The Leaderboard: McNair QB, formerly a defensive back, is now state’s top rusher
One of Markus Brown’s first tasks as McNair’s new football coach was finding a quarterback. Last season's three-year starter was gone, and Brown was looking at a freshman initially.
Then Brown and his staff noticed Keyuntae Phillips, a defensive back, was exceptionally quick. They also discovered that Phillips, a senior, had played quarterback in middle school.
The rest is history, but like no one could’ve imagined. Phillips, a 5-foot-7, 150-pound speedster, is now the state’s leading rusher with 1,558 yards. He has scored 11 of his team’s 21 touchdowns. He has thrown for 865 yards and seven touchdowns on a young team that is 1-7. And he still plays defense.
“He’s a heck of an athlete who’s fluid with the ball,” Brown said. “He can take it 80 yards at any time. We built the running game around him because we don’t have a true tailback in this first year of developing our kids. We’re operating almost in a single-wing situation [with direct snaps to Phillips]. I just wish we could put it in the box more [score touchdowns] and we’d be cooking in hot grease.”
Phillips’ 174 yards last week against Social Circle gave him the rushing lead statewide over Winder-Barrow’s M.J. Dowdy, whose team was idle. Phillips has no firm scholarship offers, but Brown hopes that will change when coaches begin to see film of Phillips’ running exploits.
Dalton’s Caine Woods and Calhoun’s Justin Beasley retained their leads in passing and receiving, respectively.
Woods and Cambridge's Connor Langford have become the state's first 2,000-yard passers while Beasley and Mount Vernon's Taurean Rawlins are the first 1,000-yard receivers.
GHSA
Rushing
1,558 - Keyuntae Phillips, McNair [Class A Division I leader]
1,528 - M.J. Dowdy, Winder-Barrow [Class 5A leader]
1,491 - Ty Cummings, West Laurens [Class 3A leader]
1,487 - Mason Hollingsworth, Whitefield Academy
1,448 - Marquel Deering, Greenville [Class A Division II leader]
1,340 - Hudson Hulett, North Murray [Class 2A leader]
1,328 - Donnie Warren, Habersham Central
1,259 - Darrian Roberts, Atkinson County
1,252 - Jayden Johnson, Stephenson
1,245 - Nolan Matthews, Lumpkin County
1,242 - Cooper Bazarsky, North Cobb Christian
1,236 - Zay Prince, Athens Academy
1,174 - Will Rajecki, Sequoyah
1,173 - Woody Schettini, Northgate
1,164 - Bakari Hamilton, Trinity Christian
1,146 - Tamari Curry, Westside (Augusta)
1,132 - Elijah Brown, Liberty County
1,129 - Andre Gianopoulos, New Manchester
1,117 - Brandon Hamilton, Cherokee [Class 6A leader]
1,079 - Christian Monfort, Morgan County
1,051 - Melvin McAdoo, Wilcox County
1,037 - Devion Richardson, Glascock County
1,034 - Amari Latimer, Sandy Creek
1,022 - Ethan Corpus, Allatoona [Class 4A leader]
1,019 - JaeVeon Williams, Pierce County
1,010 - Deron Foster, Valdosta
1,009 - Mason Woods, Lowndes
997 - Moonie Gipson, Kell
992 - Jayde Beasley, Mill Creek
983 - Kalil Charles, Cass
983 - Alex Baert, Towns County
978 - Greg Kendrick, Wheeler
971 - Chance Ross, Jasper County
961 - Nigel Newkirk, Gainesville
959 - Christopher Wilson, KIPP Atlanta Collegiate
956 - Brayden Slaughter, Heritage (Ringgold)
950 - Alvin Ricks, Wheeler County
939 - Reid Giles, Rabun County
918 - Daylan Maxwell, Jackson County
910 - Henry Pullen, McEachern
