By Paul Beaudry

For The ASWA

Defense wins championships, as the old sports adage goes. Defense also leads the way when it comes to the Alabama Sports Writers Association Super 12 football selections.

Seven of the 12 came from the defensive side of the ball and four of the seven belong to schools in the state’s largest classification – Class 6A. The Super 12 was chosen by a voting panel of ASWA sports writers earlier this month in conjunction with selection of the group’s all-state teams and Mr. Football award.

The 28th Mr. Football Award had been scheduled for release Christmas morning along with the Super 12, but will be revealed next month after Birmingham-based Hibbett Sports picked up sponsorship of the award, allowing the ASWA to continue its banquet tradition.

In addition to seven of the players playing defense, nine players are also seniors, along with three juniors.

SEC schools have football commitments from five players; three defensive backs – Deshler’s Deion Belue, Prattville’s Nick Perry and Stanhope Elmore’s Demarcus Milliner have committed to Alabama, while Cordova running back Ryan Smith is headed for Kentucky and Greenville defensive lineman Kenneth Carter has committed to Auburn. Class 6A accounts for four of the selections, while two are from Class 5A, three from 4A and one each from Classes 3A, 2A and 1A.

The ASWA Super 12 are (listed in alphabetical order, with their all-state positions): Deion Belue, Deshler, Sr., Athlete, Coty Blanchard, Cherokee County, Sr., QB, Fred Carter, Gadsden City, Sr., DL, Kenneth Carter, Greenville, Sr., DL, Kendarius Fritts, Linden, Jr., RB, DaMarcus James, Demopolis, Jr., RB, C.J. Mosley, Theodore, Sr., LB, Nick Perry, Prattville, Sr., DB, Demarcus Milliner, Stanhope Elmore, Sr., DB, Shaquille Roberson, Reeltown, Jr., LB, Quail Rutledge, Bibb County, Sr., RB and Ryan Smith, Cordova, Sr., RB.