HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | Alabama A&M University head women's basketball coach Dawn Thornton and football offensive lineman Carson Vinson were among the winners honored during the Third Annual Woody Anderson Ford Rocket City Awards Presented by the Huntsville Sports Commission on Monday night at the Mars Music Hall inside the Von Braun Center.
 
Thornton was honored as the Women's College Coach of the Year after guiding the Bulldogs to a WNIT appearance last season.
 
In her first season on The Hill, Thornton guided Alabama A&M to a 21-11 overall record, including a 14-4 mark inside the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The 20-win season was the first-ever for the Bulldogs since becoming an NCAA Division I member in 1999 and just the fifth time it happened in program history. In addition, it also marked the first 20-win season for the veteran head coach.
 
Alabama A&M made significant strides throughout the season, with Thornton having her team in position to win the SWAC Women's Basketball Regular Season title. The Bulldogs fell just short, missing a chance at the crown by just one game as AAMU finished the regular season tied for second in the conference standings.
 
Vinson, who was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens, was chosen as the North Alabama College Athlete of the Year.
 
Vinson, who was the only HBCU player invited to the NFL Draft Combine, was selected with the 141^st pick overall and became the 20^th AAMU player chosen in the NFL Draft -- the first since 2011 when Frank Kearse was taken by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round.
 
As a senior, Vinson has racked up multiple postseason honors, including becoming the first HBCU player invited to the 2025 Reese's Senior Bowl, AFCA FCS All-America Second Team and Phil Steele 2024 SWAC Offensive Lineman of the Year, started in all 48 games for the Bulldogs.
 
The Morrisville, N.C. native has helped the Bulldog offense rank tops in the SWAC in total offense (444.5 yards per game) and passing offense (260.5 yards per game). In addition, the Bulldogs are third in the conference in rushing offense at 184.0 yards per game. He has an 89 percent overall offensive line grade with 61 total knockdowns and allowed just one sack, which was against SEC opponent Auburn in the season opener.
 
Alabama A&M nearly took home a few more honors during Monday's ceremony as the women's basketball program was nominated for the College Team of the Year Award. In addition, Kalia Walker and Alisha Wilson were nominated in the category for College Athlete of the Year.
 
The Third Annual Rocket City Awards, hosted by ESPN 97.7 The Zone and WHNT News 19, highlights local athletes, coaches and programs from North Alabama.
 
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