Slade Bolden of West Monroe named Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year

The season did not end the way he envisioned or he wanted it to but the reward and accolades for his personal achievement continue to roll in.

West Monroe quarterback and Alabama commit Slade Bolden has been named 2017-18 Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year.

While Bolden will not play quarterback at Alabama, he was outstanding at the position for the Rebels

The 5-foot-11, 198-pound Bolden ran for 1, 460 yards and 20 touchdowns and passed for 1,622 yards and 20 touchdowns in leading West Monroe to the Class 5A semifinals, where the Rebels lost 29-27 to eventual state champion Zachary. His 40 touchdowns tied the school record, shared by former LSU fullback Tommy Banks in the rich history of West Monroe football. Bolden set the record for touchdowns in program history, accounting for 115 in his illustrious career.

Aside from his excellence on the field, Bolden is excellent in the classroom, sporting a 4.0 grade-point average and he is ranked No. 1 in the senior class at West Monroe academically.

The Gatorade award recognizes athletic excellence along with high standards of academic achievement and high character demonstrated on and off the field.

New Orleans area players had won the award six of the last 10 years. Keytaon Thompson of Landry-Walker won the award a year ago, Leonard Fournette won in 2012 and 2013 and Deshawn Capers Smith of Warren Easton won in 2014 and Anthony Johnson of O. Perry Walker won it in 2010. Jordan Jefferson of Destrehan won in 2007.

Bolden is the second West Monroe player to receive the award. Linebacker Adam McConathy won it in 1997. McConathy signed with LSU and transferred and played at Louisiana Tech.