Sprayberry set to run downton through Abbey
By Christian Knox
MDJ Sports Writer
Sprayberry running back Isaiah Abbey
missed most of his first two seasons after
tearing three ligaments in his knee as a
freshman.
He flashed his high-end talent in his junior
season, rushing for 833 yards and 11
touchdowns while averaging eight yards
per carry, but he was forced to split carries
with Damarion Owens while operating in
a stacked backfield.
With one season left of high school ball,
Sprayberry coach Brett Vavra is finally
handing Abbey the reins of the Yellow
Jackets running game.
“I think there’s no doubt that Isaiah was
able to learn a lot from Damarion last year,”
Vavra said. “Isaiah is now really, truly going
to be the guy. We have some guys behind
him who are going to get some carries,
but he’s going to get the bulk of the
carries and the bulk of the action.”
Vavra implemented a run-heavy offense
in his time at Sprayberry, but he said the
offense may run the ball even more under
new offensive coordinator William Spzor,
who uses multiple tight ends and extra
blockers in his scheme. With Owens’ 132
touches from 2020 up for grabs, Abbey
may double his 104 carries from his first
full high school season.
“There were some games where I didn’t
play as much as I hoped I would. I put a
lot of work into practice for the upcoming
game, and then I’d sit on the sideline
for most of the game,” Abbey said. “When
someone is rotating in with me, I feel like
I can’t really get going that well. I can still
get going, but I feel like when I’m in there
for longer with more consecutive reps, I
get better as we progress and I feel like I
can perform better.”
Though Owens will not be around to
share tips with Abbey at practice or support
him at games, the running game
will still feel his impact. Abbey studied
Owens’ physical running style and
relentless leg drive, which has made
the newest 6-foot, 220-pound bellcow
back a bruising runner.
“I’m not a fan of being taken down, so
I’ll run through as many people as I can,”
Abbey said. “People are afraid to tackle
me, so they fall at my feet. I have to learn
to avoid those ankle grabbers.”
His size and strength play into his violent
running style, but Abbey is a versatile
piece out of the backfield. Vavra described
Abbey as a fast, physical back with good
ball skills that excels in the downhill running
game.
Abbey has received 16 college offers, including
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Connecticut, Army and Kennesaw
State since January. While he is talking to
schools in Power 5 conferences, he seems
most interested in the Ivy League offers
from Penn, Cornell, Columbia and Harvard
for the educational opportunities
they provide.
“If you go to an Ivy League (university),
you’ll never be ordinary,” Abbey, who
wants to study computer engineering in
college, said. “I feel that the Ivy Leagues
are really something different. I feel like
they will set you up best for the future and
guarantee your success.”
However, just as Owens still impacts Abbey’s
game, Abbey wants to leave a legacy
in his final season at Sprayberry that impacts
future Yellow Jackets.
“I don’t want to leave and become a
running back from the past. I want to
make something different of the program,”
Abbey said. “I just want to make
a difference for the people around me,
and I want that to carry on into next
year so we can continue to grow as a
program.”
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