ASWA football awards
- Updated: January 28, 2025
Donoho’s Farrell reels in Class 1A lineman of the year. Cherokee County’s Diamond 4A lineman of year. Piedmont’s Pinto, Oxford’s Britt, Wadley’s Wilkes were finalists.
2024 ASWA football award winners
BACKS OF THE YEAR
7A: Anquon Fegans, Thompson
6A: K.J. Lacey, Saraland
5A: Cam Phinizee, Russellville
4A: Landon Duckworth, Jackson
3A: Kadyn Mitchell, Houston Academy
2A: Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Academy
1A: Alvin Henderson, Elba
AISA: Luke Tarver, Chambers Academy
LINEMEN OF THE YEAR
7A: Jared Smith, Thompson
6A: Jourdin Crawford, Parker
5A: Jabarrius Garror, Vigor
4A: Tae Diamond, Cherokee County
3A: Tucker Wilks, Fyffe
2A: J.J. Faulk, Highland Home
1A: Hayes Farrell, Donoho
AISA: Ashton Yelder, Lowndes Academy
MR. FOOTBALL
K.J. Lacey, Saraland
By Joe Medley
East Alabama Sports Today
After making the playoffs in the first season under head coach Bill Smith, Donoho football got another shot of morale Tuesday with Hayes Farrell garnering a top Alabama Sports Writers Association award.
The state’s writers voted Farrell as Class 1A lineman of the year. He received the honor at Tuesday’s ASWA banquet at the Montgomery Renaissance Hotel.
Farrell was one of five coverage-area finalists for back of the year or lineman of the year. He said winning a top ASWA award was a “shock.”
“I guess I’m really blessed to get it,” he said. “I’m really speechless, to be honest with you.”
Other coverage-area finalists included the following:
—Oxford defensive end Keenan Britt, a finalist for Class 6A lineman of the year.
—Cherokee County running back/defensive lineman Tae Diamond, who was voted Class 4A lineman of the year.
—Piedmont wide receiver/kick returner Rollie Pinto, a finalist for Class 3A back of the year.
—Wadley running back Jaquez Wilkes, a finalist for Class 1A back of the year.
The ASWA also voted Saraland’s K.J. Lacey was voted Class 6A back of the year and Mr. Football.
Linemen of the year include offensive and defensive linemen and linebackers. Backs of the year include quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs.
Farrell was a key player in getting Donoho to the playoffs after the Falcons went 0-9 in 2023. The 6-foot-5, 212-pound senior saw time at wide receiver, tight end and linebacker, catching 50 passes for 783 yards and 11 touchdowns. He finished with 1,446 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns.
On defense, he had 154 total tackles, including 16 tackles for loss and four sacks. He was a first-team ASWA all-state selection at linebacker.
“There is a lot wrong in our world and even in our sport, but young men like Hayes Farrell, that’s what is good about high school sports, teaching and education,” Smith said. “Hayes is an ultimate leader, competitor, and young man of integrity! He was a huge reason Donoho went from 0-9 to regular season 5-5 and a play off birth.”
Diamond keyed Cherokee County’s third consecutive Class 4A runner-up finish, rushing for 1,230 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also had 111 tackles with 24 tackles for loss and 20 sacks.
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