Leeds football coach Jerry Hood needed a little something extra from senior returning starting quarterback Conner Nelson heading into the 2024 season.

Hood wanted the versatile athlete to also play on defense.

No problem for the Birmingham Region Male Athlete of the Year.

“He’s just a special kid,” Hood said. “He started as a sophomore at wide receiver and was the best wide receiver on the team and we had some quarterback packages for him that year. He was the quarterback for the past two years, but we needed him to play defense last year. He punted for us, he was a punt returner at times and all that kind of stuff.

“He’s just a selfless individual that will do whatever it takes for the team to win and that’s what made him so special.”

Nelson edged out Carver’s Dimitri Howard and Vincent’s Grayson Gulde for the honor.

In football, the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Nelson led the Green Wave to the Class 5A semifinals before losing to Moody. He was selected ASWA first team all-state and one of three Class Player of the Year finalists along with a member of the Birmingham Region first team and Offensive MVP.

He totaled 46 touchdowns, running 219 times for 1,818 yards with 35 TDs and completed 78-of-119 passes for 1,224 yards and 11 more touchdowns. He averaged 37.3 yards as punter.

As a baseball player, Nelson helped Leeds to the third round of Class 5A playoffs before losing to Madison Academy.

Nelson earned ASWA first team all-state as an outfielder and was named to the Birmingham Region Terrific 22. He posted teams bests .427 average, 45 RBIs, 8 home runs and 1.322 OPS.

On the mound, Nelson pitched 49 1/3 innings with 88 strikeouts — that’s 12.5 per 7 innings — with a 3.26 ERA and 8-3 won-loss record.

Nelson signed to play football with Southeastern Louisiana,

“He’s just a phenomenal athlete,” Hood said. “He’s big and strong and he’s got good leaping ability. Coming up in Leeds, he was always the best player in his age group and that has just continued on even today.”

It’s tough to measure intangibles, but Nelson had the specific attributes and qualities that contributed to success.

“He was vice president for the leadership counsel and any time we needed him to work in the community, he was the first one to volunteer,” Hood said. “He loved this town.

“He’s just a great story of what high school sports is all about.”