904 - Nigel Gardner, Brunswick
903 - Josiah Gibbons, Brunswick
900 - Myles Mims, Eastside
896 - Gene Watson, Berrien
894 - Keon Childers, Statesboro
888 - Justin Murphy, North Clayton
881 - AB Hilton, Screven County
881 - Jayden Cruz, Sonoraville
875 - Tyler Foreman, Emanuel County Institute
873 - Trevon Rogers, Tattnall County
871 - Reante Byrd, Hephzibah
865 - Kelston Tarver, Carver (Columbus)
863 - Devon Caldwell, Hebron Christian
859 - Jakeyveon Parker, Macon County
848 - Colin Anderson, Houston County
848 - Jitt Carr, Monroe Area
839 - Omari Wilson, Charlton County
828 - Jakobe Dorsey, Cedartown
822 - Andrew Davis, West Forsyth
819 - Shamari King, Johnson (Savannah)
819 - Paxton Ray, Haralson County
806 - Devonis Lee, Early County
803 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
797 - Nate Davis, Rockmart
796 - Layne Vaughn, Gordon Lee
792 - Lataious Stepp Jr., Carver (Atlanta)
791 - Christian Lawrence, Thomas County Central
787 - Sadur Salahuddin, Decatur
785 - Zach Belyeu, North Cobb
784 - Colby Smith, Southeast Bulloch
779 - Peyton Chancey, Gilmer
778 - Drew Richardson, East Jackson
778 - Brandan Ridley, McIntosh
769 - Marquis Fennell, Valdosta
758 - Cameron Irastorza, Dunwoody
758 - Haddon Fries, Ringgold
757 - Andrew Beard, Prince Avenue Christian
756 - Wesley Dinkins, Savannah Christian
755 - LaVasco Williams, Kendrick
752 - Brooks Malone, Cambridge
752 - Zandon Mullins, Parkview
751 - Earnest McIntosh, McIntosh County Academy
750 - Gary Walker, Creekside
750 - Khyran White, South Effingham
748 - Ma'Khi Watson, Cedar Grove
745 - Maddox Gartland, Wesleyan
743 - Dylan Maina, Hiram
743 - Jayden Murphy, Southeast Bulloch
741 - Jackson Pirkle, Cherokee Bluff
741 - Kobe Hill, Jeff Davis
740 - Kamari Holloman, Tift County
736 - Ryan Scott, Jenkins
733 - Camden Cox, River Ridge
731 - Albert Gooding, Lithonia
725 - Aiden Fletcher, Chattooga
725 - Ashton Barton, Peach County
715 - Bryson Cole, Fannin County
714 - Cody McBrayer, Dawson County
714 - Khemp Boyd, Haralson County
714 - Christian Kinlaw, New Hampstead
713 - Ced Kelley, Creekside
710 - Curtis Turner, Turner County
708 - Joshua Hopkins, Bowdon
708 - Justin Powell, Toombs County
702 - Noriega Thompson, Walton
702 - Tayshaun Franklin, Ware County
700 - Davian Knox, Banks County
Passing
2,119 - Caine Woods, Dalton [Class 4A leader]
2,038 - Connor Langford, Cambridge
1,976 - Alex Schlieman, North Hall [Class 3A leader]
1,969 - Chaz Pate, Sonoraville [Class 2A leader]
1,900 - Grant Moore, Brunswick [Class 5A leader]
1,883 - Charlie Baxter, Christian Heritage [Class A Division I leader]
1,835 - Thomas Winston, Miller Grove
1,832 - Gavin Nuckolls, Northwest Whitfield
1,815 - Quenterrion Stanford, Wilkinson County [Class A Division II leader]
1,789 - Cannon Robinson, Westlake [Class 6A leader]
1,731 - Joshua Scott, Stockbridge
1,680 - Nate Russell, Cartersville
1,680 - Chris Miller, Kennesaw Mountain
1,676 - Elijah Fudge, Spencer
1,656 - Leland Holder, Taylor County
1,645 - Graham Burmeister, Woodstock
1,642 - Kain Mincey, Dodge County
1,642 - Ashton Clare, Trinity Christian
1,641 - Lyndon Worthy, Worth County
1,629 - Mac Nelson, Mary Persons
1,618 - Weston Goodman, North Atlanta
1,614 - Chap Chapman, Athens Academy
1,601 - Trace Hawkins, Calhoun
1,596 - Cayden Benson, Creekside
1,589 - Jordan Do, Archer
