SPORTS LEDGER Established 2006 The PAGE 1B November 2025 Read More Online at www.thesportsledger.com
Four Alabama Players Are National Award Candidates Kalen DeBoer on "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Watch List By Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger Four University of Alabama football players have been selected as semifinalist candidates for various post season awards. Alabama’s Ty Simpson is one of 13 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award, which is presented to the most outstanding player in college football. Finalists for the Maxwell Award will be announced on Nov. 27 before the 2025 winner is announced on Dec. 11 as part of the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show. Alabama has produced five Maxwell Award winners since 2013, including AJ McCarron (2013), Derrick Henry (2015), Tua Tagovailoa (2018), DeVonta Smith (2020) and Bryce Young (2021). Alabama Freshman Cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. has been named a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Lee Jr. is one of 14 semifinalists for the Alexander, an award presented to the most outstanding freshman college player. He has played in all eight of the Crimson Tides football games during his rookie campaign. He has 19 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss (-12 yards), to go with two pass breakups and one interception. Also, he has surrendered just eight receptions on 17 targets (47.1 percent) for 90 yards in 181 coverage snaps according to Pro Football Focus, equating to just a 58.5 passer rating. Finalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award will be announced on December 3 before the 2025 recipient is announced on December 30. A formal presentation of the trophy will be made at the Maxwell Football Club Awards on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, GA. Alabama has produced two Alexander Award winners in the honor’s six-year existence, with Will Anderson Jr. garnering the distinction in 2020 and Caleb Downs in 2023. Kadyn Proctor has been named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award. Proctor is one of 13 semifinalists for the Lombardi, which is presented annually to the college football offensive or defensive lineman who, in addition to outstanding performance and ability, best exemplifies the character and discipline of NFL Hall of Famer Vince Lombardi. The Crimson Tide's Junior Left Tackle has an intimidating presence on the left side of the Alabama offensive line. He has started all nine games at left tackle, helping the Crimson Tide to a 8-1 start and a perfect 6-0 mark in SEC prior to the playing Oklahoma. Proctor protects for an Alabama offensive attack that before the LSU game was averaging 410.5 yards of total offense and 34.4 points per game. Alabama has had three Lombardi winners in program history including Cornelius Bennett (1986), Jonathan Allen (2016) and most recently Will Anderson Jr. (2022). Deontae Lawson is a semifinalist for the 2025 Dick Butkus Award. Lawson is among 12 semifinalists vying for the Butkus, which is given annually to the nation’s top linebacker. Four Crimson Tide players have won the award previously with Reuben Foster taking home the hardware most recently in 2016. Joining Foster on the list of Alabama linebackers to capture the honors are C.J. Mosley (2013), Rolando McClain (2009) and Derrick Thomas (1988). Lawson is a Redshirt Senior Linebacker and is the Crimson Tide’s signal-caller on the defense. He Directs a defensive unit that has allowed an average of just 18.3 points per game and 312.1 yards per game, with both figures ranking in the top 25 nationally prior to the Crimson Tide's dominating 20-9 victory over LSU. Before that rivalry match- up, Lawson had 47 tackles in eight games, which was second-most among all Tide defenders. Joining the four Alabama players as a candidate for a national award this season is second year Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, who has been named to the “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award Watch List. The Crimson Tide head coach is among 28 college football head coaches selected as a candidate for the prestigious honor, which is given to a coach whose contributions make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field. The winner of the 2025 Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award will be announced on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, during the Association’s annual Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Awards ceremony, in Houston, Texas. The ceremony, presented by Houston's Memorial Hermann Health System, will be broadcast on the CBS Sports Network. Alabama has had two previous winners of the Bryant Award, first with Gene Stallings in 1992 followed by Nick Saban in 2020.
Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
Members of the Boaz Girls Flag football team, including Piper Hales (#4), Arleigh Kate Mitchell (#14), and Jayle Camper (#2) receive coaching instructions during the second round of the state playoffs on Tuesday, November 13, 2025. The Lady Pirates flag football team advanced to the Elite 8 for the second consecutive year with a 27-6 victory over Wenonah. Boaz defeated Fultondale 46-0 in the opening round of the playoffs. The Lady Pirates' third round playoff game was scheduled to be played at John Carroll Catholic. Jax State moves to 6-0 in CUSA with win over Kennesaw State Boaz girls advance in playoffs
Brandon K. Pierce The Sports Ledger Jacksonville State caught a hail mary pass for a touchdown as time expired in the first half to take a 22-10 lead over Kennesaw State in a CUSA showdown on Saturday, November 15, 2025 at AmFirst Stadium. The Gamecocks went on to win the game 35-26. With the win, Jax State improved to 7-3 overall and the Gamecocks remain undefeated in conference action with a perfect 6-0 record. Jacksonville also moved into first place in the conference as the Gamecocks are the only remaining CUSA team without a conference loss this season. Following the 22- 10 halftime lead, the Gamecocks momentum carried over into the second half. Jax State scored at the 6:56 mark of the third quarter, when Garrison Rippia kicked a 32-yard field goal. The score capped off a 10 play, 51-yard drive and gave the Gamecocks a 25-10 advantage. KSU added a 25-yard field goal with 2:49 left in the third quarter. Neither team scored again in the period as the Gamecocks took a 25-13 lead in the fourth quarter. Both teams traded touchdowns early in the final period to move the score to 32-19. Kennesaw State made it a one-score game, 32-26, on a 9-yard touchdown run by Dexter Williams with 3:22 remaining. Rippa has had several games this season where
Jax State's Cam Cook (#4) against KSU Photo by Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
he had the opportunity to seal the win for Jax State. That happened again on Saturday, as he kicked a 27-yard field goal with :21 seconds left in regulation to seal the Gamecocks 35-26 victory over the visiting Owls. Jax State’s defense stepped up big at the right time against Kennesaw State. Despite giving 579 yards to the visiting Owls, the Gamecocks had four interceptions in the game. Caleb Nix hauled in two interceptions, while Walker O’Steen and Marc Woods had one interception each for Jax State. Offensively, QB Caden Creel was the leader the for the Gamecocks. Creel passed for 137 yards and rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Cam Cook also reached the triple digit mark with 127 yards rushing and one touchdown. Gavin Wimsatt was 100% passing, completing his only throw of the night
for a touchdown. However, it might have been the biggest of the game, as it was the 62-yard hail mary scoring pass to Deondre Johnson. The Gamecocks have two CUSA games left this season. Jax State will visit FIU on November 23 at 2:30 p.m., before closing out the regular season at home against Western Kentucky on November 29 at 1 p.m. The loss to Jax State dropped the Owls to 7-3 and 5-1 in CUSA play. It also marked Kennesaw State's first loss since week two of the season, as the Owls were on a six game winning streak. Two different KSU quarterbacks competed against Jax Sate. Amari Oden had 248 yards and three interceptions. Dexter Williams passed for 114 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Both players had a rushing touchdown for the Owls.
Photo Courtesy George Shipman
The winners of the first annual Marshall County 3-point shoot out are Addison Hammond of Guntersville, and Hudson Broadway of DAR.
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