By Joshua Huff, sports editor
TRUSSVILLE — A trip east awaits Hewitt-Trussville quarterback Seth Shelnutt as the senior announced his intention on Friday to further his football career in the collegiate ranks at Reinhardt University.
The 6-foot-2 former Huskies’ starter continues a long tradition of Hewitt-Trussville gunslingers who have parlayed a stellar high school career into an opportunity to showcase their talents in the collegiate ranks. Shelnutt now joins a list that includes former stars Paul Tyson, who finished his career with the Huskies in 2019 after recording consecutive 3,000-yards seasons before signing with Alabama; Connor Adair, who threw for 2,739 yards and 30 touchdowns before departing for Memphis, and Zac Thomas, who skipped off to powerhouse Appalachian State and has earned numerous accolades in his time with the Mountaineers.
Though Shelnutt’s time under center at Hewitt-Trussville might not have resembled the statistical careers of the aforementioned players, the multi-tool athlete showed enough promise to earn an opportunity with the Eagles.
Welcome to the Nest, @SethShelnutt!#23Teams1RU #PAYthePRICE@Coach_JMiller pic.twitter.com/dR2F9KKisE
— Reinhardt Football (@ReinhardtFB) February 21, 2020
As a backup to Tyson in 2018, Shelnutt decided to forgo time on the bench and spent his season roaming the defensive outfield as a safety. During that campaign, Shelnutt recorded 46 tackles and two tackles for a loss.
Following Tyson’s departure, the Huskies entered this season with three players vying for the starting quarterback role: Shelnutt, Jackson Holland and Cade Carruth.
Shelnutt, the lone senior, earned the nod and suited up for the first game of the season against back-to-back Class 6A state champion Pinson Valley. It would be his only appearance of the season. He would depart the contest with a leg injury, which sidelined him for the rest of the season, after he attempted just 14 passes.
He concluded his career at Hewitt-Trussville 10-for-15 for 91 yards and one interception.
A fresh start now awaits Shelnutt at Reinhardt.
The Eagles concluded this past season 9-3 after falling to Marian, 17-7 in the first round of the NAIA Football Championship Series. That season followed two consecutive years of losing just one game per season.
According to statistics provided by the university, the Eagles only averaged 37.5 passing yards per game in 2019. Their leading passer was junior Billy Hall, who went 4-for-10 for 75 yards with one touchdown on the season. Reinhardt averaged 242.5 rushing yards per game.
As of Feb. 21, Shelnutt appears to be the only quarterback prospect within the Eagles’ 2020 recruiting class.
Name(Hudl Video) School Pos. No. Ht. Wt. Hometown
Troy Artis Milton LB 6-1 170 Alpharetta, Ga.
Bryce Bryant Dawson DL 54 6-0 275 Dawsonville, Ga.
– 2 time 7-AAA All Region Selection with 128 Tackles 4FF SOTFL 6 sacks over last two years. Holds a 3.8 GPA
Kevon Carr Auburn OL 66 6-3 300 Auburn, Ala.
– 2019 Alabama 7A 1st Team All-State & All Area and was on the Academic Honor Roll Finished season with 40 Pancakes while holding a 3.3 GPA
Willie Chambers Bleckley Co. LB 8 5-7 200 Cochran, Ga.
– All-State Honorable Mention 41 Tackles 7 TFL 1 Sack 1 FF. Holds a 4.0 GPA
TaDarious Davis ARC LB 6 6-0 210 Augusta, Ga.
– 3-AAAA Region Defensive Player of the Year 1st Team All Region Border Bowl participant 53 Tackles 10 TFL 5 sacks. Holds a 3.4 GPA
LaDarious Davis ARC DB 2 5-11 195 Augusta, Ga.
– 1st Team 3-AAAA All Region
Israel Dorsey ARC LB 5 5-9 195 Augusta, Ga.
– 1st Team 3-AAAA All Region 36 Tackles 4 TFL
Isiah Dorsey ARC RB 3 5-10 190 Augusta, Ga.
– 1st Team 3-AAAA AII Region 37 Tackles 22 Solo 10.9 YPC
Tony Duffie Fitzgerald DL 77 5-11 313 Fitzgerald, Ga.
