Gurley joins list of AP Players of the Year

Tarboro's Todd Gurley II was named as the Associated Press' Player of the Year in football this week. You have to admit, he put on a show this past season - especially toward the end

But he is not the first area player to win the award. 

North Edgecombe's Milton Shaw received the honor in 1991 - a rare feat for a player from a 1-A school.

I had the honor of presenting Shaw with a plaque, in the shape of the state of North Carolina, from AP that was sent to the sports desk during my days with the then-called Rocky Mount Evening Telegram. As I was scheduled to cover a home North Edgecombe basketball game days later, I took the plaque to the game and presented it to him at midcourt during a halftime ceremony.

Now my friend, Tarboro Daily Southerner sports editor Calvin Adkins, will have the honor of doing the same for Gurley sometime in January.

As I glanced at the list of former winners of the award (started in 1983), I can't believe that I got to see 15 of them play at least once - and one of them at Rocky Mount's home field. Wonder if you can guess who "that player" was?

Associated Press Football Player of the Year 

2011—Todd Gurley II, RB, Tarboro

2010—Vad Lee, QB, Durham Hillside

2009—K.P. Parks, RB, West Rowan

2008—Xavier Nixon, OT, Fayetteville Britt

2007—Darius Thomas, QB, West Charlotte

2006—Quan Warley, RB, Thomasville

2005—Quan Warley, RB, Thomasville

2004—Joe Cox, QB, Charlotte Independence

2003—Andre Brown, RB, Greenville Rose

2002—Chris Leak, QB, Charlotte Independence

2001—T.A. McLendon, RB, Albemarle

2000—Chris Leak, QB, Charlotte Independence

1999—Manny Deshauteurs, RB, Brevard

1998—Nick Maddox, RB, Kannapolis Brown

1997—Nick Maddox, RB, Kannapolis Brown

1996—Montrell Coley, RB, Goldsboro

1995—Marcus Reaves, RB, Fayetteville Byrd

1994—Terence Stokes, RB, Bunn

1993—Ernest Tinnin, QB, Burlington Cummings

1992—(tie) Antoine Ikard, RB, Maiden; Maurice Mebane, WR, Burlington Cummings

1991—Milton Shaw, RB, North Edgecombe

1990—Donnie Davis, QB, Burlington Cummings

1989—Mike Thomas, QB-P, Richmond County

1988—Chuckie Burnette, QB, Burlington Cummings

1987—Anthony Barbour, RB, Garner

1986—Robert Siler, RB, Siler City Jordan-Matthews

1985—Alvin Baker, RB, Claremont Bunker Hill

1984—Todd Ellis, QB, Greensboro Page

1983—Darryl McGill, RB, Southern Durham