From The Tribune staff reports
NEW YORK — Forty-four high school football players from the state of Alabama are on the watch list for the Sports Illustrated All-American team for 2020, and two of those players play for Tribune-area schools.
The 44 student-athletes from Alabama represent the sixth-most from a single state behind Florida (142), Texas (130), Georgia (84), California (79), and North Carolina (55). After Alabama, the top 10 is rounded out by Ohio (37), Virginia (30), Michigan (30) and Maryland (28).
Listed among the state’s 44 watch list nominees are local seniors Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry, of Pinson Valley, and Armoni Goodwin, of Hewitt-Trussville.
McKinstry, a two-time ASWA All-State selection, is considered the top 2021 prospect in Alabama and the nation’s No. 1 corner, according to 247Sports.
He recently trimmed his list of potential colleges down to three: Alabama, Auburn and LSU. He spoke with 247Sports about his recruitment following the announcement of his top three.
“Just wherever I go I want my mom to be able to know that she left me at a spot where she doesn’t have to worry about me,” he said. “Even if she hasn’t talked to me in three weeks she’ll know I left him with coach such and such or I left him at this University, so I know he’s good, I trust them. That’s like No. 1 on my list if my mom hasn’t heard from me in a while she’ll still know I’m ok because she left me with somebody she trusts.”
Last season, McKinstry secured 47 receptions for 700 yards and 12 scores. He also helped anchor an Indians’ defense that pitched three shutouts, limited four opponents to seven points or less and held 10 opponents to less than 14 points scored.
Goodwin, a rising senior at Hewitt-Trussville, went for 100-plus yards rushing in each of the three games he played in last season before suffering a season-ending injury. As a sophomore, he ran for 1,458 yards and 15 scores for the Huskies.
“He’s improved his game after coming off that ACL injury,” said Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd. “But he’s had a full recovery and he’s made himself a better receiver, which is going to help his future.”
The 185-pound back is currently committed to Auburn, and holds additional offers from Alabama, Arkansas, LSU and Tennessee, among others.
The evaluation process will continue throughout the season “until the list of 1,000 contenders coalesces around just 25 young men who can say proudly they are the best of the best — they are Sports Illustrated All-Americans,” said SI Director of Football Recruiting John Garcia Jr.
Sports Illustrated will narrow the candidates to 250 in October, 99 in November and then announce a first-team of 25, second-team of 25 and an honorable mention group in December. The first-team selections will be invited to the SI Sportsperson of the Year banquet.
The Alabama honorees, listed here by city/town, are:
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Almarion Crim – 6-3 / 285 / OL from Adamsville, Ala.
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Sam Reynolds – 5-10 / 175 / WR from Alabaster, Ala.
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Trinity Bell – 6-7 / 250 / ATH from Albertville, Ala.
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JonDarius Morgan – 6-4 / 320 / OT from Birmingham, Ala.
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Jeremiah Williams – 6-4 / 220 / DE from Birmingham, Ala.
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Tim Keenan – 6-2 / 340 / DT from Birmingham, Ala.
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Deshun Murrell Jr. – 5-11 / 185 / RB from Centreville, Ala.
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Barylre Davenport – 6-4 / 224 / DE from Chickasaw, Ala.
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Trent Battle – 6-1 / 190 / QB from Daphne, Ala.
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Jay Jones – 6-0 / 189 / CB from Demopolis, Ala.
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Jaylin White – 5-10 / 185 / RB from Dothan, Ala.
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Jarris Williams – 5-10 / 184 / RB from Eight Mile, Ala.
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Lamarcus Brown – 6-2 / 180 / from Eight Mile, Ala.
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Joshua McCray – 6-1 / 207 / RB from Enterprise, Ala.
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Riley Leonard – 6-4 / 190 / QB Fairhope, Ala.
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Malachi Bennett – 6-2 / 180 / WR from Fairfield, Ala.
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Rod Orr – 6-7 / 296 / OL from Gadsden City, Ala.
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Will Crowder – 6-2 / 195 / QB from Gardendale, Ala.
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Eli Richey – 6-5 / 280 / OG from Greensboro, Ala.
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Micah Pettus – 6-4 / 320 / OT from Harvest, Ala.
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Dylan Betts-Pauley – 6-0 / 215 / RB from Hoover, Ala.
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Kahlil Saunders – 6-5 / 260 / DE from Huntsville, Ala.
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Tyler Bence – 6-3 / 273 / DT from Huntsville, Ala.
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Jackson West – 6-4 / 230 / TE from Huntsville, Ala.
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Jordan Mosley – 5-11 / 180 / WR from Mobile, Ala.
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Deontae Lawson – 6-3 / 210 / OLB from Mobile, Ala.
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Jaden Mosley – 6-0 / 179 / S from Mobile, Ala.
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Edwin White – 6-0 / 196 / S from Mobile, Ala.
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Ivan Shultz – 6-2 / 287 / OC from Mobile, Ala.
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Anquin Barnes – 6-5 / 299 / DT from Montgomery, Ala.
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Bernard Gooden – 6-1 / 253 / DT from Montgomery, Ala.
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Roc Taylor – 6-4 / 212 / WR from Oxford, Ala.
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Joseph McKay – 6-1 / 210 / RB from Phenix City, Ala.
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Ga’Quincy McKinstry – 6-0 / 175 / ATH from Pinson, Ala.
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Christian Lewis – 6-3 / 185 / WR from Pleasant Grove, Ala.
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Ian Jackson – 6-3 / 215 / OLB from Prattville, Ala.
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Lee Hunter – 6-5 / 290 / OT from Prichard, Ala.
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Dylan Brooks – 6-5 / 225 / DE from Roanoke, Ala.
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Edgar Amaya – 6-3 / 300 / OG from Russellville, Ala.
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Micah Gaffney – 6-1 / 160 / CB from Spanish Fort, Ala.
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Christian Burkhalter – 6-5 / 230 / ATH from Spanish Fort, Ala.
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Armoni Goodwin – 5-9 / 185 / RB from Trussville, Ala.
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Kamari Lassiter – 5-11 / 165 / CB from Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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Cam Jeffery – 6-1 / 195 / RB from Tuscaloosa, Ala.
