LIVE OAK, Fla. — Carlton Hall is a man of few words.  

The standout running back is pretty quiet on and off the field, but his name rings loud on Friday nights for the Suwannee Bulldogs. 

“I’m more of a quiet guy,” said Hall. “I let my actions do the talking.”

In most games, Hall’s name is called at least 25 times over the PA system with the Bulldogs feeding the ball to their most reliable player. Even after all those carries, Hall is the type of back that never seems to tire, running with the same tenacity and physicality in the fourth quarter. 

In Suwannee’s season-opening win against Fort White last week, the Bulldogs mixed things up well with the run and pass. But when it was time to hammer into the end zone late in the game and then run some clock with a big lead, it was back to No. 1. 

Of Suwannee’s final 17 plays, Hall ran 13 times.

He averaged 5 yards per rush on those final 13 totes, even with a good Fort White defense inching up and stacking the box.

“He’s such a workhorse,” SHS head coach Kyler Hall said of his star back. 

“Doesn’t say a lot, but I have seen him pull some guys to the side and give some pointers. He leads by example.” 

There isn’t much flash in Hall’s game. He runs downhill and almost never gets stopped for negative yardage. Hall has his own running style and isn’t trying to copy any players on TV, mainly because he doesn’t watch football on TV.

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“I never really watched football. It just came to me,” Hall said. “I started when I was 10 and have been playing running back since seventh grade. 

“Having good vision, smashing the hole and going full speed every time,” Hall said was his running style.   

With Suwannee making some big changes to the offense during the offseason, Hall has spent a lot of time learning new plays. One of the new components to the offense is sending Hall out as  a wide receiver. It worked in the first game as Hall raced past Fort White defenders and hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Tyree Taylor. 

With all the time Hall dedicates to his craft — watching film on opponents and himself, studying the new playbook and putting in time in the weight room  — it should be a big senior year for the back who ran for 836 yards in 2016 and 904 yards in 2017.          

Hall’s hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Teammate and friend Jay Williams, also a senior, spoke about Hall’s work ethic.  

“He won’t be outworked,” Williams said. “He’s improved his footwork.

“He’s the most important part of the offense. He sets the tone.”

Running behind another dominant offensive line, which includes big No. 73 Josh Braun, Hall and the Bulldogs have a chance to put up a ton of points, and wins, this season.