Byron Clark Bennett — A.L. Johnson High School — The Demopolis Times Athlete of the Year nominee

Published 12:00 am Saturday, May 17, 2008

Class: Senior

Sports: Football

Athlete on Athlete: &8220;He&8217;s real dependable. I count on him. He gets the line motivated every practice. He works hard at what he does. He loves what he does. He keeps his composure. He&8217;s very dedicated. In the locker room, he&8217;s real animated. He stays crunk.&8221; &8212; A.L. Johnson football player Courtney Peterson

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Coach Speak: &8220;He&8217;s got great accountability. You can definitely depend on him. He works real hard on and off the field. He&8217;s a real good leader. He&8217;s going to do exactly what you ask him to do. He was a three-year starter at his center position. He&8217;s real good. I moved him to linebacker his senior year. He really stepped up there and showed the same intensity he had shown on the offensive side of the ball.&8221; &8212; A.L. Johnson football coach Mose Jones

The Skinny: Regardless of what side of the ball he lined up on, Byron Clark Bennett brought the same intensity every play. A three-year start on the offensive line, his passion for the game&8217;s physicality transcended to a whole new level when he was inserted into the Eagles&8217; linebacking corps. He finished the season as the team&8217;s second leading tackler with a highlight package that included an interception return for a touchdown.