Carrollton sophomore quarterback Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis is the 2023 Gatorade Georgia High School Football Player of the Year. The award celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound sophomore quarterback passed for 3,094 yards and 48 touchdowns this past season, leading the Trojans (11-2) to the Class 7A state quarterfinals. Lewis completed 66.4 percent of his throws (186-of280) and averaged 11.1 yards per attempt, tossing just two interceptions. The 2022 MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year, Lewis is ranked as the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports.com. He concluded his sophomore year with 7,212 yards passing and 96 touchdowns in his prep football career.
Lewis has volunteered locally as a youth football coach. “Julian Lewis is a special player,” said John Small, head coach of East Coweta High School. “He is one of the best QBs I have seen at the high school level. He has great arm talent and also has incredible touch. He makes everyone around him better.”
Lewis has maintained an A average in the classroom.
Gatorade news release
Lewis joins recent Gatorade Georgia Football Players of the Year Caleb Downs (2022-23, Mill Creek High School), Gunner Stockton (2021-22, Rabun County High School), Brock Vandagriff (2020-21, Prince Avenue Christian School), and Arik Gilbert (2019-20, Marietta High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
