Grayson and Carrollton put on a show in their epic matchup! Grayson came out on top, but it was a tough loss for Carrollton. However, Grayson’s star, Tyler Atkinson, absolutely stole the show. While Julian Lewis seemed to be struggling to find his rhythm, Atkinson was making plays all over the field—tackles, sacks, the whole nine yards. This dude proved himself to be one of the best linebackers in the nation. Man, this kid’s a freak, and the future is bright.

Well, one of the major reasons behind Grayson’s victory against Carrollton is Tyler Atkinson’s exceptional performance. While Julian Lewis was out there struggling with interceptions and fumbles, Atkinson was everywhere with 8 tackles, 3 for loss, and 2 sacks, straight-up bullying the offense. Even NFL legendary running back player Ronnie Brown couldn’t hold himself from congratulating this kid, hitting his IG account with a story that says, “Best HS Linebacker in the country!” That’s a huge compliment for a high school player who is just starting his career. Also, it’s extra special coming from a legend like him. Brown grew up in Georgia, played for the Auburn Tigers, and eventually got inducted into the Alabama Hall of Fame in 2020.

Talking about Julian Lewis’s gameplay against Grayson, it was one of those times when Lewis’s magic was not visible on the field. Even though he threw for 333 yards and two touchdowns, Julian Lewis’s performance was overshadowed by two interceptions by Vaughn Mitchom and a costly fumble. Despite leading 14-10 in the first quarter and tying the game at 17-17 at halftime, Carrollton ultimately fell short.

Carrollton’s golden boy indeed had a tough night playing against Grayson. But one can also not ignore the fact that he was up there playing without any complaints with a thumb injury. Not just that, he even outshined most of the players in Carrollton’s game against Buford, throwing for 193 yards with two touchdowns and completing 15 out of 18 passes. Name one high school player who can do that with an injury. However, the main concern is, will this loss cost Julian his future with the Buffs?

Is Julian Lewis’ future affected by the loss?

Now, with uncertainties already prevailing around Julian Lewis’ starting quarterback position with the Buffs, this loss might add some more spice to the drama. There is no doubt that Julian is one of the remarkable quarterbacks with high precision. But in times of pressure, his ability to be precise is what the Buffs will require. Well, his execution speaks volumes about his success on the field even after being a freshman. Julian’s track record of 3,094 passing yards and 48 TDs with just 2 interceptions in the season made him Gatorade Georgia Player of the Year.

Let’s just be honest: every day is not the same. But that doesn’t mean you are not capable of doing anything. Moreover, Coach Prime’s recent opinion on Julian Lewis’s gameplay doesn’t sound alarming, as he says, “He’s everything that we desire in the quarterback. He’s smart; he could throw every throw. He has a pocket awareness, pocket presence. He is a darn leader, but most of all, he’s a winner.” Now you can understand that Deion Sanders is in no mood to let go of one of his brightest quarterbacks.

Coach Prime believes in quality over quantity, and even though there is a possibility that Kaidon Salter’s joining the team might affect Julian Lewis’s starting position, there is no way one bad gameplay will overpower all his efforts throughout the season. Moreover, isn’t it weird to expect a HS player to be as precise as Patrick Mahomes? It takes time to get there. And there’s no doubt that day will come for Julian Lewis.