Saraland’s Williams repeats as Mr. Football
Published 4:19 pm Tuesday, January 30, 2024
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Special to the Advance
Saraland receiver Ryan Williams, after making history as the first sophomore to win Mr. Football last season, made some more Tuesday.
He’s the first two-time Mr. Football.
Williams, along with each classification’s back and lineman of the year, were honored at a luncheon banquet at the Montgomery Renaissance sponsored by ALFA Insurance and the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association.
The awards are presented by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Williams helped lead the Spartans to a 14-1 record and a Class 6A runner-up finish this season. Over the last two years, Saraland was 29-1.
He was a junior during the season but has reclassified and will graduate with the Class of 2024.
In 2023, Williams finished with 71 catches for 1,320 yards and 19 touchdowns. He also scored seven rushing touchdowns and on two punt returns. Williams also threw a TD pass.
In 2022, he caught 88 passes for 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns, ran 57 times for 700 yards and 15 TDs and scored twice on punt returns. Add in a scoring pass and Williams was part of 42 touchdowns.
Williams was just the second Mr. Football underclassman. Running back La’Damian Webb won as a junior at Beauregard in 2016.
This year, there were 1,371 players nominated from 282 schools for the 480 All-State spots.
MR. FOOTBALL
Ryan Williams, Saraland
SUPER ALL-STATE
(top 12 players regardless of school’s classification)
Ryan Williams, Saraland
Jaylen Mbakwe, Clay-Chalkville
Cam Coleman, Central-Phenix City
Alvin Henderson, Elba
Ronnie Royal, Gulf Shores
Jacob Cornejo, Cherokee Co.
KJ Lacey, Saraland
DJ Barber, Clay-Chalkville
KJ Jackson, St. James
Andrew Alford, Central-Phenix City
Malik Blocton, Pike Road
Caleb McCreary, Catholic-Montgomery
BACKS OF THE YEAR
7A: Cam Coleman, Central-Phenix City
6A: Ryan Williams, Saraland
5A: Ronnie Royal, Gulf Shores
4A: Jacob Cornejo, Cherokee Co.
3A: KJ Jackson, St. James
2A: Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Academy
1A: Alvin Henderson, Elba
AISA: Clayton Hussey, Lowndes Academy
LINEMEN OF THE YEAR
7A: Bradley Shaw, Hoover
6A: DJ Barber, Clay-Chalkville
5A: QB Reese, Ramsay
4A: Joseph Phillips, BTW-Tuskegee
3A: Kentonio Kelly Jr., Mobile Christian
2A: Tucker Wilks, Fyffe
1A: Tim Parnell, Leroy
AISA: Jay Lindsey, Patrician
COACHES OF THE YEAR
(originally named Dec. 23)
7A: Zach Golson, Mary Montgomery
6A: Drew Gilmer, Clay-Chalkville
5A: Jake Ganus, Moody
4A: Lawrence O’Neal, BTW-Tuskegee
3A: Ronnie Cottrell, Mobile Christian
2A: Billy Adams, Locust Fork
1A: Chan Lowe, Leroy
AISA: Lebo Jones, Wilcox Academy
ALL-TIME MR. FOOTBALL WINNERS
2023: Ryan Williams, Saraland receiver
2022: Ryan Williams, Saraland receiver
2021: Ryan Peppins, Thompson receiver
2020: GaQuincy McKinstry, Pinson Valley receiver/defensive back
2019: Kristian Story, Lanett quarterback
2018: Bo Nix, Pinson Valley quarterback
2017: Asa Martin, Austin running back
2016: La’Damian Webb, Beauregard running back
2015: Tyler Johnston, Spanish Fort quarterback
2014: Kerryon Johnson, Madison Academy running back
2013: Racean Thomas, Oxford running back
2012: Jeremy Johnson, Carver-Montgomery quarterback
2011: T.J. Yeldon, Daphne running back
2010: Jamal Golden, Wetumpka quarterback
2009: Coty Blanchard, Cherokee County quarterback
2008: Clint Moseley, Leroy quarterback
2007: Julio Jones, Foley receiver
2006: Larry Smith, Prattville quarterback
2005: Andre Smith, Huffman offensive lineman
2004: Jarod Bryant, Hoover quarterback
2003: Chris Nickson, Pike Co. quarterback
2002: JaMarcus Russell, Williamson quarterback
2001: Brandon Cox, Hewitt-Trussville quarterback
2000: Carnell Williams, Etowah running back
1999: Cory Whisenant, Springville running back
1998: DeMarco McNeil, Blount defensive lineman
1997: Mac Campbell, Alexandria running back
1996: Antoneyo Williams, Central-Tuscaloosa running back
1995: Gorman Thornton, Jeff Davis tight end
1994: Dawud Rasheed, Shades Valley running back
1993: Thomas Banks, West Jefferson running back
1992: Freddie Kitchens, Etowah quarterback
1991: Robert Davis, Homewood running back
1990: David Palmer, Jackson-Olin receiver
1989: Steven Coleman, Pike Co. running back
1988: Darrell Williams, Vigor running back
1987: Robert Jones, Parker running back
1986: Larry Ware, Lee-Montgomery running back
1985: Pierre Goode, Hazlewood running back
1984: Roderick Green, Gardendale receiver
1983: Freddy Weygand, Emma Sansom receiver
1982: Tommy Compton, Vigor quarterback