In many years, the Alabama Sports Writers Association's Super 12 football team is made up of big-ticket recruits from larger schools.

This season, smaller is the new larger.

Led by Mr. Football Clint Moseley of Class 2A Leroy and runner-up Tim Simon of Class 3A Cordova, seven members of the top 12 as voted on by the members of ASWA Prep Committee came from schools Class 4A or smaller.

Four of the top five finishers for Mr. Football came from Class 2A or 3A -- including quarterback/defensive back Caleb Massey of Sulligent and linebacker/fullback Randon Carnathan of Leeds. Class 1A lineman of the year Maurice Tate of Linden also was voted on the Super 12.

This isn't to say there aren't big ticket recruits on the team. Both Foley offensive lineman D.J. Fluker and Clay-Chalkville's Quinton Dial are headed to Alabama, while Simon is committed to Ole' Miss.

And in the "still being wooed by coaches from around the nation" category are Gadsden City defensive back Dre' Kirkpatrick and North Jackson linebacker Tana Patrick.

Eleven of the 12 selections are seniors; the lone junior is Oneonta wide receiver Nolen Smith who tied an AHSAA record with 102 catches this season.

The coaches of the year selections were also a departure from the norm as none of the seven winner led their team to a state title.

Five of the coaches, however, made it to the championship games with James Sampley of Fort Dale Academy in AISA, Royal Carpenter of Speake in Class 1A, Dwight Bowling of Sulligent in Class 2A, Thomas "Tripp" Curry of Cherokee County in 4A all led their teams to Legion Field.

Kevin Wiesmann led Huntsville to a 10-4 mark and the school's first trip to the Class 6A semifinals, where the Panthers lost to Hoover. It was just the third 10-win season in school history.

Dadeville's Richard White turned a team that was 0-10 last year to 11-1 this season in Class 3A and Ryan Herring also led the Wildcats to a perfect regular season in Class 5A.


ASWA Super 12

Mr. Football -- Clint Moseley, Leroy, QB
Tim Simon, Cordova, RB
Dre Kirkpatrick, Gadsden City, DB
Caleb Massey, Sulligent QB/DB
Randon Carnathan, Leeds, LB
Tana Patrick, North Jackson, LB
Tyler Caldwell, Cullman, QB
Quinton Dial, Clay-Chalkville, DL
D.J. Fluker, Foley, OL
Leland Baker, Erwin, DL
Maurice Tate, Linden, FB/LB
Nolen Smith, Oneonta, WR