Wildcats earn all-state honors

The 2021 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State team was released this weekend and three Enterprise Wildcats earned Class 7A honors.

Enterprise junior running back Mykel Johnson earned first team all-state honors, while senior offensive tackle Harrison Gammill earned second-team honors and sophomore running back Amare Griffin earned honorable mention.

Johnson played in all three phases of the game for Enterprise leading the Wildcat offense with 135 carries for 1,314 yards and a school-record 23 rushing touchdowns on the ground, while he also caught 17 passes for 309 yards and a school-record seven touchdown catches. He also threw a 66-yard touchdown pass. On defense, Johnson earned 11 tackles and one pass breakup. He also averaged 33.5 yards per punt attempt and returned 10 kickoffs for 253 yards and four punts for 49 yards. Johnson totaled 1,991 all-purpose yards and 31 total touchdowns on the season.

Gammill was Enterprise’s leader on the offensive line this season despite being undersized and fighting through a leg injury for the latter part of the season. He and his offensive line led the way for a school-record 4,258 yards rushing – which also led the entire state regardless of classification – and gave up just four sacks all season. The Enterprise rushing attack averaged eight yards per carry and the Wildcat offense as a whole totaled an eye-popping 5,141 yards this season.

Griffin made his first season as a varsity player count as he rushed for 1,284 yards and 16 touchdowns along with catching eight passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. He also returned 20 kickoffs for 386 yards. His 1,795 all-purpose yards and 17 total touchdowns were second on the team only behind Johnson.

Elba senior linebacker Chrystyile Caldwell – who recently signed to play college football at South Alabama – earned first-team honors in Class 2A. Ariton running back Jordan Smith and offensive lineman Tuff Hand also earned 2A second-team honors and quarterback Ian Senn also earned honorable mention. Dale County defensive lineman Christian Ross earned honorable mention in Class 4A. Slocomb running back/linebacker Jaylen Nobles captured first-team honors in Class 3A as an athlete and kicker Asael Morin also earned honorable mention.