NoCal DB is a hit
Josh Atkinson (6-1, 180, 4.4) from Livermore (Calif.) Granada is a lockdown corner with a tremendous work ethic. He's a perfectionist and works as hard off the field, as he does on the field. He's a go getter at corner and really gets after it.
Atkinson has outstanding bloodlines as his dad is former NFL Oakland Raider great George Atkinson and his brother is fellow class of 2011 recruit, George Atkinson III.
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Like father, like son is the case of the way Josh Atkinson plays defensive back. Like his dad, Atkinson is aggressive, physical and loves to hit. He's not one of those corners who is about coverage only, he's the complete package as a corner. He can play bump and zone.
Atkinson earned all-league (HM) after racking up 38 tackles, one interception, and approximately 15 pass deflections. Atkinson's stats are even more impressive when you take into consideration that opposition tended to avoid his side of the field.
"I would try to get action to my side," Atkinson said. "But they would never throw to my side so I would just try to take advantage of every opportunity I get.
It's obvious that colleges like what they see in Atkinson, as he already has offers on the table from Arizona, Washington and San Jose State.
There are plenty more colleges currently evaluating Atkinson and his offer totals could increase a bunch this spring as the evaluations are completed. Some of the colleges currently showing interest in Atkinson are Arizona State, Cal, Oregon, UCLA, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Miami.
Atkinson is planning on taking in a couple of junior days.
"I know we are going to go to a couple of junior days," Atkinson said. "We are going to Cal and Oregon. We may go to others.
On the camp circuit, Atkinson is planning on taking in the NIKE Camp in Palo Alto in May. He is also planning on taking in some team camps, as many as he can, but he is not sure at this time which team camps he will attend.
A good student, Atkinson carries a 3.0 GPA and will take his SAT in May.