A well-deserved honor after a big performance in the first round of the Class AAA playoffs was presented to Rockmart High School senior quarterback Javin Whatley this morning by Georgia High School Football Daily, along with presenting sponsors AstroTurf and SportsTurf.

The GHSF’s Ted Langford was on hand with Spezio Stowers from AstroTurf, Craig Musselwhite from SportsTurf, along with coaches, administrators, fellow players and Whatley’s mom to celebrate his award for his six-touchdown performance against White County in the Jackets’ 48-35 win.

The daily newsletter that goes out to fans, players, coaches and media around the state considered performances from all across the first round
of the playoffs, and every time Whatley’s name came up for the award.

Langford presented the award and celebrated Whatley’s performance last Friday.

“Javin’s a senior, and he’s proven to be one of the elite players in the state,” he said. “Since he’s been here, and I know no one does this alone, but his record is 43 wins and 6 losses. That’s just an incredible run here for the past four years.”

The senior quarterback said he was grateful for the award, and cited that his fellow teammates are just as responsible for the award as he is.

“It’s pretty good. It’s my last season, and we’ve all worked hard to be where we’re at today,” Whatley said. “We bounced back from the Rome game, and we’ve just been getting better every week.”

Whatley will be heading off to college once he graduates later this spring, but hasn’t decided where just yet. He’s considering lots of offers, including notables like Army’s football squad at West Point, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and Kennesaw State.

Head Coach Biff Parson said that Whatley’s award was just a testament to what the team is capable of this year.

“He’ll be the first one to tell you, and his teammates know this, he wouldn’t be able to do what he does without these guys,” Parson said of the players on hand joining in the ceremony on Wednesday morning. I think it is the culture that we have here, and the culture is created by our kids. Their ability to play this game and create a team atmosphere, they give Javin opportunities just like they give the rest of our skill guys opportunities.”

“Javin is getting this individual award, but Javin will be the first one to tell you that it is a team effort to get an award like that,” he added.

Rockmart plays in the second round of the playoffs this Friday, hosting a high-ranked Cedar Grove. The Jackets are currently seventh in the state in Class AAA.