Franklin Richardson is quarterbacking Sumter as one of the state's top running backs

             Sumter – Depending on what you’re looking at, Franklin Richardson can be many things on the football field. One is an athlete. He is definitely an athlete.

             The 6-foot-2-inch, 220-pound Sumter High School senior is being sought out as a running back by many Power 4 Conference schools. And while that may be where he eventually ends up playing, he is the starting quarterback for the Gamecocks for the third consecutive season.

            So how is Richardson approaching things as he looks to make a decision on his choice of college – and position for that matter.

 “I’ve added a little bit of both in my workouts,” Richardson said of his personal workouts beyond SHS. “I’ve added a little bit of running back work into my quarterback workouts. But I’m still focused on learning the game at quarterback because learning the game will help me at running back.

 Richardson ran for 1,424 yards and 31 touchdowns as a junior while completing 55 of 106 passes for 651 yards and four TDs. That was under head coach Mark Barnes, who retired at the end of last season. He is in his first year under Drew Marlowe as head coach.

            “He’s developing his game better, but he’ll tell you too, just like everybody else, he’s got to get better,” said Marlowe, who won two AAAA state titles at South Florence.

While his future may be taking handoffs instead of snaps, Richardson thinks he is making steady progress as a signal caller.

“I feel like I’ve improved significantly, not only from the throwing aspect but from the reads,” he said. “I can read the defenses better, I’m more decisive.”

 As is normally the case, the state of South Carolina is filled with plenty of running backs who are garnering plenty of attention. David “Tre” Segarra (5-11, 202) of Byrnes is rated as the top RB in the state by the HSSR and he is rated as the third best over-all prospect in the state by the HSSR who began tracking the development of football prospects in the state in 1987. Segarra is committed to LSU at this time.

 Segarra, head coached by Reggie Shaw at Byrnes High, rushed for 1,464 yards and 17 TD’s last year.

 Tai Phillips (5-11, 190) is a running back at Irmo, and he is considered the number two running back in SC, and he is rated as the number four over-all prospect by the HSSR in the 2027 class. Phillips is a firm commitment to Alabama.

 Phillips is in in his first year at Irmo after transferring from Cape Fear High in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He rushed for 919 yards and 12 scores after missing over half the season with an injury. He had one game late in the season where he rushed for nearly 400 yards and that feat got the recruiting action going for him. 

 Summerville has scatback Jayen Williams who is rated as the state’s number 14 overall prospect in the 2027 class. Williams is back for his senior year focused on having his best season yet. He rushed for 2,017 yards and 24 touchdowns in 14 games as a junior. The 5-7, 170-pounder has committed to James Madision, which earned a bid in the College Football Playoffs last season.

 There are numerous other HSSR rated running backs in The HSSR Top 100 who have landed next level opportunities. Another Power 4 commitment is Spartanburg’s Trenton Lynch. The 5-9, 185-pounder has committed to Rutgers. Lynch ran for 1,204 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. Lynch is rated as the 31^st best over-all prospect by the HSSR starting the season.

  Another running back who is a Group of 5 commitment is Crestwood running back Calvin Wofford. The 5-11, 195-pounder has committed to Charlotte, but admits he is hoping some other offers might be coming his way.

 Wofford ran for 1,357 yards and 13 touchdowns in 11 contests last season. He sees himself as a better all-around running back heading into this campaign.

 “Me going into my senior year I would like to get a lot of attention by going over 1,500 yards,” Wofford said. “I feel like I’ve improved a lot by slowing down and letting the offensive linemen get their blocks. I feel like my footwork is better and my hip ability as well.

 “I feel I’m a very big, physical, downhill running back who also has speed to take the top off (and break long runs).”

  Running backs who are getting plenty of Football Championship Subdivision and NCAA Division II attention are Mah’ky Green of Cross, Trevon Williamson of Gray Collegiate Academy and Amire White of Gaffney.

 Green rushed for 1,601 yards and 16 touchdowns in 13 games. He has no offers yet but spent the summer working at several camps.

The 5-10, 170-pounder runs the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds. However, he knows he needs to get better at running between the tackles.

.” I have to get out of the habit of running outside so much,” Green said. “I want to get better at footwork, leading blocks,”

            Williamson had a tremendous junior season for the War Eagles, rushing for 1,662 yards and 26 touchdowns. The 6-2, 210-pounder is hoping to add to that after GCA moves from AAAA to AAAAA.

  “I would say my ability to break tackles, my vision and I have a good burst between the tackles is what makes me a good running back,” said Williamson, who transferred to Gray Collegiate last season after playing at Gilbert as a freshman and a sophomore.

  Williamson said he has offers from Samford, Chattanooga, The Citadel, Coastal Carolina and Gardner-Webb.

White is coming off a year in which he rushed for 1,299 yards – for Irmo. He has transferred to Upstate power Gaffney.

 “I’m just trying to do better than I did last year, better than I did my sophomore year,”: he said. “This year, I’m faster, I’m definitely stronger. I picked up some weight (from 195 to 210).

 I focused on my footwork over the summer,” he said. “I’m more shifty.”

  White said he has received offers from Wingate, North Greenville and The Citadel.

 Clinton lost a couple of big running backs to graduation but has senior Angelo Cromer back. He rushed for 692 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

 Caleb Feaster of Chester is back after rushing for 1,381 yards and 18 touchdowns in 13 games.

  The HSSR’s top junior running back is Michael Martin of Christ Church. He rushed for 1,425 yards and 30 touchdowns for the Cavaliers last season.

 Martin comes into the 2026 season with offers from Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Cincy, and Miami of Ohio. Clemson is keeping in touch with him also.

 “Michael has a 300-plus bench press and a 500 squat giving him some string legs to push through tacklers” said Christ Church head coach Quinn Hatfeild. “He has an incredible work ethic (Ironman Award Winner), and he didn’t miss a work-out all summer. “He has a quick first step, very quick with great vision and great balance.

“He is a physical runner, and his durability is consistent with his 30^th carry as good as his first carry in a game,” said Coach Hatfield. “He also has great hands, making him an effective option in the passing game.”   

 Brookland Cayce’s Avery King, (5-9,180) is also a highly regarded 2028 RB prospect by the HSSR who is getting a lot of college interest at the time.

 Note: Billy Baker contributed to this article.