Tyler Atkinson of
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) is the 2024 MaxPreps National Junior of the Year. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound linebacker joins the likes of Trevor Lawrence (2016), Bryce Young (2018), Emeka Egbuka (2019) and Travis Hunter (2020) as winners of the honor.
Atkinson led Grayson to a 14-1 record, AAAAAA state championship and No. 7 national ranking. He finished with 166 tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 46 quarterback hurries, one forced fumble and an interception.
In a 38-24 win over Carrollton in the state championship game, Atkinson piled up 13 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks to help the Rams win their fourth state title and first since 2020.
Atkinson racked up a season-high 26 tackles in a 35-28 win over Douglas County (Douglasville) in the semifinals. He added two tackles for loss and five quarterback hurries.
The Rams won their final 14 games after dropping their season-opener against Collins Hill (Suwanee). They avenged that loss in the quarterfinals with a 38-14 win as Atkinson posted 13 tackles, two tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery.
Atkinson had at least 10 tackles in all but four games this season. He averaged 12.8 tackles per game and posted at least one sack in nine games.
He has been playing at a high level since his freshman year. He has racked up 475 tackles, 79 tackles for loss, 31.5 sacks, 93 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and one interception during his career.
Regarded as a five-star prospect by
247Sports, Atkinson joins Robert Nkemdiche as the second player from Grayson to be named the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year. He took home that honor in 2011 after leading the Rams to their first state title in school history. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) is the only other school to have at least two players to win the award. J.T. Daniels and Bryce Young went back-to-back in 2017 and 2018.
Atkinson is the fifth player from the Peach State to be named the Junior of the Year. He joins Nkemdiche and Deshaun Watson along with the aforementioned Lawrence and Hunter. Texas has also had five players earn the honor.
Past MaxPreps National Juniors of the Year
2009 — Christian LeMay, QB, Butler (Matthews, N.C.)
2010 — Johnathan Gray, RB, Aledo (Texas)
2011 — Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
2012 — Deshuan Watson, QB, Gainesville (Ga.)
2013 — Jake Browning, QB, Folsom (Calif.)
2014 — Tren'Davian Dickson, WR, Navasota (Texas)
2015 — Sam Ehlinger, QB, Westlake (Austin, Texas)
2016 — Trevor Lawrence, QB, Cartersville (Ga.)
2017 — J.T. Daniels, QB, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2018 — Bryce Young, QB, Mater Dei / Zach Evans, RB, North Shore (Houston)
2019 — Emeka Egbuka, WR, Steilacoom (Wash.)
2020 — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Collins Hill (Suwanee, Ga.)
2021 — Rueben Owens, RB, El Campo (Texas)
2022 — Micah Alejado, QB, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
2023 — Gideon Davidson, RB, Liberty Christian (Lynchburg, Va.)
