Don’t be fooled by Mt. Hebron senior running back Coleman Hallums’ quiet and reserved nature. On the field, he is a tough, physical runner who also displays explosive speed.

Early in his Vikings career, Hallums functioned more as a big-play threat utilized on jet sweeps and perimeter run plays. Given his size at 5-foot-9, some doubted his physicality as a runner and ability to earn tough yards in between the tackles. That served as a motivating factor entering his final season. In the offseason, Hallums put in diligent work in the weight room, also sticking to a high-protein diet. He put on 15 pounds of muscle before his senior season.

His adherence to that offseason plan offered a glimpse into Hallums’ continual development throughout his career. The senior saved his best for last, shining in Mt. Hebron’s run-oriented offense. He flourished on both power style run plays as well as jet sweeps and outside runs, displaying a propensity for explosive plays.

The senior finished with a county-leading 1,423 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging 10.5 yards per carry. With that, he is the 2023 Howard County Times football Offensive Player of the Year.

“I like to be a do-it-all running back,” Hallums said. “I’m trying to help my team every single down, not just when the holes are there.”

Early in his career, Hallums had a tendency to tiptoe on power runs, bouncing outside instead of running north and south. Hallums wasn’t on varsity until his junior season and Mt. Hebron coach Shawn Frederick leaned on those motivations with friendly trash talk in practice. He’d say, “Oh I can’t run power with you, are you scared?” Hallums then promptly replied, “All right, coach, I got you, give me the power. That’s how I run power.”

Frederick used that to fuel Hallums’ competitive fire as he became more confident and dynamic with each repetition in practice.

“He’s a really strong physical kid, but because he’s quiet and reserved people don’t expect him to be that power runner,” Frederick said. “There are many times where he doesn’t look to dance. He’s not trying to juke or cut up the field. He knows his speed is his power, so he stays north and south and will lower the shoulder and run through people. He’s so fast that the defenders don’t usually have good angles on him to begin with. They’re trying to time it up and they’re expecting him to juke and he just keeps his full speed and the defenders catch him at bad angles.”

That versatility became a key dynamic of an explosive Vikings rushing attack that rushed for 3,162 yards in 11 games. Hallums and fellow senior running back Aidan Hauf fed off each other’s success. Frederick joked their backfield was thunder and lightning with Hauf’s bruising style as the thunder and Hallums’ electrifying speed as the lightning.

An accomplished track and field runner, Hallums used that to his advantage on the gridiron. On several occasions he turned what appeared to be an ordinary 8-to-10-yard run, into an explosive touchdown. Hallums kicked it into a different gear when he hit the second level, speeding past diving defenders all over the field.

His deception and patience also proved vital on those big plays. Hallums frequently worked with the Vikings coaching staff on utilizing a small shoulder dip as he came around the edge. That small technical nuance would often cause the defense to suck in. He would then continue to keep going outside, using his blazing speed to coast by defenders.

Those plays ignited the Vikings offense and helped lead the program to new heights. Hallums helped lead Mt. Hebron to seven straight wins to begin the season, ultimately reaching the program’s first state quarterfinal since 1982.

“I’m proud of the consistency, it really paid off,” Hallums said. “Sticking with it throughout the whole time I’ve been in high school. I’m proud of how we built a program. When we were in middle school, I don’t think Hebron won a single game. For me and all my teammates it’s one thing to win somewhere where you’re expected to, but I feel like we really built this.”

All-county first team

Jordan Tate, Reservoir, senior, quarterback: Tate finished 77-for-137 with 1,037 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions through the air. He also extended plays with his legs, running for 705 yards and 10 touchdowns on 61 carries.

Omar Hassan, River Hill, senior, all-purpose: First team All-County for the second straight season, Hassan finished with 110 carries for 575 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also threw for 287 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Adrian Alvarado, Reservoir, junior, running back: Alvarado consistently broke tackles, finishing second in the county with 1,226 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns on 189 carries.

Aidan Hauf, Mt. Hebron, senior, running back: In nine games, Hauf ran for 848 yards on 114 carries, scoring 14 touchdowns, bulldozing over defenders with a physical running style.

Darius Moore, Howard, sophomore, running back: A versatile weapon used all over the field, Moore rushed for 1,025 yards on 147 carries, finishing with nine touchdowns. He added 11 receptions for 157 yards.

Jaylen Etheridge, Long Reach, senior, wide receiver: Etheridge finished with a county-leading 585 yards on 34 receptions, scoring seven touchdowns. First team All-County for a second straight season, Etheridge showed off his big play ability averaging 17.2 yards per reception.

Zamir Herald, Howard, senior, wide receiver: Herald had a team-high 23 catches and 335 yards for four touchdowns, a first team All-County selection for a second straight season.

Destin Hill, Reservoir, senior, tight end: A Monmouth commit, Hill finished second on the team with 16 receptions for 233 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the county championship.

Jeff Afedi, Reservoir, senior, offensive line: Afedi was a vital part of Reservoir’s offensive line, helping create holes for an offense that threw for 1,252 total yards and ran for another 2,199 yards.

Gerson Mardi, Atholton, senior, offensive line: Mardi was the anchor of the Raiders up front at center, leading a unit that helped block for an offense with over 1,900 rushing yards and 1,500 passing yards.

Jack Martini, Mt. Hebron, senior, offensive line: Martini was a key piece of a Vikings offensive line at center that fueled an explosive run game that rushed for 3,162 total yards an average of 287.5 yards on the ground per game.

Gus Rocha, Howard, senior, offensive line: Rocha was Howard’s most consistent offensive linemen throughout the season, helping spark holes for a 1,000-plus yard rusher in Moore.

Logan Ruehl, Mt. Hebron, senior, offensive line: Ruehl also was a pivotal piece of the Vikings dominant run game at left tackle, helping spring big holes on toss and power plays.

Mitchell Dickson, Howard, senior, kicker: Dickson connected on 15 of 17 extra points, also making four of eight field goals, including a career-long 43-yarder.

All-county second team

Tyler Bell, Atholton, sophomore, quarterback

Jett Born, River Hill, senior, running back

Boston Brown, Marriotts Ridge, senior, offensive line

Matt Brown, Long Reach, senior, wide receiver

Russell Carrington, Oakland Mills, senior, running back

Maejon Dudley, Wilde Lake, senior, offensive line

Ryley Edmonds, Glenelg, senior, kicker

Daniel Goering, Marriotts Ridge, senior, offensive line

Ethan Jackson, Wilde Lake, senior, all-purpose

Cameron Lee, Atholton, senior, running back

Brandon Mulira, Reservoir, junior, wide receiver

Timi Osibodu, Reservoir, junior, offensive line

Paul Piwowarski, Glenelg, senior, wide receiver

Anthony Quinn, Hammond, junior, wide receiver

Ricardo Samuels, Long Reach, sophomore, tight end

Final season standings

Reservoir (8-3, 7-2, Howard County Champion); 2. Mt. Hebron (8-3, 7-2, Class 3A state quarterfinalist); 3. Glenelg (7-4, 6-3); 4. Atholton (7-4, 6-3); 5. Howard (6-4, 6-3); 6. Long Reach (6-4, 6-3); 7. River Hill (5-5, 5-4); 8. Wilde Lake (6-6, 4-5, 2A state quarterfinalist); 9. Marriotts Ridge (4-6, 4-5); 10. Oakland Mills (5-7, 3-6, 3A state quarterfinalist); 11. Centennial (0-10, 0-9); 12. Hammond (0-10, 0-9).