(Atlantic) The 2026 Atlantic football team has a mixture of both new and experienced players, and the offensive backfield is no exception. The Trojans have established themselves as a good running team.
Gavin McLaren, the Trojans’ hard-nosed fullback, is lost to graduation and is now playing Division I football at South Dakota State University. The question is who will fill these big shoes. Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer says they have options.
However, the Trojans possess one of the district’s top returning running backs, Ethan McNeal. As a junior, McNeal rushed for 1331, scored 14 touchdowns, and averaged 6.6 yards per carry. The senior has a good chance to surpass the 2000 yard mark this season with 1,915 rushing yards in just two seasons. Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer says McNeal has put in the work.
Atlantic Head Coach Joe Brummer has developed a solid rushing attack over the past several years.
Another explosive weapon is Junior Zanier Killion. He brings a lot of athleticism to the backfield. Killion averaged 40 yards per punt last season and earned all-district and all-state honors. He also carried the ball 21 times for 215 yards, four touchdowns, with his longest being 52 yards, while averaging 10 yards per carry.
The team rushed for 2,217 yards one year ago and 3,189 yards during the 2024 campaign.
