Two county players are finalists for ASWA awards
BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Sports Writers Association’s annual Player of the Year banquet will have a familiar look next month as 10 of the 42 finalists for Back or Lineman of the Year are returnees from the 2012 season.
At its All-State meeting in December, the ASWA selected three finalists in each category in each of the six classes in the Alabama High School Athletic Association and one from the Alabama Independent Schools Association.
Of the 10, two changed categories from lineman to back as Calera’s Ronnie Clark was up for Class 4A lineman last year, while Dale County’s Jamarius Henderson did the same in Class 3A. Two categories return two finalists each as Homewood’s Jordan Sims and St. Paul’s Tre Williams are back as Class 5A linemen, while Tuscaloosa Academy’s Terrell Bush and Restoration Academy’s Cortney Wilbanks are back as AISA linemen finalists.
Winners in each class – as well as the ASWA’s annual Mr. Football award and Super 12 team — will be announced on Jan. 15 at the Alabama Activities Center in Montgomery at the annual banquet, sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
Three schools have two finalists each: Southside-Gadsden, with running back Dantley Coker and offensive lineman Tyler Carr; Madison Academy, with running back Malik Miller and offensive lineman Frank Williams; and Monroe Academy, with quarterback Jake McKenzie and offensive lineman Trey Carter.
2013 ASWA BACK/LINEMAN OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
CLASS 6A
BACK
Kendrick Doss, Florence, QB, Sr., 6-2, 225
Keith Mixon, Shades Valley, Ath., Jr. 5-9, 172
*-Racean Thomas, Oxford, RB, Sr., 6-0, 200
LINEMAN
Rashaan Evans, Auburn, DL, Sr., 6-2, 215
Shaun Hamilton, Carver-Montgomery, LB, Sr., 6-2, 219
Keith Holcombe, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, LB, Sr., 6-3, 215
CLASS 5A
BACK
Dantley Coker, Southside-Gadsden, RB, Sr., 6-2, 215
Nick Gibson, Pinson Valley, RB, Jr., 5-11, 195
Tyler Johnston, Spanish Fort, QB, So., 6-1, 190
LINEMAN
Tyler Carr, Southside-Gadsden, OL, Jr., 6-5, 310
*-Jordan Sims, Homewood, OL, Sr., 6-4, 330
*-Tre Williams, St. Paul’s, LB, Sr., 6-3, 230
CLASS 4A
BACK
*-Ronnie Clark, Calera, Ath., Sr., 6-3, 218
Troy Dixon, UMS-Wright, RB, Jr., 5-9, 176
C.J. Tolbert, Dadeville, QB, Sr., 5-9, 180
LINEMAN
*-Blake Bean, Oneonta, DL, Sr., 6-3, 260
Richard McBryde, Charles Henderson, LB, Jr., 6-2, 215
A.J. Smoot, Dora, DL, Jr., 6-2, 230
CLASS 3A
BACK
Ryan Carpenter, Colbert Co., RB, Sr., 5-9, 190
*-Jamarius Henderson, Dale Co., RB, Jr., 5-10, 207
Malik Miller, Madison Acad., RB, So., 6-0, 220
LINEMAN
Exavyer Jackson, Piedmont, DL, Sr., 6-2, 205
Frank Williams, Madison Acad., OL, Sr., 6-2, 265
Tyler Wright, Leeds, LB, Jr., 5-9, 220
CLASS 2A
BACK
Jakoby Aldridge, Sweet Water, RB, Sr., 5-6, 165
Marlon Bridges, Lanett, Ath., Jr., 6-1, 180
*-Tyler Rogers, Mobile Chr., RB, Sr., 5-11, 195
LINEMAN
Kadarrius Lawrence, Fultondale, OL, Sr., 6-0, 296
Baltazar Rubio, Tanner, DL, Sr., 6-1, 220
Trent Thrash, Fyffe, LB, Sr. 5-10, 198
CLASS 1A
BACK
Jermarcus Brown, Pickens Co., RB, Sr., 5-11, 175
Terrance Hollingsworth, Berry, RB, Sr., 5-9, 210
Brody Meeks, Lynn, Ath., Sr., 5-11, 180
LINEMAN
Eddquerron Harris, R.A. Hubbard, DL, Sr., 6-0, 250
Jatevin Horn, Marengo, LB, Sr., 5-9, 185
Ben Mills, Coosa Chr., DL, Jr., 5-11, 195
AISA
BACK
Josh Crawford, Edgewood Acad., Ath., Jr., 5-10, 210
Jake McKenzie, Monroe Acad., QB, Sr., 6-0, 190
*-Jarrette Pope, Clarke Prep, RB, Sr., 6-2, 220
LINEMAN
*-Terrell Bush, Tuscaloosa Acad., DL, Sr. 6-3, 305
Trey Carter, Monroe Acad., OL, So., 6-0, 205
*-Cortney Wilbanks, Restoration Acad., LB, Sr., 6-1, 230
*-returning finalist from 2012