Gwinnett Daily Post

Norcross senior Alvin Kamara is one of the nation's top recruits and is ranked as the state's No. 1 running back by ESPN.com.

NORCROSS — As you walk in the Norcross fieldhouse, the wall on the left is covered with dozens of photos of former players.

The pictures are of some of the best players to don the blue and silver uniform and have gone on to play college football.

There's a photo of Jeff Backus before he began his 11-year NFL career. Another photo features Larry Grant before he played in two national title games with Ohio State. Then there's a photo of Brice Butler being selected as a U.S. Army All-American before signing with Southern California.

Alvin Kamara just looks at the wall and smiles. The Norcross running back knows he's in the midst of doing something special and will one day have his picture on the wall.

"There's so many guys that have gone on to college and some NFL guys that have done great things," Kamara said. "It's good that I can keep that legacy going."

The 5-foot-10 , 198-pound Kamara is the state's No. 1 running back according to recruiting rankings on ESPN.com, which also rates him at No. 5 in the country at his position.

"If he's not the best (running back), he's close," Norcross head coach Keith Maloof said. "He's just a special being. He's one of those kids that you love to coach. He's one of those kids you love to see the ball in his hands. He can just do special things. He does things we can't even dream about doing."

Kamara built a name for himself in recruiting circles by going to recruiting combines. He also spent the summer competing against some of the nation's top players. Kamara was invited to Nike's The Opening in Oregon where 150 of the nation's top players took part in specialized training.

Kamara also participated in Gridiron Kings, a 7-on-7 camp in Orlando with 64 of the nation's top skill position players. Despite the trips, he still made sure he was around for workouts with his teammates at Norcross.

"He's been at all the workouts. Plus he's been able to do all his little special things," Maloof said. "He's really handled the spotlight really well. He's being a team player and a team leader and to me that means more than his ability."

The trips to Oregon and Orlando were in addition to visits to colleges around the country.

"The fun stuff is all fun. But I still have a team back home," Kamara said. "You have to make sure these guys see you wanting to work. Being a leader, you have to make sure they see you doing the things they are doing. Some of the guys that may not be able to play on the next level, this is their go around, so when I wasn't out of town, I made sure I got to every workout."

Kamara is coming off a junior season in which he rushed for 1,197 yards and 16 TDs.

"I'm trying to double up what I did last year as far as have a better season," Kamara said. "Being a leader, I want to be able to rise everyone's play around me."

Despite all of his college visits, Kamara still isn't sure where he'll play college football one day. He isn't in any hurry to make a college decision. He's enjoying the recruiting process. In no particular order he lists Oklahoma State, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Tennessee and Oregon as his favorites.

"With me, it's really about a feeling," Kamara said. "As far as a timeline, I don't really know. I'm still pretty open with that top five or top six. I'm just trying to make a couple of more visits and narrow it down a little more and go from there."

Of all the great players who line the wall of the Norcross field house, none of them ever won a state championship. It's a distinction Kamara would like to have before his photo is placed on the wall.

"The person stopping us is us," Kamara said. "As a team, I think we have state title potential. It's just a matter of putting it together and getting there."