One of the top high school football players in Alabama in 2024 was denied youthful offender status earlier today in a north Alabama murder case.

Cameron Phinizee, 17, was indicted in July for in the shooting death of a 13-year-old in March.

Phinizee, a star running back, was named the Class 5A Back of the Year by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2024 after starring for Russellville High in his junior season.

He applied for youthful offender status in the murder case in August . WAFF in Huntsville reported today that status was denied, and he will be charged as an adult.

Phinizee was indicted by a grand jury in the death of Ryland O’Neal on March 26. Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said in a news conference this summer that the grand jury determined that

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