By Chris McCarthy/Publisher/Editor
A week after being tabbed as first team All-State selections, a trio of local high school football players have earned additional recognition.
Southside senior tackle Tyler Carr, Glencoe senior running back Thomas Ozmint and Glencoe senior linebacker Mason Brown were selected as finalists for the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Back/Lineman of the Year awards.
Carr was named as a Class 6A Back finalist, while Ozmint and Brown were selected as Class 3A Back and Lineman finalists, respectively.
Carr, who signed a football scholarship earlier this month with Auburn University, helped the Panthers post a 9-3 record, win the region championship and earn a berth in the second round of the state playoffs.
Ozmint rushed for 2,316 yards and 27 touchdowns on 299 attempts while catching 14 passes for 199 yards and two scores. He also returned 10 punts for 203 yards.
Brown finished with a team-high 141 tackles – including 19 for a loss – and seven sacks. He also forced two fumbles. Ozmint and Brown helped the Yellow Jackets to the Class 3A state semifinals, a 13-1 record, a region title and an undefeated regular season.
All three players made the All-Etowah County and All-Region first teams.
The class winners, along with the 2014 Mr. Football award, will be revealed at the annual Player of the Year Banquet on Jan. 14 in Montgomery. The event is sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
The 42 finalists are listed below.
Class 7A Back
Maceo Booker, running back, James Clemens; Grey Jackson, quarterback, Fairhope; Traveon Samuel, Athlete, Central-Phenix City
Class 7A Lineman
R.J. Arnold, linebacker, Hoover; Kenny Thomas, offensive line, Prattville; Darrell Williams, linebacker, Hoover
Class 6A Back
Keith Mixon, Athlete, Shades Valley; Ty Pigrome, quarterback, Clay-Chalkville; Chris Weaver, Athlete, Saraland
Class 6A Lineman
Keaton Anderson, linebacker, Florence; Tyler Carr, offensive line, Southside; Darryl Williams, offensive line, Bessemer City
Class 5A Back
Brandon Baynes, running back, Tallassee; Ostin McPherson, running back, St. Paul’s; ShaKeith Tyes, running back, Calera
Class 5A Lineman
Lester Cotton, offensive line, Central-Tuscaloosa; Richard McBryde, linebacker, Charles Henderson; A.J. Smoot, defensive line, Dora
Class 4A Back
Troy Dixon, running back, UMS-Wright; Octavius Matthews, Athlete, North Jackson; Kyle Nalls, running back, Fayette County
Class 4A Lineman
Riley Cole, linebacker, Oneonta; Anfernee Jennings, defensive line, Dadeville; Josephus Smith, defensive line, Leeds
Class 3A Back
Kerryon Johnson, running back, Madison Academy; Thomas Ozmint, running back, Glencoe; Zack Simbeck, Athlete, Lauderdale County
Class 3A Lineman
Jamarius Henderson, Athlete, Dale County; Mason Brown, linebacker, Glencoe; Jeffery Whatley, defensive line, Dale County
Class 2A Back
Peyton Gilliland, quarterback, Cleveland; DeAnthony Holcombe, running back, Washington County; Austin Stiefel, running back, Fyffe
Class 2A Lineman
Deshon Kilpatrick, offensive line, Sweet Water; Austen Lewter, offensive line, Tanner; Dakota Newsome, linebacker, Fyffe
Class 1A Back
Kendarius Bradley, defensive back, Maplesville; Tyler Crumpton, wide receiver, Phillips; Chandler Rigdon, Athlete, Chickasaw
Class 1A Lineman
Tyler Armstrong, linebacker, Maplesville; Jake Mintz, offensive line, Cedar Bluff; Justin Foster, defensive line, Donoho