By Rubin E. Grant
Hoover junior running back Larry McCammon set a number of personal goals before the start of the 2017 high school football season.
• He wanted to run for 1,000 yards. Check. He ran for 1,498 yards on 185 carries.
• He wanted to score at least 20 touchdowns. Check. He scored 21.
• He wanted to win another state championship. Triple check. The Bucs trounced McGill-Toolen 48-20 to capture their second consecutive Class 7A title.
“I think my season was kind of successful,” McCammon said in an understatement.
The 6-foot, 190-pound McCammon accomplished each of his goals despite splitting time in the backfield with Vonte Brackett and Jacquez Allen.
“It wasn’t really difficult,” McCammon said. “I just ran behind big (6-4, 300-pound senior guard) Michael Maye and the rest of our offensive line, and we had good coaching.”
For his efforts, McCammon is the Over the Mountain Journal’s Co-Offensive Player of the Year along with Mountain Brook quarterback Hamp Sisson.
“Larry’s a phenomenal player,” Hoover coach Josh Niblett said.
McCammon had two of his best games in the semifinals and final. He rushed for 196 yards on 32 carries and scored three touchdowns as Hoover beat Thompson 31-12 in the semifinals, avenging a regular season loss to the Warriors.
In the championship game against McGill, McCammon rushed for 109 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries.
The 2017 season was only the second season for McCammon as a running back. He played linebacker as a freshman. In fact, when he talks about his style of running, he sounds as if he’s still playing linebacker.
Explosive
“I think I’m explosive, aggressive and powerful,” McCammon said.
Following his sophomore season, McCammon went to work on his physique.
“I spent a lot of time in the weight room,” he said. “I wanted to get bigger and more explosive.”
McCammon also gave up basketball. “I wanted to just focus on one sport,” he said.
That appears to be the right decision. With his senior season ahead of him next fall, McCammon already has received scholarship offers from Arkansas State, Chattanooga, UAB, Troy, Jacksonville State and Liberty.
“I don’t think it’s going to be too hard to decide,” he said. “I just have to decide what’s the best place for me.”
