Meet the Standout Players of the 2023 All-Elmore County Football Team

The highlights that throughout the 2023 football season of stunnng comeback wins, game-winning Hail Mary’s and more were spread across the county. Looking at this county alone, four of the six teams qualified for playoffs this year. There were also many individual successes from our best players.

The 2023 All-Elmore County Football Team features Offensive Player of the Year Nate Rogers, Defensive Player of the Year Donnie Arnold and Two-Way Player of the year Gabe LeMaster.

For leading Holtville to a 7-4 record and a home playoff game in his last season, Jason Franklin is the Elmore County Coach of the Year.

This is your complete All-Elmore County Football Team.

FIRST TEAM

QB: Nate Rogers, Wetumpka

In his three years as Wetumpka’s starting quarterback, Rogers has been outstanding. With Kozol at the helm this year, he led his Indians to their third straight playoff appearance. His passing numbers were 1,343 yards and eight touchdowns; in rushing it was an amazing figure of 1,630 yards and a huge total of 28 monster-laden TDs.

QB: Keiland Baker, Holtville

Following an All-State campaign last season, Baker attracted the notice of everyone entering his junior year. He failed to fail, completing 114 of his county-topping 201 passes for a Virginia high in passing yards (thee yard) and touchdowns. He added 345 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns.

RB: Arthur McQueen, Stanhope Elmore

Every single Friday night the star running back of Stanhope Elmore lit up the field with 100 yards or more in nine out of ten games he played. This season, the junior back ran for 1.420 yards and amassed 1.705 all purpose yards while crossing into the end zone on a baker's dozen of occasions.

RB: CJ Wilkes, Elmore County

Missing a few games due to an injury, and not playing at 100 % all season long, wilkes once again demonstrated his skills as ball carrier. The senior rushed only 99 times but converted that into 677 yards and nine touchdowns. He also had to play a little defense this year, with 39 tackles and 1 sack.

WR: Jabari Murphy, Elmore County

Jabari Murphy again displayed his superior receiving skills as he racked up 37 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns. He also played running back, and rushed for 363 yards and five touchdowns. He was named to the AHSAA North-South All-Star Football Classic team for his season.

WR: Erik Adkins, Holtville

In addition to an already illustrious career, Erik Adkins enjoyed a stellar senior season. This speedy receiver caught a county-high 41 passes for 586 yards and four TDs. Rushing the ball too, he announced his presence with two touchdowns.

ATH: Cade Everson, Elmore County

Wearing a Panthers' uniform, Cade Everson became yet another game changer early in his career like he had been at Tallassee. The senior receiver-running back and quarterback from Elmore County led the team in scoring with 21 touchdowns. He had a rushing total of 698 yards, receiving 437 and passing another 125.

ATH: Brock Whitt, Edgewood Academy

Edgewood sophomore do-it-all player Whitt, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall, played quarterback and tight end on offense as well as receiver on defense. He also lined up at defensive line or outside linebacker when the situation called for it this year. He had 5 rushing TDs, 1 receiving touchdown and two passing ones. On defense he had 70 tackles, 12 for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. He also blocked two field goals and one punt.

OL: Clark Barker, Wetumpka

Right guard for the Indians, Barker helped run an impressive rushing attack. Barker had the most pancake blocks among his teammates with 11, and he was selected as one of the state's top offensive linemen to play in the AHSAA Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic.

OL: Tristan Gulledge, Holtville

This summer Gulledge jumped onto the radars all over looking for camps, and then turned in one of the most dominant senior campaigns of the whole state. This year the Holtville tackle graded out at a county-high 91 % with 88 pancake blocks. All season he allowed just one sack.

OL: Jonathan Thames, Elmore County

But this year there weren't many better offensive linemen than Jonathan Thames. The 6-foot-6 senior helped Elmore County make back to back playoff appearances, and recording a team best pancake blocks categories with 43. His grade came out at 88 %, and he allowed only one sack all season.

OL: Macin James, Stanhope Elmore

James is only a sophomore, making him the youngest offensive lineman to make this list. Grading at 84 % playing both guard and center, he helped the Mustangs rush for over 200 yards per game. In the year he recorded 17 pancake blocks and gave up no sacks.

OL: Zayne Talley, Edgewood Academy

a great year: edgewood's junior offensive tackle helped the Wildcats to reach at least the first round of theAISA Class AA playoffs. Talley went the entire year playing defensive line and graded out at 83 %. On defense he had 76 tackles, with 17 of them behind the line scrimmage and two sacks.

OL: Braden Arnold, Tallassee

With his career coming to a close in the trenches for Tallassee, Arnold again showed just how tough an offensive lineman could be. Arnold was the best offensive lineman for their strong rushing attacks this season, leading them to victory.

DL: Donnie Arnold, Stanhope Elmore

This year Arnold led the county in sacks, and would have had more if he hadn't been switched to hybrid linebacker midway through the season. However, this move didn't prevent Arnold from picking up 16.5 sacks as well as piling up 60 tackles, 31 quarterback pressures and another baker's dozen of takedowns (for losses).

DL: Ethan Bailey, Wetumpka

For Wetumpka this year, no one was as dominant as Ethan Bailey. The junior defensive end collected 61 total tackles, including a team-best one third (9) of Wetumpka ’ s sacks last season. He also had eight times the pressure on quarterbacks and forced three fumbles this year than in his first two years combined with six tactile hits behind the line plays to bring down ball carriers added up quickly for him at He also forced 3 fumbles.

