By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – Throughout Cherokee County High School senior Tae Diamond’s varsity football career, every challenge he had thrown his way he dominated.
But the 2024 season might’ve been his most impressive feat.
Playing more of a featured role on the offensive side of the ball at running back, Diamond more than delivered. He ran for 1,406 yards with 23 touchdowns on 157 carries.
Even with an added workload on offense, Diamond’s defensive numbers didn’t suffer. He posted 102 total tackles, including 17 for loss with 22 sacks, four forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and an interception.
As a result, the Warriors found themselves back in the Class 4A state championship game and finished as state runner-up for the third straight season.
And, for the third straight season, Diamond has earned the All-Cherokee County Defensive Player of the Year honor.
“It means a lot to me because of the work I put in,” Diamond said. “I can say 20 years from now I won Cherokee County Defensive Player of the Year for three years in a row, and that’s an honor to say. That’s something I can tell my kids later in life. I thank my teammates and coaches for putting in the work with me. The past four years have been a blast. I’m going to miss it.”
Warrior head coach Jacob Kelley said he thought a lot of people felt there was no way Diamond could be as productive as he had been in previous seasons, but he proved them wrong.
“The thing about Tae that motivates him is just the challenge of he can’t do something,” Kelley said. “I’m not sure if there’s a two-way player that has the stats he does. I’m sure there are other guys who may be more athletic, may be a little bit faster, but when you calculate it all – size, speed, and the rare ability to make plays – Tae’s got to be at the top of the pecking order. All he needs for motivation is he’s not big enough, he can’t do it, he’s too small, he’s too this or too that. We’re definitely going to miss him on both sides of the ball.”
Diamond said it “lights a fire” under him when somebody tells him he can’t do something.
“I know my body and I know what I’m capable of. I know I can do it,” Diamond said. “When somebody tells me I can’t do something it makes me mad. At that point, I’m at a whole other level. I’m going to prove it to you that I can do it, but 100 times better, like the best you’ve ever seen. That’s the mindset I have when somebody tells me I can’t do something.
“Coach Kelley gave me a chance, and I proved I could play both ways. At the end of the day I’m going to get it done.”
Diamond certainly got things done, particularly on defense.
In the three years he has earned the all-county defensive honor, he’s registered 330 total tackles, with 77 of those for lost yards and 64 sacks.
“Those are just ridiculous numbers,” Kelley said. “It would be really, really easy for him to be satisfied, but he never was. He’s definitely had a great four-year career. He’s been a starter really since he came up. As a freshman, he was kind of learning how to use the strength program to help him become better on the field. When he came up, he was playing right off the bat. I think he had 12 (sacks) as a freshman.”
What especially helped Diamond on defense last season was the play of his teammate, senior linebacker Tristan Brown. Brown led the Warriors with 166 total tackles, including 25 for loss. He also had five sacks, forced two fumbles and had an interception.
Both Diamond and Brown are two of the three finalists for the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 4A Lineman of the Year honor. It’s the third straight year Diamond has been a finalist for that award.
Diamond considers Brown a kindred spirit.
“We’ve both been playing together since we were five years old. We both know what we can do,” Diamond said. “We didn’t listen to anyone who said we weren’t going to do anything this season, we weren’t going to be good, or anything like that. We’ve been playing football all our lives. We had another amazing season. He’s an amazing player.”
“With Tae and Tristan both, if you needed a play, both of them were present,” Kelley said. “You’ve also got to throw (senior defensive lineman Caleb) Harbour in there too. He’s been the man in the middle (of the line), but Tae definitely made his mark.”
Both Diamond and Kelley hope he gets to continue making his mark at the collegiate level.
“Hopefully it’s not over with. Hopefully he’ll get some opportunities to play at the next level because he’s definitely got the talent,” Kelley said. “Somebody needs to give this kid a chance, like Jacob (Cornejo) last year. I know he could play for somebody at the next level.”
Joining Diamond, Brown and Harbour from the Warriors on the 2024 All-Cherokee County Football Team is Cooper Allen, Carson Chesnut, Ben Moseley, Jaquan Diamond, Keshawn Thomas, Keyshawn Woods, Tyson Wood, Ben Frampton, Luke Young, Tripp Davis, Dylan Duncan, Landon Ransum, Asa Holbert and James Hunter.
Warrior honorable mention players are Adam Griffith, Javierre Henderson, Ethan Glass, Case Hill, Gavin Brown, Jackson Doeg and Dawson Bartlett.
Chosen from Spring Garden is Noah Barber, Connor Bates, John Welsh, Jacob Welsh, Grey Simpson, Tanner Ruark, Hayes Garmon, Colton Driskell, Clayton Sadler, Carson Bostick, Johnny Baker, Mason Woods, Zack Scogin and Zane Edwards.
Representing Sand Rock (5-6) is Kane Robison, Gatlin Cox, Gavynn Cunningham, Seth Holland, Caiden Bullard, Morgan Tucker, Brenden Lindsey, Grayson Lane, Ty Traffanstedt and Alec Ashley.
Wildcat honorable mention players are Ryker Woodall and Alex Stone.
Selected from Gaylesville (4-5) is Alex Baty, Karrson Ray, Collin Hendon, Jack Sentell, Hunter Allmond, Daylen Dobbins, Caden Angle and Tanner Hughes.
Trojan honorable mention players are Aydn Heinrich and Timmy Dawson.
Representing Cedar Bluff (3-7) is Hunter Jenkins, Caleb Edmondson, Kadien Tracy, Hunter Stallings, Isaac Roberts, Bryson Teague, Jacob Chambers, Jayden Flynt and Dylan McDaniel.
Tiger honorable mention players are Sam Payne, Hayden Tucker, Saw Jordan, Cayden Garrett, Hudson Smith and Michael Johnson.
