MONTGOMERY —
In a room filled with high school seniors, ArDarius Stewart was the only junior.
Representin’, as it were.
And with a big plaque in his hand as AHSAA Class 2A Back of the Year, and a fourth-place finish in voting for Mr. Football — the best player in the state, regardless of school classification — Stewart represented his class well.
The Fultondale quarterback/free safety received the award last Wednesday at the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s annual Mr. Football awards ceremony.
He beat out Austin Grammer of American Christian Academy and Michael Lindsey of Elba for the Back of the Year award.
In the Mr. Football balloting, Stewart finished behind the winner, Daphne running back T.J. Yeldon, who barely beat quarterback Jameis “Jaboo” Winston of Hueytown for top honors. Yeldon, already an early enrollee at Alabama, received 187 points in the weighted-voting scheme, while Winston — committed to Florida State for football, but who may possibly forego the sport and opt to play pro baseball instead — scored 173 points. Troymaine Pope, a running back from Anniston, placed third with 116 points, ahead of Stewart’s 84.
As the only junior among the top award winners and the ASWA Super 12 team, Stewart is immediately cast as the favorite in year’s voting. He also has captured more attention from major colleges, including two of the biggest in these parts: Alabama and Auburn.
Stewart has already visited with Tide coach Nick Saban, and will take part in “Junior Day” programs at both the Capstone and on The Plains.
It’s highly likely he will receive a formal offer from each school then, if either decide to follow through on their interest.
“Alabama and Auburn are both looking at me, and I’m looking at them,” Stewart said. “Utah is interested in me, too.”
As for the state’s biggest schools, the question is where they would play him. Saban is known to want him in the defensive secondary, while Gene Chizik would put him on offense, likely as a slotback.
Stewart had more than 2,000 yards rushing and 1,400 passing, both Fultondale High records, as he led the Wildcats to the quarterfinal round of last season’s AHSAA Class 2A playoffs. It’s the farthest the Cats have ever advanced into the post-season.
Stewart was also named to the Class 2A All-State first team; four other Wildcats received honorable mentions.
The Mr. Football award ceremony was sponsored by the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association.
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Related Photos
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Fultondale junior ArDarius Stewart, left, receives his Class 2A Back of the Year award from Steve Savarese, executive directlor of the Alabama High School Athletic Association, during last week’s Mr. Football ceremony in Montgomery. Kristi Ingram-AHSAA
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Fultondale High School quarterback/free safety ArDarius Stewart accepts his award as Class 2A Back of the Year during the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s Mr. Football ceremony last Wednesday in Montgomery. Stewart, who led the Wildcats to their deepest run in to the playoffs in school history, placed fourth in balloting for Mr. Football, the award given to the best prep player in the state, regardless of classification. (Story, page 11.) Kristi Ingram-AHSAA
Discussion
ArDarius Stewart named 2A Back of the Year
Fultondale QB places 4th in Mr. Football voting, now favorite for 2013
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