Former Walton head coach Dixon takes over Colquitt County defense

Maurice “Mo’’ Dixon, who resigned last week as head football coach at Walton, was announced this week as defensive coordinator at Colquitt County.

Walton still had a week left of spring practice when Dixon told his Walton players of his resignation Friday. Dixon’s teams were 15-16 in three seasons, including 4-6 last season.

Walton’s staff also recently lost two top assistants who took head-coaching jobs. Brett Sloan, the assistant offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, was hired at Kell. R.C. Helton, the running backs and strength coach, was hired at Osborne.

Dixon made his reputation in Georgia as the defensive coordinator at North Gwinnett. Colquitt County coach Rush Propst said that Dixon made an impression on him in North Gwinnett’s 16-14 victory against Colquitt County in 2012.

Dixon’s resignation brings to 100 the number of jobs for Georgia football head coaches that opened this offseason.

GHSA closes book on transfer: The GHSA closed the case of Grayson transfer student Kurt Taylor, finding no evidence that the football star broke any rules with his move from Newton High in the offseason.

Taylor, the leading rusher on Grayson’s 2016 Class AAAAAAA championship team, transferred to Grayson, then back to Newton after the football season. A report by Channel 5 in March revealed that Taylor was living again in his original Covington residence, raising questions about whether the home was truly abandoned during his time at Grayson, which is a requirement for immediate eligibility.

“We didn’t have anything to prove (that),’’ GHSA assistant executive director Jay Russell said. “We felt it was a bona-fide move. The school (Grayson) produced evidence that it was.’’

Georgia’s draft picks lead nation: Georgia led the nation in the number of its former high school football players taken in the NFL draft earlier this month. Georgia’s total was 29, including first-round picks Deshaun Watson of Gainesville (to the Texans), Jarrad Davis of Camden County (Lions) and Evan Engram of Hillgrove (Giants). According to the NFL, Georgia led Florida (27), California (26), Texas (24), Louisiana (16), Ohio (16), Pennsylvania (11) and Illinois (10).

Football coach hired: Strong Rock Christian of Locust Grove has hired Dalton assistant Bradley Smith as its head football coach. Smith held the titles of wide receivers coach and passing-game coordinator.