1,583 - Ethan Daughtery, Lambert
1,560 - RayShaun Parks, Peachtree Ridge
1,558 - Keyuntae Phillips, McNair
1,556 - Tucker Parson, Rockmart
1,545 - Willie Jones Jr., Arabia Mountain
1,541 - Kharim Hughley, Gainesville
1,540 - Ryan Maxwell, Houston County
1,523 - Carson Hand, Richmond Academy
1,510 - Jordan Wiggins, Northeast
1,506 - Aiden Watson, Harrison
1,502 - Braylon Carter, Southwest DeKalb
1,483 - Mitch Seaman, Lassiter
1,473 - Kaleb Narcisse, Kell
1,465 - Jamarcus Harrison, East Hall
1,459 - James Mobley, Calvary Day
1,459 - Caden Hight, Heritage (Ringgold)
1,452 - William Jackson, Camden County
1,435 - Brodie McWhorter, Cass
1,428 - Jayden McCullough, North Cobb Christian
1,427 - Shamar Banner, Duluth
1,424 - Aidan McPherson, Rome
1,422 - Ben Musser, Prince Avenue Christian
1,420 - Brodie Campbell, Newnan
1,419 - Trey Smith, Roswell
1,415 - Blaise Thomas, Savannah Christian
1,410 - Darian Keefe, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
1,397 - Brody Fleming, Bleckley County
1,390 - Bode Spence, East Paulding
1,390 - Tristan Parks, Hampton
1,383 - Kamden Patterson, Baldwin
1,383 - Cooper Dean, Cherokee Bluff
1,382 - C.J. Cypher, Carrollton
1,381 - Caden Worley, Ola
1,380 - Noah Lanford, Lakeside (Atlanta)
1,376 - Christion Peacock, Walton
1,375 - Mike Johnson, Douglas County
1,366 - Davis Strickland, Morgan County
1,366 - Ryan Harrigan, Woodward Academy
1,365 - Michael Miller, Greater Atlanta Christian
1,356 - Brody Baker, Elbert County
1,352 - J.R. Harris, Central (Carrollton)
1,335 - Joseph Owens, Toombs County
1,319 - Jahbari Felix, Bradwell Institute
1,311 - Jayden Whiteside, Marietta
1,311 - Tyler Niehr, North Paulding
1,302 - Caleb Hill, Sandy Creek
1,283 - Brett Strum, Flowery Branch
1,282 - Cohen Lawson, Colquitt County
1,277 - Patrick McCollough, Wheeler
1,267 - Reid Ginn, Perry
1,265 - Corey Fletcher, Carver (Atlanta)
1,259 - Garrison Cantrell, Dacula
1,256 - A.J. Glover, Charlton County
1,251 - Dominic Larocca, Lanier
1,248 - Skylar Hamilton, Landmark Christian
1,245 - Davin Lemire, Campbell
1,243 - Chandler Dyson, Warner Robins
1,232 - Turner Stevenson, Aquinas
1,221 - Payton Shaw, Eastside
1,206 - Gunnar Weaver, Dawson County
1,200 - Chase Rhoads, East Forsyth
1,200 - Paris Wilbanks, Habersham Central
Receiving
1,069 - Justin Beasley, Calhoun [Class 3A leader]
1,006 - Taurean Rawlins, Mount Vernon [Class A Division I leader]
959 - Keyon Standifer, Athens Academy
929 - Craig Dandridge, Cambridge [Class 4A leader]
857 - Dylan Green, Kennesaw Mountain [Class 5A leader]
806 - Jack Rhodes, Aquinas
799 - Collins Price, Lassiter
789 - Peyton Echols, Trinity Christian
786 - Mason Stephens, Mary Persons
777 - Rashad Blalock, McNair
773 - Ty Kemp, North Hall
771 - Terrious Favors, Carver (Atlanta) [Class 2A leader]
764 - Jack Ruban, Cherokee [Class 6A leader]
764 - Aaron Gregory, Douglas County
755 - Gavin Green, Rockmart
738 - M.J. Mathis, Houston County
735 - Kade Mitchell, Northwest Whitfield
732 - D.J. Huggins, Harrison
709 - Weston Hughes, Savannah Christian
667 - Ahmontae Pitts, Blessed Trinity
665 - Kadine McAlister, Salem
661 - Damien Henderson, Creekside
650 - Langston Butler, Sonoraville
650 - Jordan Christie, Southwest DeKalb
647 - Jamere Smith, Greenville [Class A Division II co-leader]
647 - Ty'quavion Pinkard, Taylor County [Class A Division II co-leader]
