Jonaz Walton has been exactly what Central High School head coach Umbrah Brown expected the 2026 Georgia running back to be during his senior season.
And that’s a good thing, a very good thing.
“He's been steady, man,” Brown said of Walton, who is committed to play running back for Notre Dame next season. “He's had a good year. He's kind of led the charge.
“We're getting ready for the playoffs; undefeated, won the region for the third time in a row. He's definitely been a huge part of that.”
The individual numbers won’t jump off the page just because of the team’s success.
“I think he's right under 1,000 yards, but really a lot of our games this year have been running clocks at the half,” Brown said. “He's probably missed half a season's worth of carries. He's going into the playoffs really strong. He's been great for us. He's had a good year.”
Brown acknowledged that it can be difficult to keep kids focused when the team is consistently winning in blowout fashion, but credited Walton and his teammates with preparing the right way.
“We've got a pretty mature group of seniors,” the coach said. “They've won a lot, and so they understand what it takes and how to keep focus and be where their feet are. It can be harder for younger guys, but not this group of seniors, led by Jonaz. It hasn't been as much of a challenge as it has in years past on that part.”
Brown has seen subtle improvements in the 5-foot-10, 210-pounder this season.
“I just think he's just gotten better at understanding the offense,” said Brown. “He's pretty much been who he's been the last couple years this year, and so he's just been solid in all areas. I don't know if there's one area that's improved more than any other ones.
“We haven't really had to use him as much, but we're getting ready to use him a good bit going into the postseason. We split him out wide and he does things in the passing game as a receiver. We've probably done more this year than maybe we have in years past. So that would maybe be one area I'd say he's improved on. But overall, he's pretty much been Steady Eddie.”
And with his future in South Bend locked in, Walton is doing his best to soak the final few weeks of his high school football career in.
“His biggest goal this whole time has been just to enjoy every moment, knowing that he's pretty much here on the back end. He's verbalized that to the team and our leadership council. He's talked about wanting to enjoy every moment and take everything in.
“You've kind of seen that the weight is lifted off his shoulders ever since his recruitment's been solidified and now he's just being a kid and enjoying his senior year. That's kind of where his focus is, but yeah, he's definitely fired up for it.”
