There is good news and bad news about the four players AL.com readers selected as their Mount Rushmore of Modern Day High School Football in Alabama.
The bad news? We – the so-called experts of prep football for AL.com – don’t believe you.
The good news? We don’t believe each other either.
In a two-month process that concluded last week, AL.com readers selected Pike County running back Steve Coleman, Foley wide receiver Julio Jones, McAdory running back Bo Jackson and Colbert County wide receiver Ozzie Newsome as their top four prep players in the state for the last 50 years.
Three of AL.com’s high school writers selected their own “Fab 4,” and they were all different by a fairly large margin.
Only one player, Jackson-Olin’s David Palmer, made more than one list.
And even the Deuce didn’t make all three.
The players we chose had to come from the final 25 players nominated in each of four regions.
Here’s what we came up with:
Jackson-Olin's David Palmer is shown vs. Ensley during his high school career.Jeff Roberts | AL.com file
JOSH BEAN
There’s a legend about David Palmer that goes like this: Late in the fourth quarter with his team trailing and facing fourth-and-10 during his senior season, Jackson-Olin called timeout and the offense trotted to the Legion Field sideline before surrounding coach Earl Cheatham.
No one said anything. Players began to look at each other, anxiously awaiting the fourth-down call. The clock was ticking. The season was on the line.
“David, can you get it?” Cheatham finally said. “Yes, sir,” Palmer replied.
“OK, here’s the play: We’re going to snap it David and if he runs near you, block for him.”
The best play in the playbook was to simply let Palmer work his magic.
Palmer got the first down and the Mustangs went down and scored the game-winning touchdown.
True or not – and who wants to kill a legend like that? – it speaks to the unique skills of David Palmer.
Anyone who ever saw him play believes it happened just like that because of Palmer’s other-worldly skills with the ball in his hands.
Quite simply, he’s the best high school player I ever saw, and it’s not even close.
He’d play quarterback on first down, running back on second down and receiver on third down. The defense knew he’d get the ball and still had trouble stopping him.
Woe to the punter who failed to follow a coach’s instruction to kick it out of bounds, lest Palmer catch it and return it for a touchdown.
For the last 25 years, I’ve heard innumerable players compared to Palmer, but that’s a lot like Bigfoot – you hear a lot about it, but you never actually see it. Palmer was simply the best I’ve ever seen.
Ozzie Newsome, Colbert County: Jeff McIntyre, the longtime sports reporter at the TimesDaily in Florence, always scoffed at my proclamation of David Palmer as Alabama’s best high school football player ever. “That’s because you never saw Ozzie Newsome in high school,” he’d say.
It’s hard to argue. Newsome led Colbert County to a state title, became a star for Bear Bryant at Alabama and played his way into the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the Cleveland Browns.
Julio Jones, Foley: At the beginning of every football season, I log on to YouTube and re-watch Jones’ high school highlight tape. It’s ridiculous. His punt return touchdown against UMS-Wright – the one where he completely stops and changes direction – showcases his unique blend of size, speed and agility better than any words can.
With apologies to Chad Jackson, Alabama high school football has never produced a better receiver.
Condredge Holloway, Lee-Huntsville: Folks in Huntsville say Condredge Holloway was the best football and best basketball player ever in the history of Alabama high school sports. He was Mike Vick before Mike Vick and Allen Iverson before Allen Iverson.
People who saw Archie Manning play at Ole Miss swear the future NFL star couldn’t do half of the Houdini stuff they saw Holloway do.
And perhaps most importantly, Holloway shattered the cockamamie idea that a black quarterback couldn’t win. Condredge kicked down the door that allowed guys like Walter Lewis and Steve Christopher and scores of African-Americans to play quarterback all over the Deep South.
The Palmer-Williams Group hosts Emmitt Smith during a fundraiser at The Grounds on Thursday, June 15, 2017, in Mobile, Ala. The organization was started by former Alabama standouts David Palmer and Sherman Williams, pictured, with the aim of "helping today's youth see a better tomorrow." (Mike Kittrell | AL.com)
RANDY KENNEDY
David Palmer, QB, Jackson-Olin: The other three spots on Mt. Rushmore can be debated. But if you don’t include Palmer it’s because you didn’t see him play. He’s the best and most electrifying high school football player in Alabama history.
Steven Coleman, RB, Pike County: Coleman was a complete player for the state champion Bulldogs. He scored every way possible — offense, defense and special teams — on his way to 90 career touchdowns.
Sherman Williams, RB, Blount: Compare Williams’ 3,004 rushing yards in 1990 to some other state greats such as Bo Jackson (1,173 as senior). Williams won championships at every level of football from youth league to the NFL, including during his dominant high school career.
Cornelius Bennett, LB, Ensley: Bennett rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a senior, yet the debate was whether he should be a linebacker or a tight end. Bennett was the first state player widely recognized as a 5-star recruit by fans.
Etowah's Carnell Williams, right, stiff-arms his way past Williamson defender Demetrius Howze in the first quarter of the Class 5A state championship Dec. 3, 1999, in Birmingham, Ala. ( John David Mercer | AL.com file)AP
BEN THOMAS
Unlike my wise counterparts, I do not have David Palmer on my list. While I believe all that is written about his legacy, I never saw him play in high school in person. So, here are my four:
Carnell Williams, RB, Etowah: He earned the nickname “Cadillac” in high school when he was almost unstoppable in Attalla. He was as smooth a runner as I’ve ever seen on that level. It didn’t change much when he got to Auburn.
Tyler Johnston, QB, Spanish Fort: The prototypical, great high school football player. He never lost. Not once. How many prep players can say that? Johnston was 35-0 as a starting QB for the Toros with a pair of state championships to his name. It may have been a three-peat had Johnston’s junior year not been cut short because of an ACL injury.
Jamarcus Russell, QB, Williamson: While I realize Jamarcus didn’t live up to being the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, he was phenomenal in high school and that is what we are talking about here. He still holds the AHSAA record for passing yards in a career with 10,774. He also led the Lions to the state championship game as a freshman.
Mac Campbell, RB, Alexandria: Campbell ranks right there with Carnell Williams in my book as one of the best I’ve seen. Opponents knew he was getting the ball and still couldn’t stop him. He finished his career with 153 total touchdowns – second only to Wadley’s Terrance Wilkes in the AHSAA record book – and a state-record 143 rushing TDs. He also holds the AHSAA record for career rushing yards with 9,839.