za’Kian Tobler, Treutlen
- 546 - Khalif Morgan, Utopian Academy
- 537 - Ryder Furtick-Williams, Walker
- 532 - Khayel Sam, South Forsyth
- 531 - Kayden Fears, Social Circle [Class 2A leader]
- 531 - Alex Baert, Towns County
- 528 - Solomon James, Woodland (Cartersville)
- 521 - Brycen Gault, Evans
- 517 - Peyton Davis, LaGrange
- 504 - Carson Lott, Creekview
- 503 - LJ Devine, Fitzgerald
- 500 - Jacez Walton, Central (Carrollton)
- 493 - MJ Craft, Blessed Trinity
- 493 - Ashton Barton, Peach County
- 491 - Christian Womack, Westlake
- 489 - Zandon Mullins, Parkview
- 488 - Matthew Baze, Loganville
- 486 - Kevin Hartsfield, Newton
- 486 - Joby McCannon, North Oconee
- 483 - Ashton Barton, Peach County
- 482 - Elijah McEwen, Montgomery County
- 481 - Kyson Nesbit, Banks County
- 481 - Landon Ryan, Whitefield Academy
- 477 - Ike Wyngaard, Pickens
- 474 - Jeremiah Johnson, Schley County
- 474 - Courey Bryan, Woodland (Stockbridge)
- 473 - Bradley Stephens, Dunwoody
- 473 - Jaiden Moore, Hillgrove
- 469 - Peyton Chancey, Gilmer
- 468 - Knox Thomason, Lovett
- 466 - Alex Corrias, Morgan County
- 465 - Joseph Alvarez, Lumpkin County
- 464 - Brayden Tyson, Brookwood
- 464 - Marquis Fennell, Valdosta
- 458 - Shane McLendon, Winder-Barrow
- 454 - Jakeyveon Parker, Macon County
- 450 - Kingston Hughes, Westside (Augusta)
- 448 - Jeremiah Starling, Randolph-Clay
- 445 - DeCarlow Reddick, Union Grove
- 444 - Linc Allen, Trion
- 442 - CJ Menzie, Richmond Hill
- 441 - Caden Waye, Ola
- 440 - Rae’shawn Clyde, Randolph-Clay
- 434 - Quin’traevion Huckaby, Terrell County
- 430 - Alex Tarboro, Northside (Columbus)
- 428 - Zyion Love, Bleckley County
- 428 - Daniel Harris, North Springs
- 425 - Jackson Pirkle, Cherokee Bluff
- 425 - Bransyn Perry, Murray County
- 422 - Tristian Sloane, East Jackson
- 420 - Camauri Berry, Spalding
- 419 - Zach Belyeu, North Cobb
- 419 - Cash Perkins, Berrien
- 419 - Kelvin Johnson, Griffin
- 416 - Bryson Penson, LaFayette
- 411 - Graham Burmeister, Woodstock
- 409 - Stanley Smart, Benedictine
- 409 - Calvin Wynn Jr., Washington-Wilkes
- 407 - Gary Walker, Creekside
- 405 - Ace Hatcher, ACE Charter
- 404 - Trace Washington, Sequoyah
- 403 - Landen Wright, Burke County
- 401 - Zachary Watts, Carrollton
- 400 - X’Zabion Jackson, Bainbridge
- 398 - Zeke Percell, Portal
- 396 - Jakobe Dorsey, Cedartown
- 396 - Luqman Baig, Norcross
- 394 - Monyee Gaither, Spencer
- 390 - Christian Hayes, Thomasville
- 388 - Zay Middleton, Calvary Day
- 388 - Kyle Johnson, Swainsboro
- 385 - Brooks Smallwood, East Forsyth
- 385 - Carson Cheek, Franklin County
- 385 - Zaden Waller, Montgomery County
- 383 - Caden Ellis, Griffin
- 381 - Demarco Huff, Commerce
- 380 - Jeremiah Scott, Johnson County
- 380 - Stephen Brown, North Gwinnett
- 378 - Logan Hawkins, West Forsyth
- 378 - Benjamin Phelps, West Hall
- 377 - Aquil Beazer, Lovejoy
- 374 - Justin Brown, East Coweta
- 373 - Cameron Keeve, Bradwell Institute
- 371 - Josh Woelfl, Oconee County
- 371 - Malik Young, Westover
- 367 - Sam Chasteen, Holy Innocents’
- 366 - Jamarcus Knight, Dublin
- 358 - Ethan Tisdale, Heard County
- 356 - Ben Musser, Jackson County
- 355 - Noel Best, Liberty County
