Adam McCarley of Phillips High School wins the twelveth annual Mizeman Trophy. Clay Mize presented the trophy on The Score 93.9’s Boomo Bugg Show with Harold Bugg and Brett Beaird. This is the trophy that goes to the little guy with a great big heart, Bugg said just prior to the winner being named. To win the Trophy the player can’t be over six feet tall or over 175 pounds. Coaches from NW Alabama can nominate only one player from their squad and are asked to measure not only height weight and athletic skill, but also the intangible assets such as leadership, ability, work ethic, and character.
Nominees are chosen by their head coach in seven northwest Alabama counties representing over 40 high schools. The counties are Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Marion, Morgan, Lawrence and Winston. Twenty one players were nominated by their respective coaches and three finalists were selected by the votes of sportswriters and broadcasters. As part of the award ceremony, the three finalist and their coaches were invited to be a part of the Boomo Bugg Radio talk Show held on location at Tom Jones Financial who was this year’s title sponsor. The finalist and coaches were Marquez Jones and Coach Bob Godsey from Hartselle High School, Adam McCarley and Coach Gary McCarley, who also happens to be Adam’s father, from Phillips High School and Dez Polk and Coach Royal Carpenter from Speake High School.
In addition to the taking away this year’s Mizeman Trophy, Adam McCarley also earned a $500 college scholarship awarded by Mizeman Trophy Scholarship Fund. McCarley, a QB and defensive back accounted for a total of 3,897 total yards and 50 TD’s. The 5’10”, 150 pounder led the Phillips Bears to 52.4 point per game average while doing double duty as a defensive back where he gathered 8 interceptions. In addition to winning the Mizeman, the Phillips High senior made All State honorable mention as a defensive back as a junior and is a state finalist in 2008 for the Wendy’s High School Heisman award.
McCarley’s main competition for this year’s award came from Marquez Jones of Hartselle High School and Dez Polk of Speake High School. Jones lead his team to a 12-1 record and as a running back, Jones gained 1499 yards rushing on only 215 carries for a 6.97 yard per carry average and 31 TD’s. With a 4.025 GPA Marquez along with his twin brother have been offered a football scholarship to play for the Air Force Academy. Dez Polk of Speake helped his team to the Super Six in Birmingham with first year coach Royal Carpenter, who had been persuaded to come back to the gridiron after a ten year retirement after coaching at Hatton for 30 years. Polk, a two way starter, had 2836 all purpose yards and rushed for 1862 yards on 184 carries for an amazing 10.1 yards per carry and scored 35 TD’s.
Past winners of the Mizeman trophy have been Randal Martin of Rogers in 1997, DJ Minor of Bradshaw in 1998, Nathaniel Knight of Phillips in 1999, Zach Woodford of Brooks in 2000, Daniel Luffman of Lexington in 2001, Dewayne Gunn of Deshler in 2002 and Kiah Brown of Haleyville in 2003, Kurt Kennedy of Red Bay in 2004, Caleb Parker of Addison in 2005, Caleb Graham of Brooks in 2006, and Dominique King of Deshler in 2007. For more information about the Mizeman Trophy and the nominees go to www.mizemantrophy.com. This years title sponsor was Tom Jones Insurance and Financial with six offices in the Southeast.