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The 2024 All-Messenger Football team is full of talented athletes, many of which will be playing at the college level in the coming years.

This year’s All-Messenger team is headlined by the area’s Most Valuable Player, Charles Henderson senior Jywon Boyd. Boyd, who recently signed to play college football at Troy, also earned All-State honors for the second consecutive season. This year, he grabbed 62 catches for 1,025 yards and 14 touchdowns along with 334 yards and four touchdowns rushing. He also returned 15 kickoffs for 398 yards and two touchdowns and earned 44 tackles and three interceptions on defense.

The All-Messenger Offensive Player of the Year is the area’s leading rusher, Goshen senior Jamauri McClure, who will play college football at Tulane. McClure led the Goshen offense with 1,618 yards and 25 touchdowns as a senior. McClure also earned First-Team All-State honors.

The 2023 All-Messenger Defensive Player of the Year, for the second consecutive season, is junior Charles Henderson defensive end Zion Grady. Grady committed to play college football at Alabama earlier this year and finished his junior campaign as First-Team All-State and a finalist for the 5A Lineman of the Year for the second consecutive season. He finished the season with 82 tackles, 27 tackles-for-loss, 11 sacks, 22 quarterback hurries and an interception return for a touchdown.

The 2023 All-Messenger Coach of the Year is Goshen head coach Don Moore, who guided the Eagles back to the playoffs for the first time in three years and led GHS to its most wins since 2017.

At quarterback on the All-Messenger Offense is Charles Henderson senior Parker Adams and Goshen junior Jayden McNabb. Adams, who holds scholarship offers to schools like Alabama State, finished his CHHS career with a stellar season throwing for 2,116 yards and 22 touchdowns on 140-of-229 passing. McNabb wowed with his legs as much as his arm, rushing for 1,062 yards and 14 touchdowns on 109 carries, while also throwing for 464 yards and five touchdowns on 30-of-52 passing.

At running back on the All-Messenger Offense, McClure is joined by Pike County junior Nemo Williams, who also earned All-State honorable mention after rushing for 1,121 yards and 10 touchdowns on 220 carries in just seven games.

At receiver, Boyd is joined by Pike County sophomore Braylin Jackson and Goshen senior Tyler McLendon. Jackson caught 18 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns along with rushing for 300 yards and four touchdowns. He also returned both a kickoff and punt for touchdowns and recorded two interceptions on defense. McLendon hauled in 14 passes for 269 yards and five touchdowns with three rushing touchdowns and two punt return scores.

Rounding out the skill players on the All-Messenger Offense is junior Charles Henderson tight end Noah Greene, who grabbed 24 catches for 427 yards and six touchdowns after returning from a knee injury that wiped out his entire sophomore season.

The All-Messenger offensive line is anchored by All-State linemen in Charles Henderson senior Benton Dunn and Ariton junior Jamarion Govan. Govan allowed zero sacks as a senior and was Ariton’s leader on the offensive line, while Dunn also didn’t give up a sack and earned 52 pancake blocks.

Rounding out the offensive line is Pike County junior Bubba Williams, Pike County senior Joseph Wilkerson and Zion Chapel senior Malachi McNeil.

On the All-Messenger Defense, Grady headlines a defensive line that also features Charles Henderson senior Zarion Mack, Pike County senior Joseph Wilkerson and Goshen senior Kamauri Lampley. Mack finished the season with 37 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, one sack, two interceptions and three forced fumbles, while Wilkerson tallied 33 tackles, three tackles-for-loss and a sack. Lampley wrapped up his senior campaign with 54 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss and four sacks, as well.

The Messenger’s coverage area is filled to the brim with talented linebackers and the All-Messenger’s linebackers are headlined by All-State linebackers Landon Chandler from Goshen and Trevor Johnston of Ariton. Johnston earned 132 tackles, 17 tackles-for-loss, three sacks and an interception, while Chandler led the Goshen defense with 133 tackles, 17 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Joining them on the All-Messenger Defense is Zion Chapel sophomore Brayden Benbow (124 TKL, 12 TFL, 2 sacks), Pike Lib junior Pruitt Vaughn (148 TKL, 7 TFL, 4 sacks, 1 INT) and Charles Henderson senior Jalen Suddith (58 TKL, 9 TFL, 3 sacks, 5 QBH).

Boyd also headlines the All-Messenger defensive backs alongside Ariton senior Ian Senn (66 TKL, 5 TFL, 4 INT, 1 TD), Pike Lib junior Kade Brookins (99 TKL, 5 TFL, 2 sacks, 6 INT) and Zion Chapel junior Joseph LeGear (36 TKL, 4 INT).

Charles Henderson senior kicker/punter Nik Peerson, who earned All-State honors, mans the specialists after converting 13-of-16 field goals and 28-of-31 PATs this season.

The All-Messenger has two “Athlete” positions and an “All-Purpose” spot this season with the two Athletes filled by Ariton’s Senn and Goshen junior Szemerick Andrews. Both of these players filled numerous roles for their teams. Senn played quarterback, running back, receiver, defensive back and place kicked. On offense he rushed for 1,003 yards and eight touchdowns along with catching 14 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. He also completed 115-of-164 passes for 1,208 yards and 13 touchdowns. He returned 20 kickoffs for 310 yards and one score.

Andrews rushed for 731 yards and 11 touchdowns along with earning 62 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, four sacks and an interception on defense, as well.

The All-Purpose spot is manned by Zion Chapel athlete Mason Stuart, who became the first Rebel to throw for 1,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in the same season. He also played defensive end, long snapper and place kicker. He rushed for 1,293 yards and 15 touchdowns along with completing 64-of-121 passes for 1,160 yards and 10 touchdowns. On defense, he earned 37 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and two sacks.

2023 All-Messenger Team
OFFENSE
QB Parker Adams, Sr., Charles Henderson
QB Jayden McNabb, Jr., Goshen
RB Jamauri McClure, Sr., Goshen
RB Nemo Williams, Jr., Pike County
OL Jamarion Govan, Jr., Ariton
OL Bubba Williams, Jr., Pike County
OL Joseph Wilkerson, Sr., Pike County
OL Malachi McNeil, Sr., Zion Chapel
OL Benton Dunn, Sr., Charles Henderson
WR Jywon Body, Sr., Charles Henderson
WR Braylin Jackson, So., Pike County
WR Tyler McLendon, Sr., Goshen
TE Noah Greene, Jr., Charles Henderson
ATH Ian Senn, Sr., Ariton

DEFENSE
DL Zion Grady, Jr., Charles Henderson
DL Zarion Mack, Sr., Charles Henderson
DL Joseph Wilkerson, Sr., Pike County
DL Kamauri Lampley, Sr., Goshen
LB Brayden Benbow, So., Zion Chapel
LB Landon Chandler, Jr., Goshen
LB Pruitt Vaughan, Jr., Pike Liberal Arts
LB Trevor Johnston, Sr., Ariton
LB Jalen Sudith, Sr., Charles Henderson
DB Jywon Body, Charles Henderson
DB Joseph LeGear, Jr., Zion Chapel
DB Ian Senn, Sr., Ariton
DB Kade Brookins, Jr., Pike Liberal Arts
ATH Szemerick Andrews, Jr., Goshen

SPECIALISTS
K/P Nik Peerson, Sr., Charles Henderson
AP Mason Stuart, Sr., Zion Chapel