Julian Lewis of
Carrollton (Ga.) joins Jabrill Peppers (2010), Nick Bosa (2012), Trevor Lawrence (2014), Jase McClellan (2016) and Arch Manning (2019) as players to earn MaxPreps National Freshman Player of the Year honors. Lewis led the Trojans to a 14-1 record, a spot at No. 22 in the final MaxPreps Top 25 and an appearance in the AAAAAAA state championship game.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound quarterback broke the state championship game record for any classification, throwing for 531 yards in a 70-35 loss against No. 11 Mill Creek (Hoschton) in addition to five touchdown passes. The yardage total is 11th best in any game in Georgia history.
Lewis finished his freshman campaign with 4,118 passing yards and 48 touchdowns while completing 65.5 percent of his attempts. He threw for the second-most yards in Georgia this season and ranks 12th all-time for most passing yards in a single season in state history. The talented Class of 2026 signal caller was an all-state selection.
In five playoff games, he threw for 1,519 yards and 14 touchdowns. Against Walton (Marietta) in the AAAAAAA quarterfinals he completed 22 of 32 passes for 333 yards and four touchdowns in a 52-27 win. The next week in the semifinals against an undefeated Colquitt County (Moultrie) squad, he completed 17 of 26 passes for 248 yards and two scores in a 35-27 win. The Trojans were the only team last season to score at least 30 points against the Packers.
Carrollton head coach Joey King, who also coached Trevor Lawrence in high school, believes Lewis is the total package.
"From a skill-perspective, he has great accuracy and anticipation. His feet are good in the pocket, and he can throw with different arm angles," King told the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He's also a very cerebral quarterback and understands what we are trying to do offensively."
Lewis has already landed over 20 FBS offers that includes the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Oregon, Penn State and Tennessee. The Class of 2026 player rankings won't be released from 247Sports until this summer but Lewis figures to be in the conversation for the No. 1 spot when that list drops.
Past MaxPreps National Freshmen of the Year
2010 — Jabrill Peppers, ATH, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)
2011 — Austin Kafentzis, QB, Jordan (Sandy, Utah)
2012 — Nick Bosa, DL, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
2013 — Dylan Moses, LB, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)
2014 — Trevor Lawrence, QB, Cartersville (Ga.)
2015 — JT Daniels, QB, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2016 — Jase McClellan, RB, Aledo (Texas)
2017 — Sam Huard, QB, Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)
2018 — Gunner Stockton, QB, Rabun County (Tiger, Ga.)
2019 — Arch Manning, QB, Newman (New Orleans)
2020 — Ronnie Royal, ATH, Alexandria (Ala.)
2021 — Bryce Underwood, QB, Belleville (Mich.)
