Late Bengals legend Chris Henry's son shares 1-word reaction to Tyler Atkinson's Georgia State Championship victory

By Kayode Akinwumi

Modified Dec 22, 2024 19:15 GMT

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Tyler Atkinson played a key role as Grayson ended Carrollton’s undefeated run to win the Georgia Class 6A state championship on Wednesday. The five-star linebacker posted on Instagram on Saturday to celebrate the victory.

“Too late! When you thought it was all planned out…I called, checkmate,” Atkinson captioned.

Atkinson’s post attracted reactions from fans, as well as from fellow athletes like Mater Dei (California) wide receiver Chris Henry Jr.

Henry Jr., who is the son of former Cincinnati Bengals WR Chris Henry, gave a one-word acknowledgment of Atkinson’s feat.

“Champ,” Henry Jr. wrote.

Chris Henry Jr's reaction on Tyler Atkinson's post (image credit instagram/16tyleratkinson)

Grayson defeated Carrollton 38-24 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. While the score may show that it was a blowout victory, the game was a tight one and tied 17-all at halftime.

However, the Rams intensified their offense in the second half, while maintaining a solid defense, winning the last two quarters 21-7. Carrollton failed to score a point in the final half of the last quarter.

Atkinson recorded 13 tackles, including three tackles for loss. He effectively contained the threat from five-star quarterback and Colorado signee Julian Lewis, sacking him four times. Atkinson’s excellent performance in defense contributed immensely to Grayson’s eventual victory, neutralizing Carrollton’s offensive firepower.

Atkinson had 166 tackles this season, including 77 solo efforts, 89 assisted tackles and 32 tackles for loss. He averaged 12.8 tackles per game along with 13 sacks in 13 games played. It is another outstanding year for the junior who has remained a consistent top performer, putting him on the radar of several top college programs.

Why Tyler Atkinson is highly sought-after

Tyler Atkinson is perhaps the most sought-after prospect in the 2026 class. He has received 49 college offers per 247Sports, including from Georgia, Auburn, Alabama and Florida State, among others. He is the No. 1 linebacker in the 2026 class according to On3, ESPN and Rivals. Atkinson is also the No. 9 overall prospect nationally per the On3 Industry Ranking.

The attraction of top programs to the standout linebacker is expected, given how talented he is and the numbers he has consistently produced. As a freshman, he made 112 total tackles, with 55 solo tackles and 57 assisted tackles, averaging 8.6 tackles per game. In his sophomore season, he had 197 total tackles, including 118 solo tackles and 79 assisted tackles.