Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame to induct Class of 2017

The Etowah County Sports Hall of Fame recently announced its 2017 Class.
Former local high school football standouts Andre “Brick” Haley, Larry Rose, Carnell Williams and Toderick Malone will be inducted at the organization’s annual banquet and ceremony at 6 p.m. on April 8 at Convention Hall in Gadsden. A meet & greet sessions will begin at 5 p.m.
The annual Hall of Fame scholarships will also be presented at the event. All area high school submitted nominees for the scholarship based on athletic achievements, academic standings and community service. Two male and two females will be selected for this scholarship.
Tickets, which include a catered dinner, are $20 before April 2 and $25 after April 2 and at the door. Tickets may be purchased at River Bank and Trust in downtown Gadsden, Cadence Bank in Rainbow City, Jerry’s Pharmacy in Alabama City, the City of Attalla Board of Education and Southside Pharmacy. Tickets also may be purchased from Hall of Fame board members of by calling 256-442-5566 or 256-312-5566.
Born in Gadsden in 1966, Haley played high school football for the Emma Sansom Rebels, where he earned academic and athletic recognition and graduated in 1984. A sportswriter gave him his life-long nickname of “Brick” when he wrote that Haley hit so hard when he was tackling that it was like hitting a brick wall. Haley, who received the R.L Penlleum Award, received a scholarship to Alabama A&M in Huntsville, where he played linebacker from 1984-1988. Haley received the team Inspiration Award following his junior year and the MVP Award following his senior year. Haley was inducted into the Alabama A&M Hall of Fame in 2005.
Looking to share his experience and success, Brick became and remains an outstanding coach. His coaching career took him to Enterprise High School in 1989, Clemson University in 1998, Baylor University from 1999 to 2001, Georgia Tech from 2002 to 2003, Mississippi State from 2004 to 2006), LSU from 2009 to 2014). He coached several teams in major postseason bowl games, and several of his players went on to impressive careers of their own. Haley also coached for the NFL Chicago Bears from 2007 to 2008. Along the way he served as defensive line coach, linebacker coach and defensive coordinator. Haley also coached at the University of Texas from 2015 to 2016 and currently is the defensive line coach for the University of Missouri.
Off the field, Haley continues to demonstrate what he learned years ago growing up in the hardest part of town – toughness and a sense of community. He host an annual local golf tournament that benefits his foundation that raising awareness about autism.
Born in Gadsden in 1974, Malone was a standout player for Etowah High School from 1989-92. A three-year starter for the Blue Devils, Malone was named to the All-Area and All-State teams and was twice selected as an All-Area MVP and All-Team MVP at receiver and place kicker. As the all-time leading receiver at Etowah, Malone was chosen as an All-American by Parade Magazine.
Malone played then football for the University of Alabama from 1992-96. He was a three-year starter and All-SEC receiver and was a member of the Crimson Tide’s 1992 national championship team. Malone led the nation in yards-per-catch during his sophomore year at UA.
Drafted by New Orleans in the NFL, Malone played a year and a half for the Saints. He then played for the Washington Redskins. Malone also played in the NFL Europe for the London Monarchs from 1999-2000, as well as for Edmonton in the Canadian Football League.
Following his retirement from playing, Malone turned to a coaching career. He became receiver coach at Etowah High School, and then moved to Tucker High School in Georgia from 2004 to the present. Malone helped the Tigers win state championships in football in 2008 and 2011 a runner-up finish in 2013. In addition, Malone has been head coach of the school’s track & field since 2010. He led Tucker to a state title in 2010 and a third-place finish in 2016.
Born in Gadsden in 1967, Rose had an exemplary football career at Emma Sansom, where he was highly recruited by various major college football programs. Rose was the top recruit in the state of Alabama and the No. 2 recruit nationwide. His coach, Buster Gross, stated that Rose “was the best lineman I ever coached.” The Rebels were the Class 5A state champions in 1984 with a 15-0 record. Rose was He was a USA Today All-American selection and a first team All-State selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Rose was awarded a scholarship to the University of Alabama where he played offensive guard. Rose made school history when he started as a true freshman in the Crimson Tide’s season opener against Georgia, thus becoming the first player to start his first collegiate game after freshman eligibility was restored in 1972. Rose was a unanimous All-SEC pick in 1986, ‘87 and ‘88. He was also a first team All-SEC selection in 1988. Rose was named a first team All-American by Parade, Bally and USA Today. During his senior season, Rose had 172 tackles, caused 10 fumbles and recovered three fumbles.
After graduating college, Rose became a respected and successful businessman in the commercial laundry business in Attalla, where he lives with his family. He has served as offensive line at area high schools for the past 22 years, most recently at Southside.
Born in Gadsden in 1982, Carnell Lamar “Cadillac” Williams was an outstanding football player at Etowah High School, where in his junior year helped the Blue Devils win the Class 5A state title in 1999. Following the season, Williams was named to the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s All-State first team and Super 12 Team while being selected 5A Back of the Year. After his senior season in 2000, Williams was named as the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Football and 5A Back of the Year and to the Super 12 and All-State first teams. Nationally, he was named to the All-American and was picked to the Parade All-American team and the Gatorade Class 5A Player of the Year. Williams also participated in the annual Alabama/Mississippi All-Star football game.
Williams received a football scholarship to Auburn University where he played running back from 2001 to 2004. Williams became a starter during his freshman year. In his third season, Williams set the school single-season record with 17 touchdowns. During his senior year, Williams was instrumental in helping the Tigers win the SEC championship and the Sugar Bowl while finishing with a perfect 13-0 record. Williams led the team with 1,718 rushing yards and received nine SEC Player of the Week honors during the season. He was an All American and All-SEC first team selection at running back and ended his collegiate career with 3,841 rushing yards and 46 touchdowns.
Williams was the fifth overall pick in the 2004 NFL draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with whom he played from 2005-2010. In 2005, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. After having six 100-yard games and leading all NFL rookies in rushing yardage.
In 2011, Williams joined the St. Louis Rams, where he finished his professional football career. During his seven years in the NFL, Williams ran for 4,038 yards and 21 touchdowns and caught 148 passes for 1,002 yards and four touchdowns. Ten years after finishing his football career, Carnell realized a dream by graduating from Auburn University. Today, he and his family live in Montgomery.