If Alabama High School Football had a Heisman Trophy
Three finalists sit at a ceremony in New York City, surrounded by media, parents, coaches, and fans. They are dressed up more than any other day of their collegiate careers. It is an honor to be there, but only one name will be called.
“And the Heisman goes to…”
Everyone in sports, particularly those entrenched in the world of college football, knows the prestige that comes with winning the Heisman Trophy. To be named the greatest player in the NCAA that season is a well-earned and unforgettable moment of immense pride.
What if the Heisman was awarded to someone in high school, more specifically, someone from the state of Alabama? The Yellowhammer state is bursting with high school talent and is quickly garnering as much attention as the traditional powerhouses of Texas, Florida, and Georgia.
If there were an high school Heisman, this year’s would be awarded to Armoni Goodwin.
After missing all but three games of his junior year due to a knee injury, the senior running back from Hewitt-Trussville High School has been nearly unstoppable this season. At 5-foot-8 and 190-pounds, Goodwin has the perfect build for a successful player at his position.
Hewitt-Trussville head coach Josh Floyd called Goodwin “the most explosive back I’ve ever coached.”
In 11 games, ending with the Huskies’ loss to Thompson High in the second round of the state playoffs, Goodwin had 152 carries for 1,424 yards and 18 touchdowns. With that many carries, it is not unreasonable to expect a few fumbles here and there. Goodwin had only one.
That is not his only statistic that far outpaces the national average, according to MaxPreps. With an average of 9.4 yards per carry and 129.5 yards per game, he was a staple in this season’s “Husky Fast” offense.
His longest rush of the season came against James Clemens High School when he took off for 74 yards. With 148 yards rushing and three touchdowns on just seven carries, he was named the Offensive Player of the Game. That game was one of seven that Goodwin reached the 100-yard rushing mark.
Goodwin has also garnered plenty of hype on the recruiting trail. He received a plethora of offers from schools including Alabama, LSU, and Tennessee, among others. Ranked by 247Sports as a four-star and the No. 4 overall player in the state, he has been committed to play under coach Gus Malzahn and company at Auburn University since May 2019.
His football career with the Huskies is now over, and he will soon become a Tiger. However, Goodwin has definitely left his mark on the Hewitt-Trussville program.
If an Alabama high school Heisman were awarded this season, Armoni Goodwin stands out as a very solid choice.
