More Honors for Walton's Jones

Walton running back Tyren Jones has one more year of high school football remaining, but he's running out of room for all the trophies and plaques he's collecting for his junior season. 

On Christmas Eve, Jones was named the Georgia Class AAAAA offensive player of the year by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. McEachern defensive lineman Darius English was named the state defensive player of the year.

The Raiders posted their best season in school history, reaching the Class AAAAA state championship game. , whose star defensive lineman, Robert Nkemdiche, is the newspaper's all-classification player of the year. 

Jones, who transferred from Lassiter over the summer, rushed for 2,375 yards and 34 touchdowns as Walton went 14-1. He ran for 100 yards or more in 12 of those games, and posted four games in which he rushed for at least 200 yards. 

Earlier this month, he picked up from the University of Georgia but is undecided on his college choice. 

Walton's Brandon Kublanow, an offensive lineman, and defensive back Zach Blaylock were named to the AJC's Class AAAAA first-team all-state team, as was Lassiter wide receiver Charlie Hegedus. 

Earning honorable mention honors were Walton defensive lineman Koty Allen, and two Lassiter players, quarterback Eddie Printz and defensive back Niles Clark. 

The AJC's Class AAAA all-state honorable mention list includes Pope quarterback Holland Frost, who guided the Greyhounds to their best season ever. 

Walton made a clean sweep of The Marietta Daily Journal's Cobb County honorees, with Jones being named offensive player of the year, Blaylock the defensive player of the year and Raiders coach Rocky Hidalgo the coach of the year.