Messenger file photo by Chris McCarthy
By Chris McCarthy, Publisher/Editor
Darrian Meads recently was notified that his high school football career is not quite finished.
The Hokes Bluff High School senior was one of 74 players across the state selected to participate in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s North-South All-Star Football Game on July 15 in Montgomery.
Meads was named to the North roster as a running back.
In 11 games this past season, Meads (pictured above) rushed for 1540 yards and 17 touchdowns to help the Eagles go 7-4 and qualify for the Class 4A state playoffs. Hokes Bluff was ranked in the state’s top 10 for most of the season. Meads was named the 2019 All-Messenger football team’s Player of the Year. It was the fourth season in a row that Meads garnered the honor. He endured the effects of turf toe on both feet for most of the season yet finished with 440 more rushing yards than the area’s next highest rusher.
For his career, Meads finished with 8,049 rushing yards and 100 touchdowns while helping the Eagles qualify for the state playoffs all four years, including one semifinal and two quarterfinal appearances.
Hokes Bluff head football coach Mike Robertson said that Meads was well deserving of the recognition.
“I know how much Darrian has done, not only for our program but for football around here. He’s such a good kid, and I’m excited for him to have the opportunity to play in front of a whole bunch of people down there.”
Robertson added that Meads recently accepted an invited walk-on offer from Jacksonville State.
“He’s always wanted to go to JSU, and he already knows (2019 Hokes Bluff graduate) Brayden Hill.”
Other familiar faces on the Gamecock roster are 2019 Westbrook Christian graduates Jackson Luttrell and P.J. Wells.