Finalists named for ASWA backs, linemen of the year
Five players will have a chance to repeat as winners at the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Players of the Year Banquet in Montgomery next month.
A sixth will have a chance to win a second straight award but in a different classification.
Saraland wide receiver Ryan Williams, Elba running back Alvin Henderson, Oneonta running back Fluff Bothwell, B.B. Comer running back Kamore Harris and Charles Henderson defensive lineman Zion Grady are among 48 Back and Linemen of the Year finalists named by the ASWA on Wednesday.
RELATED: Meet the 2023 All-State teams
Williams (6A), Bothwell (4A), Harris (2A) and Henderson (1A) are all returning Backs of the Year. Grady was the 5A Lineman of the Year. Sterling Dixon was the 3A Lineman of the Year in 2022. He is a Class 6A Lineman of the Year finalist this year after playing his final season at Spanish Fort.
Williams, the 2022 Mr. Football winner as a sophomore, could become the first two-time winner in the 42-year history of the award if he were to win again. The Player of the Year banquet, sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association, will be held Jan. 16 at the Montgomery Renaissance.
Eight teams have two finalists this year. They are Class 7A champ Central-Phenix City, Class 6A finalists Saraland and Clay-Chalkville, Class 4A finalist Cherokee County, Class 3A finalist Madison Academy, Class 2A champ Fyffe and Class 1A champ Leroy along with Chambers Academy in the AISA.
The finalists were voted on by the ASWA’s prep committee after the naming of Saturday’s All-State football team.
Here are the 2023 finalists:
Class 7A Backs
Cam Coleman, Central-Phenix City
Anquon Fegans, Thompson
Perry Thompson, Foley
Class 7A Linemen
Isiai Faga, Central-Phenix City
Jordan Ross, Vestavia Hills
Bradley Shaw, Hoover
Class 6A Backs
KJ Lacey, Saraland
Jaylen Mbakwe, Clay-Chalkville
Ryan Williams, Saraland
Class 6A Linemen
DJ Barber, Clay-Chalkville
Malik Blocton, Pike Road
Sterling Dixon, Spanish Fort
Class 5A Backs
Cam Phinizee, Russellville
Ronnie Royal, Gulf Shores
Clarence Taylor, Pleasant Grove
Class 5A Linemen
Zion Grady, Charles Henderson
Brandon Purifoy, Vigor
QB Reese, Ramsay
Class 4A Backs
Fluff Bothwell, Oneonta
Jacob Cornejo, Cherokee County
Caleb McCreary, Montgomery Catholic
Class 4A Linemen
Tae Diamond, Cherokee County
Joseph Phillips, BTW-Tuskegee
Jon Welch, Sipsey Valley
Class 3A Backs
Ken Cherry, Madison Academy
KJ Jackson, St. James
Ethan Wilder, Gordo
Class 3A Linemen
Reese Baker, Madison Academy
Jaxon Colvin, Geraldine
Kentonio Kelly Jr., Mobile Christian
Class 2A Backs
Logan Anderson, Fyffe
Kamore Harris, B.B. Comer
Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Academy
Class 2A Linemen
JJ Boatright, Locust Fork
JJ Faulk, Highland Home
Tucker Wilks, Fyffe
Class 1A Backs
Alvin Henderson, Elba
Brayden Huebner, Leroy
Cale Tittle, Lynn
Class 1A linemen
Clete O’Bryant, Coosa Christian
Tim Parnell, Leroy
Korbit Sommerville, Pickens County
AISA Backs
Dallas Crow, Glenwood
Clayton Hussey, Lowndes Academy
Luke Tarver, Chambers Academy
AISA linemen
Jon Nolan Lawrence, Fort Dale Academy
Jay Lindsey, Patrician
Ryan Smith, Chambers Academy