- 354 - Levi Collum, Glascock County
- 353 - Braylen Hundley, Baconton Charter
- 353 - Maliq Washington, McNair
- 352 - Reante Byrd, Hephzibah
- 352 - KJ Hunter, Portal
- 351 - Adrian Johnson, Twiggs County
Passing
- 1,529 - Ashton Clare, Trinity Christian [Class 4A-2A Private leader]
- 1,400 - CJ Cypher, Carrollton [Class 7A leader]
- 1,372 - JR Harris, Central (Carrollton) [Class 5A leader]
- 1,214 - Rex Greene, Flowery Branch
- 1,155 - Elijah Fudge, Spencer
- 1,117 - Charlie Baxter, Christian Heritage
- 1,086 - Riley Braiden, Providence Christian
- 1,027 - Boston Pierce, Kell [Class 6A leader]
- 1,007 - Jax Bowles, East Coweta
- 977 - Jorden Guinn, Woodland (Stockbridge) [Class 4A leader]
- 971 - Tristin Sharpe, Union Grove
- 952 - Caden Jones, Lassiter
- 930 - Jayden McCullough, North Cobb Christian
- 897 - Derrick Baker, Milton
- 895 - Christion Peacock, Walton
- 891 - Brandon Davis, M.L. King
- 888 - Hudson Ruppert, Dalton
- 875 - Braden Stark, North Paulding
- 856 - Aiden Watson, Harrison
- 848 - Kamden Patterson, Baldwin
- 847 - James Mobley, Calvary Day
- 843 - Cannon Robinson, Westlake
- 831 - Noah Bourque, North Forsyth
- 830 - Tucker Parson, Hart County [Class 3A leader]
- 827 - Cohen Lawson, Lee County
- 827 - Jordan Wiggins, Northeast
- 819 - Smith Browning, Northwest Whitfield
- 813 - Josiah Frazier, Newton
- 812 - Jayden Whiteside, Marietta
- 807 - Greg Hart, Parkview
- 803 - Brodie Campbell, Newnan
- 803 - Weston Goodman, North Atlanta
- 797 - Tanner Bail, Pickens
- 793 - Nolan Shakar, Sequoyah
- 790 - Chris Miller, Kennesaw Mountain
- 781 - Clay Hicks, Schley County [Class A leader]
- 780 - Ryan Dvce, Lambert
- 774 - Khayel Sam, South Forsyth
- 773 - Brody Fleming, Bleckley County
- 759 - Xavier Collins, Camden County
- 758 - Caden Hight, Heritage (Ringgold)
- 750 - Trayvian King, Turner County
- 749 - Boone Horne, Jefferson
- 741 - John Fair III, Drew
- 735 - Brinn Robinson, White County
- 731 - Jamal Ambler, Archer
- 730 - Savoy Nichols, Creekside
- 727 - Micah Joyner, Dougherty
- 711 - Khi Mitchell, Colquitt County
- 710 - Caleb Hill, Sandy Creek
- 703 - Zain Belfield, Peachtree Ridge
- 702 - Jhamard Cobb, Perry
- 693 - Czar Daniels, Columbia
- 687 - Jameson Hilton, Wesleyan
- 684 - Bode Spence, East Paulding
- 682 - Justin Stephenson, Lithia Springs
- 680 - RJ Graham, Alpharetta
- 674 - Joshua Scott, Stockbridge
- 673 - Noah Rogers, Cass
- 666 - Keirion Tate, Northside (Warner Robins)
- 660 - Landon Brown, Centennial
- 660 - Luke Wood, Ringgold
- 657 - Brody Sorensen, Dawson County
- 645 - Omarion Guilford, Calhoun County
- 645 - Ben Halevi, North Cobb
- 644 - Gary Chatman, Brookwood
- 644 - Cooper Shumate, Monroe Area
- 640 - Joseph Owens, Toombs County
- 637 - Ezra Gilstrap, Druid Hills
- 633 - Brody Cato, West Forsyth
- 625 - Deuce Smith, Grayson
- 619 - Landon Ryan, Whitefield Academy
- 618 - Zack Parker, Cherokee
- 617 - Antonio Benton, New Hampstead
- 615 - Win Garmany, Dade County
- 613 - Jayden Martin, Windsor Forest
- 608 - Will McGee, Paulding County
- 605 - Elam Rahman, North Gwinnett
- 604 - Leland Holder, Taylor County
- 601 - Jerrell Martin, Eastside
- 597 - RJ Perry, Dacula
- 588 - Maximus Newson, Discovery