DL: Brandon White, Elmore County

Brandon White chose to play football this year, and head coach Kyle Caldwell is very happy that he made the decision. A senior defensive end, he spent this year living in opposing backfields: 57 tackles; 12 tackles for loss; 8 sacks; and even two interceptions.

DL: Anthony Chunn, Holtville

After only 10 games, Anthony Chunn was making himself felt as he kept getting into opposing backfields. He finished with 58 total tackles, 18 of them for loss and a team best-leading dozen sacks.

DL: Thomas Williams, Stanhope Elmore

Now, Williams was the other half of Stanhope Elmore 's two-headed monster of defensive ends this year. How about the senior who racked up 57 total tackles along with 12.5 sacks, 16 quarterback pressures, 18 QB hits and a fumble forced? And don't forget those Touchdowns he scored in on special teams play!

LB: Cleangelo Peake, Wetumpka

Although injured he'd missed some time, Peake still delivered one the most all-around years any defensive player could produce in the county. The junior wrapped up the season with 55 tackles, seven for loss and three-and one half sacks; he also had two interceptions and forced a fumble.

LB: Luke Strength, Holtville

If a tackle was being made by Holtville ’ s defense, it would be nearly certain that Luke Strength had at least some part of the involvement. This ball hawk recorded 122 tackles and 8 tackles for loss, along with two sacks and interceptions as he flew around the field this year. He also blocked three punts and four PATs.

LB: Parker Shaw, Edgewood Academy

Playing both sides of the ball at high level, it always seemed as if Parker Shaw was in and around that football. He had 121 total tackles (83 solo). Added 6 tackles for loss. He led the squad with 441 yards on the ground and 3 scores.

LB: Jackson Mann, Elmore County

He might only be a junior, but Mann is already one of the county's top players and flies around to play football. There were also 60 tackles, including 11 for loss; three forced fumbles and eight passes defended. He even blocked one punt and one field goal this year!

LB: KamRan Anderson, Stanhope Elmore

Called upon by his coaches to play a hybrid role as both linebacker and defensive end, KamRan Anderson was all over the field for the Mustangs. In doing so, he concluded the season with a team-best 71 tackles (9 for loss), 5.5 sacks and eight quarterback pressures.

LB: Joseph Hooks, Tallassee

For the second-straight season, Hooks was a bright spot on Tallassee ’ s defense. A senior linebacker, he made his presence felt not only on defense as one of the top tacklers in the squad but also from scrimmage where he ranked among team’s best running backs.

DB: Gabe LeMaster, Edgewood Academy

As with his career to this point, LeMaster was a ballhawk in the secondary for his final season. A 72-tackle, county high seven interceptions offensive safety. There he added three tackles for loss as well On offense he contributed 786 total yards and seven touchdowns, with a kickoff return for another score.

DB: Orenthal Martin, Stanhope Elmore

In the pass game, Orenthal was an elite defender; in the run game he wasn't too shabby either. He ends his high school football career with 58 total tackles (34 solo), 6 Tackle For Loss, eight passes defended and one interception. In addition, he blocked a punt and returned it for a defensive touchdown.

DB: Jayden Bennett, Wetumpka

This season, he played a double role as halfback and strong safety. Bennett was particularly adept at thwarting the throw. Complementing his 23 total tackles, Bennett led the team with 7 pass breakups including a sack and forced fumble.

DB: Cedrick Croskey, Holtville

Croskey hit on all three fronts in the game, but his best work came intercepting passes in Holtville’s secondary. The junior cornerback led the team with 3 interceptions and had 3 forced fumbles to go along with his 56 total tackles.

K: Colby Beyer, Stanhope Elmore

Standout junior season Beyer took full advantage of every opportunity given to him. The star kicker was 36 of 37 in PATs and converted 4 of his six field goals. He also was the team's punter, averaging 33.4 yards per punt for the season.

P: Elijah Headley, Holtville

Elijah Headley kept flipping the field, putting Holtville’s defense in good positions. Headley, in 27 punt attempts on the season was good for an average of 35 yards per boot. He also dropped opposing offenses inside their own twenty yard line a total of nine times. As a receiver he had 18 catches for 279 yards and five TDs.

Returner: Jamarion Thrasher, Wetumpka

Jamarion Thrasher is known as one of the fastest gamers in the county, and this year he proved it with his returns. He averaged 27.1 yards on 18 returns and scored two touchdowns. His offensive totals were 637 yards and 3 touchdowns.

HONORABLE MENTION

EDGEWOOD ACADEMY: OL Jackson Hudson, LB Cooper Freeman and OL/DL Will Reeves.

ELMORE COUNTY: Caleb Spivey (DE), Connor Pike (LB), Trevor Brown (OL), Ryals McNeely (QB) and Luke Reinert(DL).

HOLTVILLE: Dok Barton (DL/OL), Hunter Chavis (RB), Carson Reese (OL) Josh Jimenez LB/RB, Clifford Edwards OL.

STANHOPE ELMORE: Jamari Coleman (WR), Dashaun Caffee (DB), Bunny Jackson (DL) and Xavier Foxhall(OL).

TALLASSEE: RB/WR Jaiden McKenzie, QB Trent Morris, K Alec Carswell. RB/LB Christian McCary; OL Ja'Twon Griffin.

WETUMPKA: Mike Dillard (RB/LB), Malik Owens (WR), Ethan Blake (DL). Davin Lee, JD Denmark. Patrick Barfoot.