National POY Downs, Haynes, Hughley named MaxPreps first-team All-Americans

Caleb Downs, the AJC’s all-classification Georgia football player of the year, is now the MaxPreps national player of the year.

Downs also made MaxPreps’ first-team All-America team announced Tuesday along with Buford running back Justice Haynes and Hughes offensive lineman Bo Hughley. All three were AJC Super 11 picks in preseason. Making the second team was Hughes tight end Jelani Thurman.

Downs, a Mill Creek safety and Alabama early enrollee, is the first Georgia football player to win the MaxPreps national award since Lanier defensive lineman Derrick Brown in 2016. Brown went on to star at Auburn and now plays for the Carolina Panthers.

Other national winners have been Kyler Murray, Derrick Henry and Bryce Young. MaxPreps, which covers high school sports nationally, has presented the award since 2006.

Downs led Mill Creek to the Class 7A championship this past season. It was Mill Creek’s first title. Downs was credited with 83 tackles, five interceptions, 1,064 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns.