Jackson star and Alabama signee EJ Crowell has been named the Alabama Gatorade Player of the Year.
Crowell will lead the Aggies against Anniston today in Birmingham in the Class 4A state championship game.
Entering today’s game, Crowell has rushed for 2,324 yards and 30 touchdowns on 184 carries. He is averaging 178 yards a game and more than 12 yards a carry.
“EJ has played all season long with a fierce intensity and a desire for contact,” Jackson coach Cody Flournoy said in a Gatorade release. “This aggressive style has led to punishing runs against the defense. He also has elite speed. Add to that his unnatural balance and pure strength and you end up with a 5-star running back who stands out versus all competition.”
RELATED: Today in the Super 7
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington D.C., in 12 different sports. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the winners n each sport.
Former Elba star and current Auburn running back Alvin Henderson won the Alabama Gatorade honor last season. Crowell committed to Alabama this summer and officially signed with the Crimson Tide on Wednesday. He is the No. 1 player on AL.com’s Best in Bama, a list of the top recruits in Alabama regardless of classification.
He also is expected to be a leading contender for this year’s Alabama Sports Writers Association Mr. Football Award, which will be announced next month.