DALTON, Ga. – Mention Ahmaad Tanner’s name around Tucker Sumner and the Dalton High School senior linebacker’s face lights up.
Much like Sumner’s role on the Catamounts’ defense, Tanner has been a rock on the offensive side of the ball. The 6-foot, 200-pound running back has been a force all season for 13-0 Dalton, and his impact in the postseason has been even more profound.
Tanner, a senior who transferred to Dalton from Christian Heritage in the offseason, has 522 yards and seven touchdowns in three playoff wins, including 243 yards and three scores in last week’s Class AAAAAA quarterfinal win over Coffee.
As the Catamounts prepare for an epic semifinal showdown tonight at Harmon Field/Bill Chappell Stadium against Valdosta (12-1), they again will count on Tanner’s relentless running style to match one of the state’s top defenses. Sumner, for one, doesn’t expect to witness anything different from the previous 13 games.
“There’s nothing that’s going to stop him from doing what he wants to do,” the linebacker gushed. “He’s the most self-motivated person I’ve ever been around. He’s a freak in the weight room and a freak on the field, and it shows in his stats.”
Once he started, Sumner couldn’t stop heaping on the praise for Tanner, who has 1,495 yards and 22 touchdowns.
“Ahmaad is the best running back I’ve ever played against, and we’ve played against Trey Sermon, the No. 1 rated running back in the state,” Sumner said, mentioning the Sprayberry senior who has committed to Oklahoma. “We’ve played against a bunch of high-profile backs, and he’s just the best.”
Tanner’s numbers in Georgia’s second-highest classification, however, haven’t translated into heavy action on the college recruiting circuit. That, according to coach Matt Land, is starting to change as the Dalton offense has found its run game.
“People have been waiting to see how he would do as we’ve gotten to go against playoff competition,” Land said. “He’s starting to get a lot of looks. When you’re getting the ball 27 to 30 times a game, they want to see how healthy and tough he is. I think Ahmaad has more than shown them he’s capable of doing anything he’s asked.
“Ahmaad is so multidimensional. He can catch it, he can juke you out or run over you. He’s just a complete player and certainly a young man that will have an opportunity to do something special tomorrow night.”
Tanner, who has an offer from Austin Peay State University, isn’t overly concerned about life after high school just yet. He’s more interested in bringing a state championship to Dalton.
“I’m not sure why I don’t have more offers, but I can’t worry about it,” Tanner said. “I just have to keep playing ball and we have to keep winning. This team set some goals this year: to go 10-0, win the region championship and make the state championship game. We’re one game away, and that’s what I’m focusing on.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or at 423-757-6296; follow on Twitter @youngsports22