Wes Neighbors
Class of 1999
Wes Neighbors emerged as one of the most accomplished football players ever to come out of Huntsville. A graduate of Huntsville High School, Neighbors distinguished himself as a dominant offensive lineman whose strength, skill and leadership made him one of the most highly regarded high school players in Alabama.
During his senior season in 1982, Neighbors earned national recognition as a High School All-American. He was also named both the City Football Most Valuable Player and the Alabama State Football Most Valuable Player, honors that reflected his tremendous impact on the field. His performance attracted the attention of college recruiters throughout the country, and he ultimately signed a scholarship to play football at the University of Alabama.
Neighbors quickly established himself as one of the top offensive linemen in the Southeastern Conference. As a freshman he made an immediate impression, earning Most Valuable Player honors in the Sun Bowl following the 1983 season. His ability to dominate the line of scrimmage and protect the quarterback made him a cornerstone of Alabama’s offense.
Over the course of his college career, Neighbors earned numerous honors. He received All-American recognition as a sophomore and was named to the All-American second team during both his junior and senior seasons. In addition, he was selected to the All-SEC team in his final two years at Alabama.
Perhaps the most prestigious honor of his career came when he received the Jacobs Blocking Trophy during his senior season, recognizing him as the Southeastern Conference’s top offensive lineman.
Neighbors has always credited his success to the support of his parents. His father, Billy, is a membrer of the College Football Hall of Fame and a member of this Hall’s inaugural class. Reflecting on his career and his induction into the Hall of Fame, he once said that his mother and father were the primary reason for his achievements.
Today Neighbors, whose sons Wes and Connor followed him into college football and serve on college football staffs now, works as a financial consultant and lives in Huntsville and is a popular sports talk radio host.
This content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model, based on original stories written the year of the honoree's induction by Board members and other contributors. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided may not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. Please contact the Hall of Fame with corrections.
