Four county student-athletes have been selected for the Alabama Sports Writers Association 2005 Play-er/Back/Lineman of the Year awards.

Cedar Bluff senior running back Jeremy Bryant, Cherokee County senior receiver Damion Chambers, Cedar Bluff junior lineman Austin Hayes and Cherokee County senior lineman Brad Weaver are eligible for the prestigious honors.

Each finalist is an automatic first-team All-State selection.

A 2004 Class 1A Back of the Year finalist, Bryant this year rushed for 2,585 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also caught 26 passes for 343 yards and four touchdowns. He and Hayes helped the Tigers to a school-record 12 wins and a spot in the Class 1A quarterfinals.

Chambers is a finalist for the Class 3A Back of the Year. Chambers had 55 receptions for 855 yards and 11 touchdowns. He and Weaver helped the Warriors go 13-1 and reach the Class 3A championship game.

Hayes is a finalist for the Class 1A Lineman of the Year. He recorded 100 tackles and five sacks at defensive end while also starting at offensive tackle.

Weaver is a finalist for Class 3A Lineman of the Year. A pulling guard, he graded 73 or above while opening holes for many of Hershel Houston’s 1,869 yards and 25 touchdowns.

"It’s a huge deal when any of your kids get nominated for an award like this one,” said CCHS Tom Curry. “Kids get nominated because their teams do well. Kids don’t get considered if their team goes 0-10. These are individual awards, but it’s a team job that gets them recognized.”

“With Jeremy, it’s a great honored to be a finalist two straight years,” said Cedar Bluff head coach Steve Smith. “With so much previous success, his work ethic could have dropped off and he could have gotten complacent, but he had a good a year as any running back around. Austin was a big part of an offensive line that paved the way for Jeremy’s yards. He graded out over 93 percent and didn’t allow any sacks, so he’s very deserving.”

Cedar Bluff’s Josh Hampton was a 2004 finalist for 1A Back of the Year, while Cedar Bluff’s Josh Moten won named 2002 1A Back of the Year.

Bryant’s fellow finalists are Wadley receiver Terrell Zachery and American Christian quarterback Chris Smelley.

Chambers fellow finalists are Pike County running back James Jackson and Oneonta running back Anthony Mostella.

Hayes’ fellow finalists are Autaugaville lineman Brian Motley and Brantley linebacker Jeffrey Daniels.

Weaver’s fellow finalists are Oneonta lineman Joe Willie Whited and Colbert County lineman Jermarcus Ricks.

Player of the Year winners will be announced at a Dec. 13 banquet at Birmingham-Southern College