Baker, Phinizee, Martinez represent RHS football on ASWA Class 5A All-State Team

Three members of the Russellville High School Golden Tiger football team found their way to the 2024 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State Team, which was announced on Saturday, December 21st.

Senior offensive lineman Neyland Baker, junior running back Cameron Phinizee, and senior kicker Manny Martinez were selected by the ASWA to represent RHS on the Class 5A team. Baker and Phinizee were both named to the First Team, the first time Russellville has placed two players on the First Team in the same year since Brent Calloway and Daniel Hollimon back in 2010. Martinez was an Honorable Mention.

“We as coaches send in our nominations and to be selected, to be considered one of the best players in the state, I think it’s a great honor,” Russellville head coach Dustin Goodwin said. “I think it shows the success that your team had because it’s hard to make it if the team’s not successful. But it’s a testament to the hard work and the caliber of players these guys are, and the consistency that they’ve shown day in and day out.

“Really happy for all three of them,” Goodwin added.

The All-State selection was the second one for Phinizee, who was a First Team running back in 2023, as well. The junior tailback, averaging 10.1 yards per carry and 211.9 yards per game over 11 games, finished the 2024 campaign with over 2,300 rushing yards this season and scored 28 touchdowns on the ground. He was the Class 5A Region 7 Offensive Player of the Year this season, an FFP All-Franklin County First Team running back, and he was recently named the Class 5A-7A Player of the Year by a local real estate company and the Athlete of the Year by 256 Sports Radio.

Baker, who officially inked with the University of North Alabama football program on National Signing Day, is Russellville’s first First Team offensive lineman since Edgar Amaya in 2020. The senior big man was the Golden Tigers’ leader in the trenches, helping pave the way for over 3,100 rushing yards and 41 rushing touchdowns. Baker never allowed a sack this past season and graded 93 percent for the year. He’s coming off an appearance in the AHSAA North-South All-Star Game in Mobile where he helped the North All-Stars to a 45-24 victory. Baker was also a 2024 Class 5A All-Region 7 First Team selection and a member of the FFP’s All-Franklin County First Team.

Manny Martinez was an Honorable Mention kicker on the All-State team, Russellville’s first special teams selection since Marvin Betancourt in 2015.

“Everyone knows that Cam is a special talent and people have come to know Neyland; he’s getting the opportunity to play at UNA, so he’s a really good player, as well,” Goodwin said of his running back and offensive lineman. 

“Sometimes kickers can be the scapegoats or the heroes, but, you know, Manny is one of my favorite players on our team,” the head coach added of his special teams all-rounder. “He has a good attitude every day, he shows up and does what he’s asked to do, and he’s a good person.”

Martinez, the Class 5A All-Region 7 First Team kicker and punter, hit 48 of 49 extra point attempts this season and nailed four of his six field goal attempts, the longest of which was over 40 yards. The FFP all-county selection also had seven touchbacks on kickoffs.

“He’s been very consistent. I think he missed one extra point, but with the exception of that I think he hit just about every kick we asked him to make this year. He even hit a 42-yarder in a rain game,” Goodwin said. “He punted for us and he kicked off for us, as well. I thought he did a really, really nice job, and he’s definitely got the talent to help somebody at the next level and I think he deserves that.”

With their performances during the 2024 campaign, Baker, Martinez, and Phinizee join a long, impressive list of All-State players from RHS. All-State nods are a great moment for the individual players, but Goodwin adds it’s acknowledgement that the program can be excited about, too. 

“It’s recognition that the team can be proud of,” Goodwin said. “We like to see our kids have success, and we like other people to notice that success because they put a lot of time and effort in—a lot of blood, sweat and tears into what we ask them to do. There’s a certain level of commitment that’s required to reach your potential, so to see guys recognized for their on-field achievements and the way they produced on Friday nights, it makes us happy because they’re happy. We enjoy seeing guys be successful and get that recognition.”

Since 1960, Golden Tigers have earned ASWA All-State recognition 120 times. According to AHSFHS.org, Russellville has the third-most total all-state players all-time with 160.