Downs adds Gatorade award to postseason honors

Downs, now an early enrollee at Alabama, won the Gatorade award Friday. He also has been named player of the year by Georgia High School Football Daily/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Touchdown Club of Atlanta and MaxPreps.

The 6-foot, 195-pound senior safety and occasional running back and wide receiver led the Hawks to a 14-1 record and the Class 7A championship. He recorded 76 tackles and made five interceptions, returning two for touchdowns.

Downs also rushed for 390 yards and had 36 receptions for 422 yards and three scores. He scored three touchdowns in the Hawks’ 70-35 victory over Carrollton in the state final. Downs is the state’s consensus No. 1 recruit.

According to Gatorade, Downs has volunteered locally with Gen50, a faith-based peer leadership group, and as a youth football coach. He has also donated his time as a member of the Mill Creek football leadership council and as part of local food drives.

Downs is now eligible for Gatorade’s national player-of-the-year award to be announced later this year.