E.A. Sports Today

Oxford pair picked

Oxford’s McCallum, Webb named to Alabama-Mississippi Classic roster

MONTGOMERY – Oxford seniors Kendall McCallum and Clay Webb have been named to the Alabama roster that will play in the 32nd annual Alabama-Mississippi Classic to be played at the Cramton Bowl Dec. 17.

McCallum, a linebacker, is an LSU commitment, while Webb, an offensive lineman, remains uncommitted with numerous offers. Webb has said he would commit in December and enroll early in the college of his choice.

Senior quarterbacks Taulia Tagovailoa of Thompson and Bo Nix of Pinson Valley headline the 40-man Alabama roster.

Alabama holds a 22-9 edge in the series, which began in 1988 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mississippi won last year’s game at Hattiesburg 42-7 – the largest margin of defeat for Alabama in the series history.

Both quarterbacks have had already committed to Southeastern Conference schools with familial connections. Tagovailoa has committed to the University of Alabama, where his brother Tua is currently the starting quarterback. And Nix has committed to Auburn, where his dad and head coach Patrick Nix was a quarterback from 1992-95.

Tagovailoa has compiled an 18-1 record at Thompson High School since moving to Alabaster prior to the 2017 season. He led the state in passing last season completing 287-of-435 passes for 3,820 yards and 36 touchdowns. He is off to an even faster start this season with 1,991 yards passing and was ranked second in the nation heading into last week. He is 144-of-225 with 20 touchdowns and just two interceptions. He has passed for a career-high 507 yards in one game and has thrown for more than 400 yards in two other games.

Nix is 32-2 as a starter since his sophomore season. He led Scottsboro to a 12-1 record in 2016 and guided Pinson Valley to a 15-0 season and the school’s first ever Class 6A state title last year as a junior which completing 196-of-307 passes for 2,872 yards and 35 TDs. He was named Super 7 Class 6A MVP in the finals. This season he is 82-of-156 for 1,194 yards and 13 touchdowns for the Indians (5-1). Nix has passed for 409 yards in one game.

The head coach for Alabama is Hoover’s Josh Niblett. He is 197-50 overall with seven state titles to his credit and will be making his second head-coaching appearance in the All-Star Classic.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login