– 1st Team 1-AA All Region, won Hurricane Award Hardest Worker, Leader & Great in Classroom. Holds a 3.09 GPA
Ja’Michael Dukes Burke Co. DT 45 5-10 315 Waynesboro, Ga.
Mekhi Gilstrap SW Dekalb RB 7 6-0 185 Ellenwood, Ga.
– 2019 All Region 5-AAAAA 1st T.eam & All County 2nd Team 77 carries-541YDs 9TDs. Holds a 3.3 GPA
Samuel Hill Burke Co. OL 74 6-3 346 Waynesboro, Ga.
– 1st Tear:n All CRSA & 3-AAAA All Region with 96 Pancakes. Holds a 3.5 GPA
Calvin Issac Cairo DL 10 6-1 234 Cairo, Ga.
– 1st Team 1-AAAA All Region 74 Tackles 14 TFL 5 sacks Holds a 3.25 GPA
Marcus Jefferson Putnam Co. RB 9 5-6 150 Eaton, Ga.
– 2nd Team 8-AA All Region 2 Year Team Captain 174 Carries 608 Yds 8TDs 6 Catches 94 Yards 2 TDS
Jashaun Kirby Jeff Davis RB 34 5-10 200 Haisel Hurst, Ga.
– 1st Team 2-AA AH Region, Elite Raw All-American Game Selection, 92carries 643yds & 6 TDs. Holds 3.35 GPA
Jamal Mahan Dodge Co. DL 18 5-11 220 Eastmon, Ga.
– 88 Total Tackles, 58 Solo, 18 TFL & 6 Sacks 1st Team 2-AA All Region & Academic. Holds a 3.7 GPA
Javarsia Meadows Howard RB 27 5-10 175 Macon, Ga.
– 3,309 Total Yds for his career w/29 TDs Senior Season 87carries 645yds 7.4ypc 10 TDs; 32rec. 366Yds 3TDs
Christian Morgan Dalton OL 74 6-2 290 Dalton, Ga.
– 1st Team 6-AAAAAA All County & AU Region 95 Total Pancakes on the Season
Malachi Moten Carrolton DL 2 5-10 251 Carrolton, Ga.
– 1st Team 7-AAAAA All Region & All Area SO Tackles 14 TFL 7.5 Sacks 1 FF 11 QB Hurries. Holds a 3.05 GPA
Micah Moten Carrolton OL 50 5-10 271 Carrolton, Ga.
– 2nd Team All Region & 1st Team All Area for a 1241 Semifinal Playoff Team. Holds a 3.53 GPA
Terrance Roberts Ridgeland RB 6 5-9 170 Rossville, Ga.
– 6-AAAA Region Player of the Year, 1st Team All-State 149carries, 1041YDs, 16TDs 73 Tackles, 5 Sacks, 13 TFL 1 KOR TD. Holds a 3.4 GPA
Torrance Roberts Ridgeland ATH 16 5-8 170 Rossville, Ga.
– 1st Team 6-AAAA All Region, 44 carries 339YDs STDs, 12 Catches 304YDs, 75 Tackles 2TFL llNT 2FF, lFR. Holds 3.2 GPA
Austin Sullens North Hall OL 59 6-3 280 Clairmont, Ga.
– Senior Captain, 1st Team 7-AAA All Region & won Pride of the Trojan Highest Honor for North Hall Football. Holds a 3.26 GPA
Joshua Wade Habersham OL 66 6-1 270 Clarksville, Ga.
– 1st Team 8-AAAAAA All Region, All State Honorable Mention, Graded 90% with 53 Pancakes & Off. Player of Year with a 3.2 GPA
Marquez Washington Burke Co. OL 70 6-1 270 Keysville, Ga.
– 1st Team 3-AAAA All Region CL for 9-3 Burke County with 80 Pancakes. Holds a 3.5 GPA
David Wingfield ELCA DB 4 5-9 170 Hampton, Ga.
– State Champion 1st Team All-County, 2nd Team 5-A All-Region, All-State Honorable Mention. 81 tackles, 14.5 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 PBUs and 1 FF. Holds a 3.4 GPA