By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director

MONTGOMERY – Three area football players are among this year’s finalists for the Alabama Sports Writers Association High School Football Players of the Year, including two from the Class 4A state runner-up Cherokee County Warriors (13-2) and one from Class 3A state semifinalist Piedmont (13-1).

This year’s finalists were announced early Christmas morning.

In the 4A Lineman of the Year category, Cherokee County senior defensive lineman Tae Diamond and senior linebacker Tristan Brown join Madison Academy senior linebacker AJ Rice as finalists.

Diamond delivered 102 total tackles, including 17 for loss with 22 sacks, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception. Brown led the Warriors in total tackles with 166, including 25 for loss. He also had five sacks, forced two fumbles and had an interception.

Rice, a Mississippi State commitment, registered 141 total tackles with 64 solo stops, including four for loss. He also had a sack and an interception for the Mustangs (7-5).

In the 3A Back of the Year category, Piedmont junior receiver Rollie Pinto joins Mars Hill senior running back Caden Chandler and Houston Academy senior quarterback Kadyn Mitchell as finalists.

Pinto set a new Alabama High School Athletic Association single-season receiving record with 1,826 yards and 21 touchdowns on 108 catches.

Chandler ran for over 1,378 yards with 25 touchdowns on 137 carries for the state champion Panthers (14-1).

Mitchell threw for over 2,764 yards and 37 touchdowns. He also ran for over 345 yards and four scores for the state runner-up Raiders (13-2).

This year’s class winners, Super All-State and Mr. Football will be revealed Jan. 28 at a luncheon banquet at the Montgomery Renaissance.

Finalists in each class and category are listed below, beginning with Class 7A.

CLASS 7A
Back of the year
Anquon Fegans, Thompson
Trent Seaborn, Thompson
Daylyn Upshaw, Central-Phenix City

Lineman of the year
Malik Autry, Opelika
Zion Grady, Enterprise
Jared Smith, Thompson

CLASS 6A
Back of the year
Corey Barber, Spain Park
KJ Lacey, Saraland
Na’eem Offord, Parker

Lineman of the year
Keenan Britt, Oxford
Jourdin Crawford, Parker
Anthony Jones, St. Paul’s

CLASS 5A
Back of the year
Conner Nelson, Leeds
Cam Phinizee, Russellville
Jotavion Pierce, Catholic-Montgomery

Lineman of the year
Jabarrius Garrar, Vigor
Kentonio Kelly Jr., Vigor
Ellis McGaskin, Williamson

CLASS 4A
Back of the year
EJ Crowell, Jackson
Landon Duckworth, Jackson
Gunner Rivers, St. Michael

Lineman of the year
Tristan Brown, Cherokee Co.
Tae Diamond, Cherokee Co.
AJ Rice, Madison Academy

CLASS 3A
Back of the year
Caden Chandler, Mars Hill Bible
Kadyn Mitchell, Houston Academy
Rollie Pinto, Piedmont

Lineman of the year
Myles Johnson, T.R. Miller
Billy Neill, Bayside Academy
Tucker Wilks, Fyffe

CLASS 2A
Back of the year
Chris Clemons, Winston Co.
Luke Gilbert, Pisgah
Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Aca.

Lineman of the year
JJ Faulk, Highland Home
Clete O’Bryant, Coosa Christian
Grayson Gulde, Vincent

CLASS 1A
Back of the year
Alvin Henderson, Elba
Ziquayvion Jackson, McKenzie
Jaquez Wilkes, Wadley

Lineman of the year
Fred Curry, Georgiana
Hayes Farrell, Donoho
Tim Parnell, Leroy

AISA
Back of the year
Julian Curry, Wilcox Academy
Gerrell Perry, Banks Academy
Luke Tarver, Chambers Academy

Lineman of the year
Jackson Boykin, South Choctaw Academy
Ashton Yelder, Lowndes Academy
Asher Young, Fort Dale Academy