OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Quarterback, 6-6, 209 pounds Cartersville, Ga.
Age: 18
College choice: Signed with Clemson. Will enroll in January.
Details: Threw for 3,296 yards with 41 touchdown passes and one interception this season. Broke Deshaun Watson’s state records with 14,352 career passing yards and 161 career touchdown passes. Was 41-1 his last three years at Cartersville. Toughest offseason workout: Probably the worst one was running 400s on the field. We got to where we were doing eight of those, after we lifted weights. That was always hard.
Favorite game-day rituals: Before this year, I would shower an hour before the game. Since I didn’t have school on Friday because I take college classes that day, I still showered this year, but at home, like by 3 p.m. Also, one of my teachers would give me candy every Friday. Biggest accomplishments: The two state championships that we won and earning a scholarship to Clemson.
Favorite phone app: I’m on Twitter the most. I am probably going to stop that soon. What motivates me: On the field, my coaches instill in us that we are playing for our teammates. That’s what drives me to work hard. In the classroom, my parents have always driven to me that it is important to do well in the classroom. A lot of people prejudge athletes that they can’t do anything else. I like to be well-rounded and prove them wrong.
Fondest memory this season: We played a game on ESPN against Bartram Trail. They have a pretty good team. We were winning, but we had to sack their quarterback on the last play on the 8-yard line to win it.
Guilty TV pleasures: I watch The Office and I used to watch Drake and
Josh. Oh, also Stranger Things. Nothing really embarrassing. Living person I most admire: My mom is a big person that I really admire, along with my uncle and Coach (Joey) King. I’ve been really fortunate to have Coach King as a role model.
Favorite oldie: I like Alan Jackson’s Remember When. Least-favorite class: English 1101. I’m good at English, but you just have to write so many papers ... and I don’t like writing papers. I’d like to come back as: A shark.