This weekend was a big one for the Cherokee High School football program. Two former Warriors were taken in the 2022 NFL Draft in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday.
The selections of wide receiver Montrell Washington by the Denver Broncos with the 162nd pick and running back Brittain Brown by the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 250 marked the first time that the NFL Draft came calling on the Canton school. The selections doubled the number of past selections from Cherokee County.
Back in 2011, Etowah’s Buster Skrine and Woodstock’s Bruce Miller were picked.
Skrine, who is currently a defensive back with the Tennessee Titans, was selected in the 5th round by the Cleveland Browns. Miller, who played fullback in the NFL, was drafted in the 7th round by the San Francisco 49ers.
Brown and Washington played together at Cherokee during the 2015 season. Brown was a senior and Washington was a junior.
In 2015, Brown, a 3-star college prospect, ran for 1,777 yards and 18 TDs on 213 carries. He also caught 24 balls for 284 yards for two scores.
The Georgia Sports Writers Association (GSWA) name Brown to the to Class AAAAAA All-State First Team after his senior season.
In college, Brown played 25 games for Duke before transferring to UCLA for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
After Brown graduated, Washington became the offensive focus for the Warriors. According to his MaxPreps’ stats, Washington finished his senior season 1,946 yards in total offense. He ran for 745 yards, averaging 10.8 yards per carry with seven touchdowns. He caught 81 balls for 930 yards and nine touchdowns.
Washington finished his Cherokee career with 154 total receptions.
At Samford, Washington caught 60 balls during his senior season in 2021.
