Grayson standout junior linebacker Tyler Atkinson continues to add to his long list of accolades after his third season of high school football as he was awarded this year’s MaxPreps National Junior of the Year.
Atkinson was a major contributor for the Rams through its state championship run where the junior totaled 166 total tackles, 32 tackles for loss, 13 sacks as well as a forced fumble and an interception. He helped lead Grayson to a 14-1 record and the first state championship victory since 2020, the Rams’ fourth overall championship.
In the 2024 GHSA Class 6A state title game, Atkinson accumulated 13 tackles including three tackles for loss as he was everywhere for the Rams making plays all over the field. The talented junior linebacker is ranked in the top-20 nationally in the Class of 2026 recruiting cycle and is one of, if not the top player in the state in his recruiting class.
The 2024 MaxPreps National Junior of the Year Award is not the only award that Atkinson earned after his 2024. The linebacker was named Class 6A Defensive Player of the Year from both Score Atlanta and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Atkinson was a member of the All-Defensive Team by both publications as well.
Atkinson is the second Grayson player to win the award and joins elite company in doing so. Former Grayson and Ole Miss standout defensive lineman, Robert Nkemdiche took home the award in 2011. Grayson now joins Mater Dei (CA) as the only two schools to have two players win the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year Award. A pair of Mater Dei quarterbacks, former Ohio State quarterback J.T. Daniels took home the award in 2017 while former Alabama quarterback and current Carolina Panthers signal caller, Bryce Young won the award the year after in 2018.
The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder has been a force on the Rams defense since his first season in 2022 and is the fifth player from the state of Georgia to win the MaxPreps National Junior of the Year Award, the first since 2020 when former Collins Hill and Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter took home the award four years ago. Other recipients of the award from around the state include Nkemdiche (Grayson, DL, 2011), Deshaun Watson (Gainesville, QB, 2012), Trevor Lawrence (Cartersville, QB, 2016) and Hunter (Collins Hill, WR/CB, 2020).
Atkinson has started for Grayson ever since he enrolled at the school his freshman season, and has only continued to improve. The 5-star is no stranger to earning postseason awards as he was the first-ever eighth grader to be invited to the All-American Bowl.
In his freshman season, Atkinson totaled 112 tackles and 22 tackles for loss to go along with eight sacks, wreaking havoc for the Rams defense while earning honors such as MaxPreps All-American, and participating in the FBU Freshman All-American Bowl where 247Sports named him the top performer.
Atkinson holds over 40 offers from some of the premier programs around the country including Georgia, Alabama, Oregon, Ohio State and LSU and will have all the top programs clearing room on the roster for him when it comes time for his college decision.
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