Alabama Roster Completed For Football Classic
The 37-member roster of top high school stars and collegiate prospects that will represent the State of Alabama in the 23rd annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic Dec. 12 in Mobile has been announced.
Steve Bailey, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association, announced the team Thursday. The players were chosen by a special selection committee of the AHSADCA from nominations submitted by AHSAA member schools.
The squad is comprised of at least one player from each district and one player from each classification under AHSADCA parameters. All players are current high school seniors.
“We are excited about this year’s team. Our selection committee has done an outstanding job of researching and reviewing each nominee. We feel confident that we have put together a representative product for the state of Alabama,” Bailey said.
Defending 6A state champion Prattville leads all schools with three selections on the team while Auburn, Fairhope, Gadsden City, Hoover and Springville have two apiece.
The quarterbacks are Fairhope’s Daryl Norris, whose undefeated Pirates are ranked fifth in 6A, and Cherokee County’s Coty Blanchard, who led the Warriors to the 4A championship game in 2008 and a 6-0 start and No. 2 ranking so far this season.
Alabama has won nine of the last 11 games, including last year’s 28-3 victory as St. Paul’s quarterback A.J. McCarron, a University of Alabama signee, won MVP honors with two TD passes.
Alabama, with nine wins in the last 11 years, holds a 15-7 edge in the annual series that began in 1988.
Head coach for this year’s squad is Hoover’s Josh Niblett, whose Bucs are currently 6-0 and ranked No. 1 in the ASWA 6A poll. He guided the Bucs to the 6A finals in 2008 and led Oneonta to the 3A state title in 2004. He has served as an assistant coach in the All-Star Classic during Alabama victories in 2003 and 2006 and sports an 86-33 career record as a high school head coach. Two players from his Bucs squad, running back Josh MaGee and wide receiver Maudrecus Humphrey, were selected to the team. Humphrey is the son of former University of Alabama and NFL star Bobby Humphrey.
Niblett’s staff includes Jay Brown of Pell City, Prattville’s Jamey DuBose, Keith Etheredge of Leeds, Hoover’s Tad Niblett, Gardner Gilliland of Oneonta, Vigor’s Kerry Stevenson and Dickey Wright of Homewood.
The Mississippi team of all-stars will be announced later this month.
Over the past 21 years, the All-Star Classic has built an impressive legacy of close, exciting games as well as the best home-grown talent from Alabama and Mississippi -- players who have gone on to enjoy tremendous success at both the NCAA and NFL levels.
A total of 17 first-round NFL Draft picks and 116 overall draftees have played in the contest since its inception. This impressive list includes stars such as Antonio Langham, Deuce McAllister, Jason Campbell, John Copeland, Cadillac Williams, Steve McNair, Willie Anderson, JaMarcus Russell and Andre Smith, the sixth pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.
Over 80 former All-Star Classic players are currently listed on Southeastern Conference team rosters, including pre-season All-SEC selections Julio Jones and Rolando McClain of Alabama, Antonio Coleman at Auburn, Mississippi State’s Anthony Dixon and John Jerry of Ole Miss.
The Mishkin Group, a Mobile-based sports marketing firm, assumed management of the All-Star Classic earlier this year and plans a host of changes to the event, including expanded game day and game week events and activities for both players and fans.
This year's All-Star Classic Week in Mobile will run Dec. 7-12 with the game set for Saturday, Dec. 12. Kickoff time will be announced later.
For more information, visit the All-Star Classic’s new website, almsclassic.com.
The complete 2009 Alabama team roster:
Quarterbacks: Daryl Norris, Fairhope; Coty Blanchard, Cherokee County.
Running Backs: Corey Grant, Opelika; Deon Hill, Central-Phenix City; Jamal Woodyard, Fairhope.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: Cameron Groce, Gardendale; Nehemiah Henry, Millry; Maudrecas Humphrey, Hoover; Joshua Magee, Hoover; Solomon Patton, Murphy; Jeremy Richardson, Springville; Corey Shelton, Prattville.
Offensive Linemen: Drew Dearman, Vestavia Hills; Quinterrius Eatmon, Vigor; David Fowler, Daphne; John Hix, Auburn; Chase Hughes, Springville; Judd Hunt, Oneonta; Seth Ready, Piedmont.
Defensive Linemen: Fred Carter, Gadsden City; Jeremiah Jackson, Spain Park; Corey Lampley, Dothan; Wilson Love, Mountain Brook; Jared Morse, Oxford; Craig Sanders, Ariton.
Linebackers: Quashan Lee, Prattville; C.J. Mosley, Theodore; LaDarius Owens, Jess Lanier; Jay Prosch, UMS-Wright; Jawara White, Charles Henderson.
Defensive Backs: Deion Belue, Deshler; Dequavious Cobb, Auburn; Nicholas Perry, Prattville; Demarcus Milliner, Stanhope Elmore; Dale Trimble, Gadsden City; Jarrick Williams, Blount.
Punter/Kicker: Jorge Santa Maria, Foley.
Alabama All-Star Coaching Staff: Head Coach: Josh Niblett, Hoover. Assistants: Jay Brown, Pell City; Jamey DuBose, Prattville; Keith Etheredge, Leeds; Tad Niblett, Hoover; Gardner Gilliland, Oneonta; Kerry Stevenson, Vigor; Dickey Wright, Homewood.
Alabama-Mississippi Classic History
Year-by-Year
2008: Alabama 28, Mississippi 3
2007 (Dec.) Mississippi 26, Alabama 7
2007 (June): Alabama 51, Mississippi 14
2006: Alabama 24, Mississippi 3
2005: Mississippi 21, Alabama 18
2004: Alabama 24, Mississippi 22
2003: Alabama 24, Mississippi 16
2002: Alabama 29, Mississippi 17
2001: Alabama 33, Mississippi 14
2000: Alabama 16, Mississippi 9
1999: Alabama 28, Mississippi 24
1998: Mississippi 9, Alabama 0
1997: Alabama 10, Mississippi 6
1996: Alabama 17, Mississippi 14
1995: Mississippi 37, Alabama 9
1994: Mississippi 24, Alabama 10
1993: Mississippi 17, Alabama 6
1992: Mississippi 17, Alabama 14
1991: Alabama 15, Mississippi 13
1990: Alabama 24, Mississippi 14 (OT)
1989: Alabama 24, Mississippi 21 (4 OT)
1988: Alabama 24, Mississippi 21 (3 OT)
Alabama holds a 15-7 edge in the series