Hillcrest has never had more than three all-state players in any given season

Former Sparta Academy lineman Drew Davis.

Lots of people have asked me this week about when the Alabama Sports Writers Association (ASWA) will be releasing its annual All-State Football Team.

I found out on Monday morning that this year’s All-State team is scheduled to come out this Sunday, so local football fans will want to be sure to pick up a copy of The Mobile Press-Register or The Montgomery Advertiser, which should include big stories on this year’s All-State team.

The Courant will have a full story next Thursday on any local players who make the All-State team this year.

Hillcrest won the 3A state title this year, so I look for a number of their players to make the 3A All-State team this season. Sparta Academy also had several All-State caliber players this season, so I won’t be surprised if one or more of them makes the cut. If not, fans should keep in mind that selection to this team is highly competitive.

Going back to the start of Hillcrest’s football program in 1989, the most players that Hillcrest has ever placed on the ASWA All-State team in any given season was in 2015 when three players were named All-State in Class 3A. Those players included first-team senior wide receiver Tyrell Riley, second-team senior wide receiver Mydarius Trujillo and honorable mention senior quarterback Jamichael King.

Russell Meeks was the first Hillcrest player to ever make the ASWA All-State team. He was a 5A honorable mention selection at linebacker as a senior in 1989. Five years later, in 1994, Hillcrest senior Blake Anderson was named a 5A honorable mention offensive lineman.

In 1995, Hillcrest placed two players on the 5A ASWA All-State team. Senior Kelvin Rudolph was named as a first-team linebacker, and junior Ryan Meeks was named as an honorable mention defensive lineman.

In 2000, Hillcrest placed two more players on the 5A ASWA All-State team. Junior Derrick Rodgers was named as a first-team running back, and senior John Nettles was named as a first-team offensive lineman.

In 2003, senior Brandon Montgomery was named as a first-team offensive lineman on the ASWA’s 4A All-State team. Four years later, in 2004, junior Malcolm Rudolph was named as an honorable mention wide receiver/tight end on the ASWA 4A All-State team. Last season, in 2016, junior Kobe Bradley was named as a first-team wide receiver on the 3A ASWA All-State team.

Sparta Academy has placed eight players on different ASWA All-State teams in the history of its football program. It should be noted that for a number of years, the ASWA did not selected All-State teams for the Alabama Independent School Association.

Senior Michael Pate became the first player in Sparta history to make the ASWA All-State team when he was selected as a first-team running back in 1996. Junior Drew Skipper followed in 1997 when he was selected as an honorable mention linebacker.

Drew Davis, who went on to star at the University of Alabama, was selected to the ASWA All-State team two years in a row. In 2002, as a junior, he was selected as a first-team defensive lineman, and in 2003, as a senior, he was selected as a first-team offensive lineman. He was also named the AISA Lineman of the Year by the ASWA in 2003.

In 2008, seniors Cody Baggett and Nick Andrews were named as honorable mention All-State selections by the ASWA. Baggett made the team as a wide receiver and Andrews made the team as a placekicker.

Three years later, their brothers – Dalton Baggett and Tom Andrews – also made the ASWA All-State team. Senior Tom Andrews was a first-team selection as a punter, and senior Dalton Baggett was an honorable mention selection as a defensive lineman.

As you can see, Hillcrest and Sparta both have strong traditions of placing players on the ASWA All-State team, and I look for that tradition to continue this year. In fact, I suspect that Hillcrest will put more players on this year’s team than they ever have based on their history-making season this year.