643 - Rylan Hubbard, Woodstock
641 - Myles Cobb, Wilkinson County
639 - Jaison McCall, Jackson
637 - John Matthews, Newnan
633 - Doyle Morrison, Lanier
631 - Trae Stevenson, Brooks County
631 - Cole Cable, North Hall
620 - Ryan Mosley, Carrollton
616 - Elliot Hamilton, Social Circle
616 - Carter Hayes, Wesleyan
611 - Dai’jon Hayes, Tift County
610 - Santiago Bizzell, Bacon County
610 - Kamarion Johnson, Clinch County
610 - Havyn Searels, Dalton
610 - Wills Campbell, Roswell
603 - Dallas Dickerson, North Oconee
596 - Derrick Miller, Newton
594 - Jauriel Bray, Dodge County
591 - Kamarui Dorsey, Hampton
583 - Tramayne Beliard, Miller Grove
582 - Bryson Roberts, Trion
582 - Jamario Rice, Ware County
581 - Peyton Zachary, Carrollton
580 - Matthew Franatovich, Lambert
578 - Tre Shields, Flowery Branch
570 - Mahki Johnson, Wilkinson County
569 - Jaris Sinkfield, Thomson
564 - Jerimiah Burns, Dodge County
562 - Chasen Jones, East Hall
562 - Lo’than McBride, Richmond Academy
561 - Walker Hughes, Etowah
561 - Prince Jean, Valdosta
557 - Kenneth Gladden Jr., Miller Grove
552 - Sam Gritton, East Coweta
547 - Nigel Pittman, Thomasville
542 - Xavier Cannon, Warner Robins
541 - Jordan Peacock, Walton
537 - Malcolm Millsap, Cherokee Bluff
535 - Toby Martin, North Cobb Christian
534 - Brady Marchese, Cartersville
531 - Eli Balliew, Sonoraville
530 - Antwan Lockett, Colquitt County
530 - Reid Giles, Rabun County
527 - Oakleen Padgett, North Cobb Christian
527 - Ty'Lil Terrell, South Cobb
525 - Amauri Couch, Spencer
524 - Elias Gandy, Westlake
522 - Jaden Upshaw, Lee County
518 - Jack Ellenburg, North Atlanta
518 - McCord Purdy, Pickens
516 - Jahlil Abdullah-Kortney, Cass
513 - Robbie Dunn, Archer
512 - Heze Kent, Brunswick
508 - Dylan Edwards, Dawson County
504 - Cash Martin, North Forsyth
503 - Keyshawn Polk, Metter
503 - J.J. Winston, Rome
502 - Jay Feltus, Habersham Central
502 - Zyon Robinson, Stockbridge
496 - Isaac Summey, Dalton
496 - Dawson Quarterman, Grayson
494 - Kaiden Prothro, Bowdon
491 - Jayden Futrell, Harlem
486 - Jaylen Britt, Newnan
484 - Waseem Murray, Brunswick
481 - Ja'darius Hinton, Ridgeland
481 - Jordan Hudson, Spencer
478 - Cade Zeman, Northview
478 - Jacoby Parker, Ola
475 - Isaac Kareem-Maman, Dacula
GIAA
Rushing
1,276 - Tyler Stephens, Stratford Academy
1,086 - Jake Johnson, Strong Rock Christian
953 - Jaxon Bone, King's Academy
851 - D.J. Colvin, St. Anne-Pacelli
828 - Colt Williams, Southwest Georgia Academy
795 - Adian Grady, Bethlehem Christian
770 - Wade Register, Trinity Christian (Dublin)
764 - Cutler Fleming, Briarwood Academy
748 - Kamari Jackson, Valwood
741 - Sam Wasson, Pinewood Christian
Passing
1,910 - Lane Sceals, Deerfield-Windsor
1,662 - Braxton Wilkinson, Calvary Christian
1,433 - Broughton Branch, Brookstone
1,405 - Cutler Fleming, Briarwood Academy
1,337 - Kylan Fryar, Loganville Christian
1,228 - Lewis Cheney, John Milledge Academy
1,187 - Brock Johnson, Westfield
1,053 - Major Simmons, First Presbyterian
Receiving
796 - Gabe Daniel, Deerfield-Windsor
746 - Banks DeMore, Briarwood Academy
745 - Win Hoots, Westfield
690 - Jason Kelly, Brookstone
551 - Asa Wall, John Milledge Academy
519 - Davis Hutchins, Deerfield-Windsor
476 - Breck Griffin, First Presbyterian
474 - Jason Davis, St. Anne-Pacelli