Two Tigers make Academic All-America Team

Hartselle senior JT Blackwood and junior Crawford Lang have been named to the High School Football America All-America Team for 2020-21.

Blackwood will be the Tigers’ starting quarterback this season after passing for more than 1,000 yards and 11 TDs as a junior.

Lang enters his second season as the team’s starting placekicker and punter. He led the team in points with 68, was 44 of 44 on PATs and had a career-best 51-yard field goal in the playoffs against Briarwood Christian.

“I think their selection as Academic All-Americans says everything you need to know about student-athletes at Hartselle,” said Hartselle Coach Bryan Moore. “I am so proud of Crawford and JT. They are both special athletes and special students.”

The Academic All-America Team is the first-ever by High School Football America. Players were chosen from submissions by their coaches for the 2020 fall and 2021 spring seasons.

For a player to be nominated, coaches must submit their GPA, test scores and a description of their contributions on and off the field.

The Academic All-America Team is powered by scoutSMART, which gives student-athletes FIT Scores based on stats, on-field skills and academics. This information is provided to college football coaches, at all levels, around the nation.