Each year since 2006, MaxPreps has recognized outstanding performers in high school football. America's source for high school sports continues the tradition to close out the 2024 season by naming the top player in each state. Selections are based on team success and individual excellence in addition to local and state accolades.
Luke Nickel of
Milton is the 2024 MaxPreps Georgia High School Football Player of the Year. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound senior quarterback led the Eagles to a 15-0 record, AAAAA state title and No. 2 national ranking.
For the season, Nickel threw for 3,743 yards and 44
touchdowns while completing 67.9 percent of his passes. He only threw
seven interceptions on 308 pass attempts and added 300
yards and six scores on the ground.
MaxPreps Georgia Player of the Year Luke Nickel scrambles for yardage during Milton's state championship game victory over Langston Hughes. (Photo: Kenny Grimes)
In leading Milton past Langston Hughes (Fairburn) 56-35 in the title game, Nickel completed 21 of 22 pass attempts for 413 yards and four touchdowns. He also ran seven times for 56 yards.
Nickel accounted for 394 yards and six scores in a 56-28 semifinal win over Lee County (Leesburg). A week earlier in the quarterfinals, he completed 16 of 24 passes for 327 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-14 win over Houston County (Warner Robins).
In Nickel's final two seasons, Milton went 28-2 with back-to-back state titles and consecutive MaxPreps Top 25 finishes.
Regarded as one of the top senior quarterback prospects in the country by
247Sports, Nickel signed with Miami earlier this month after fielding more than 20 FBS offers.
Each state's MaxPreps Player of the Year will be considered for inclusion in the MaxPreps All-America Team.
Past MaxPreps Georgia Players of the Year
2020 — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Collins Hill (Suwanee)
2021 — Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Collins Hill (Suwanee)
2022 — Caleb Downs, S, Mill Creek (Hoschton)
2023 — Jeremy Hecklinski, QB, Walton (Marietta)
