With the 2012 high school football season complete, one local athlete has found his name mentioned alongside some of the state’s best.

Keith linebacker Damarquis Lumpkin was named to the 2012 Alabama Sports Writers Association All-State football team.

Lumpkin, a senior, was named honorable mention for the Class 1A All-State team by the ASWA.

Lumpkin said it’s an honor to be named to the team.

“It feels great,” Lumpkin said. “Because no one in my family has ever made all-state, and I’m the first in my family who’s ever done it. I just thank God.”

Harry Crum, head football coach of Keith High School, said Lumpkin was a hard-nosed defender for the Bears on defense.

“Defensively, he’s been the anchor of that defensive side of the ball. He made at least 100 tackles in successive years,” Crum said. “He’s hard hitting. The way he’s built — 5’10, 225 pounds — he has good speed, he’s the prototypical mike linebacker. He’s not afraid to stick his nose in the fire and he’ll be one that’s hard to replace.”

Lumpkin also played fullback for the Bears in a season where they started 8-0 and climbed as high as No. 8 in the ASWA state football rankings.

Crum said it’s always good to see one of his players recognized for their efforts and successes on the gridiron.

“It makes you feel good, even though when you coach them your primary goal is to try to coach them to be the best player they can be and to become better young men,” Crum said, “but when one of them gets those kind of accolades, you do feel a certain sense of accomplishment knowing that you were able to be a part of the process of getting them to be the best that they can be.”