- 587 - Kaleb LaCarter, Westside (Augusta)
- 585 - Jordan Singleton, Mary Persons
- 585 - Jordan Singleton, Mary Persons
- 580 - Ryan Maxwell, Houston County
- 578 - Hunter Lockerman, River Ridge
- 576 - CJ Payne, Cherokee Bluff
- 575 - Kha’madj Mitchell, Macon County
- 574 - Ty Page, Blessed Trinity
- 573 - Cannon Holloway, Fannin County
- 573 - Zabrian Boler, Stephenson
- 559 - Willie Jones, Miller Grove
- 558 - Eli Brock, Bremen
- 556 - Branson Stowe, Stephens County
- 556 - Tripp Perry, Valdosta
- 554 - Llayton Overby, LaFayette
- 551 - Alex Schlieman, North Hall
- 549 - Marcus Turk, Cambridge
- 547 - Hayden Youmans, Harlem
- 543 - Caden Worley, Ola
- 540 - CJ Peoples, South Gwinnett
- 536 - Jody Dudley, East Hall
- 535 - Ryan Woods, Holy Innocents’
- 531 - Keygan Walker, Brunswick
- 527 - Zeke Douglass, Etowah
Receiving
- 635 - Tyler Robinson, Flowery Branch [Class 5A leader]
- 605 - Jarious Hamm, Union Grove
- 523 - Bryce Bell, Monroe Area [Class 4A leader]
- 518 - Jake Ivester, Central (Carrollton)
- 476 - Aaron Graham, M.L. King
- 471 - King Bateman, Turner County [Class A leader]
- 447 - Jaden Upshaw, Lee County [Class 6A leader]
- 446 - Mason Malone, Providence Christian [Class 4A-2A Private leader]
- 441 - Carlos Robertson Jr., Trinity Christian
- 430 - Jordan Carrasquillo, Milton
- 427 - Madoxx Oxx, Cartersville
- 422 - JD Arnette, Perry
- 417 - Sean Green, Camden County [Class 7A leader]
- 413 - Oakleen Padgett, North Cobb Christian
- 411 - Aidan Randolph, Trinity Christian
- 411 - Aiden Opore, Walton
- 408 - Brock Teal, Pickens
- 403 - Isaiah Alford, East Coweta
- 400 - Braxton Palmer, Peachtree Ridge
- 394 - Tooga Whatley, Paulding County
- 390 - Brandon Stevens, Toombs County [Class 3A leader]
- 383 - Collins Price, Lassiter
- 379 - Geno Houchins, Wesleyan
- 368 - Quinn Smith, Blessed Trinity
- 368 - Darrell McFadden, Carrollton
- 367 - Mason Stephens, Mary Persons
- 367 - Christian Ema, Parkview
- 366 - Kyle Cummings, Northwest Whitfield
- 364 - Matis Saint Jean, Lambert
- 360 - Jaylen Britt, Newnan
- 356 - Marquis Fennell, Valdosta
- 355 - Jordan Kendrix, Central (Carrollton)
- 351 - Evan Hawkins, North Gwinnett
- 350 - Kaiden Harbin, Stephens County
- 343 - Lyriq Davis, Centennial
- 339 - Luke Thompson, Trinity Christian
- 338 - Gabriel Tatum, Christian Heritage
- 337 - Marlon Knight, Calvary Day
- 336 - Dj Huggins, Harrison
- 328 - Jeffery Thomas, Houston County
- 328 - King Grissom, Mitchell County
- 328 - Derrick Simelton, Mount Zion (Jonesboro)
- 327 - Jackson Nesmith, Marietta
- 323 - Toby Martin, North Cobb Christian
- 323 - Jordan Hudson, Spencer
- 323 - Gavin Kinchen, Stockbridge
- 321 - Seth Williams, Lakeside (Atlanta)
- 318 - Azaan Keats, Eastside
- 316 - Beau Moore, Christian Heritage
- 316 - Antwan Lockett, Colquitt County
- 314 - Robbie Dunn, Archer
- 314 - Jamarian Mingo, Valdosta
- 310 - Zalen Green, Douglass
- 309 - Kyron Pipes, Alpharetta
- 308 - Justin Burton, Baldwin
- 307 - Ian Kelly, Whitefield Academy
- 306 - William Bucey, Savannah Christian
- 305 - Kamari Frazier, Lithia Springs
- 303 - Eron Mallard, Benedictine
- 303 - Jasper Williams, Flowery Branch
- 303 - Brayden Bailey, Holy Innocents’
