Hartselle lineman placed on All-State squad

By Staff
Atchison also honored by ASWA
Nick Johnston, Hartselle Enquirer
Accolades keep rolling in for Brett Byford.
The highly-recruited offensive lineman from Hartselle was named to the All-State Team last week by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
The Birmingham News also placed Byford on its Super All-State First Team.
Byford is rated the 11th best interior offensive lineman in the country by ESPN.com. Rivals.com rates Byford as the 18th best offensive lineman prospect, while he is in the top 25 of any position in the state of Alabama.
Byford, who was out of town at press time, was not available for comment, but the 6-4, 290-pound guard will likely sign with Nebraska early in the new year.
Ben Atchison was also named to the 2002 All-State Team as a linebacker. The senior will play for Jacksonville State next season.
Juwan Ward made the Honorable Mention list at linebacker.
JeMarcus Russell of Williamson was named Mr. Football. Russellville's Jake Tompkins, who the Hartselle Tigers faced twice in the 2002 year, was named to the Super 12 list.
Aaron Sears, also of Russellville, made the Super 12 list along with Tompkins.