- 303 - Austen Kitchings, Jefferson
- 301 - Josiah Walker, Villa Rica
- 300 - Jason McNulty, Bleckley County
- 299 - Cash Martin, North Forsyth
- 298 - Roscoe Hayes, Westlake
- 293 - Roderick Perrymond II, Miller Grove
- 292 - Havyn Searels, Dalton
- 290 - Gunnar Weaver, Dawson County
- 290 - Armani Myco, Lithonia
- 284 - Brayden Stoker, Heritage (Ringgold)
- 281 - Mason Stephens, Mary Persons
- 281 - Antonio Ware, Spencer
- 275 - London Munoz, Carrollton
- 275 - Jacob Springer, Discovery
- 274 - Mohamed Toure, Dacula
- 273 - Carter Ross, South Forsyth
- 272 - Jeremy Barrett, Cass
- 270 - Jordan Peacock, Walton
- 267 - Andrew Spaulding, West Forsyth
- 267 - Keaton Emerson, Woodland (Stockbridge)
- 266 - Andrew Cochran, Blessed Trinity
- 265 - Ty Pinckney, Calvary Day
- 265 - Tay Ware, LaFayette
- 265 - Taurean Rawlins, Mount Vernon
- 263 - Kurston Curry, Hart County
- 262 - Ja’marion Stewart, Macon County
- 260 - Eric Worthy, Calhoun County
- 258 - Kobie Vaughn, Woodland (Stockbridge)
- 257 - Elliot Jackson, Westside (Augusta)
- 256 - Dylan Haley, Cherokee Bluff
- 255 - Camden Richardson, East Jackson
- 255 - Duke Sanders, Sequoyah
- 254 - Cornell Watkins, Ridgeland
- 253 - Jaylen Prater, East Paulding
- 253 - Layne Watkins, New Hampstead
- 252 - Jabari Wade, Banneker
- 252 - Jabari Watkins, Thomas County Central
- 252 - Kenderzous Wylie, Washington-Wilkes
- 250 - Cameron Matthews, Eagle’s Landing Christian
- 250 - Bryant Marshall, Ringgold
- 249 - Canyon Carter, Bremen [Class 2A leader]
GIAA
Rushing
- 910 - Jake Johnson, Strong Rock Christian
- 658 - Reid Jackson, Bethlehem Christian
- 626 - Kamari Jackson, Valwood
- 516 - Bryse Peachey, Terrell Academy
- 501 - Dillon Terry, Brookstone
- 500 - JJ Blackwell, Riverside Military
- 499 - Jaquan Lewis, Windsor Academy
- 472 - Stanton Beverly, Valwood
- 428 - Seth Royal, Tiftarea Academy
- 415 - Thomas Holland, Savannah Country Day
- 407 - Jamel Cooper, John Milledge Academy
- 402 - Willj Harris, Trinity Christian (Dublin)
- 397 - Cutler Fleming, Briarwood Academy
- 378 - Tristan Robinson, Brentwood
- 362 - Donovan Colvin, St. Anne-Pacelli
- 347 - Caraun Thomas, Calvary Christian
- 343 - Orin Wynn, Briarwood Academy
- 326 - Josh Devereaux, Mount de Sales
Passing
- 1,031 - Cutler Fleming, Briarwood Academy
- 989 - Brock Johnson, Westfield
- 779 - Harris Janik, Augusta Christian
- 731 - Tucker Johnston, Stratford Academy
- 722 - Braxton Wilkinson, Calvary Christian
- 711 - Benjamin Burney, Mount de Sales
- 608 - Baylor Cobb, Brentwood
- 606 - Stanton Beverly, Valwood
- 514 - Jack Tyson, Brookwood School
- 512 - Nathan Snow, John Milledge Academy
- 479 - Heath Woodard, Windsor Academy
- 470 - Case Jones, Tiftarea Academy
- 466 - Broughton Branch, Brookstone
Receiving
- 442 - Banks Demore, Briarwood Academy
- 417 - Stone St. Clair, Westfield
- 391 - Asa Wall, John Milledge Academy
- 324 - Deuce Bradley, Augusta Christian
- 321 - Bryson Harrell, Mount de Sales
- 309 - Jaikari Harris, Calvary Christian
- 296 - Win Hoots, Westfield
- 267 - Carson Callaway, Briarwood Academy
- 264 - Jett Johnston, Stratford Academy
- 218 - Jason Davis, St. Anne-Pacelli
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