A funny thing happened last winter when Drew Forrest heard he’d been selected as a first-team All-State wide receiver.

It made him more humble.

“I see a guy like (Springville High wide receiver) Jeremy Richardson on there and I think, ‘I can’t compare to a guy like that,’” said Forrest, who has been selected as the fourth player on The Times Dirty Dozen — a list of the area’s top 12 senior prep football players.

“But I like things like that,” he added. “It makes me work a lot harder.”

Forrest has good reason to respect Richardson, a fellow All-State first-teamer and Auburn commitment. But Cullman High’s No. 1 receiver is imposing enough to strike fear into his share of defenses, too.

Last year as a junior, Forrest caught 90 passes for 1,116 yards and 16 touchdowns. Not bad for a little ol’ Cullman boy, huh?

Mark Britton thinks so.

“We look forward to big things for Drew this year,” said the Cullman head coach. “We need to find a way to get him the ball.”

That might be difficult after landing a spot on the All-State list. As more and more defenses hear about Forrest’s numbers, the more they start double- and triple-teaming him in games.

Which is why it helps to have a trusty No. 2 in the offense like Riley Stewart.

“I’ve talked to the coaches a lot about it,” said Forrest. “If I’m double-teamed, that’s gonna help guys like Riley and Connor (Adams) get open more.”

Britton agreed.

“It helps having Riley Stewart out there so defenses can’t double-team all our receivers,” said Britton. “They’re all capable of getting the ball and all capable of making big plays.”

And that applies to Forrest, even if he’s earned the tag of “possession receiver.” While he’s capable of stretching the field, Forrest said he’s fine with Stewart having the “big-play” tag.

Not that he hasn’t been working on some big plays of his own.

“I feel like I can stretch the field,” said Forrest. “I’ve been working a lot on vertical routes. I feel like that’s the biggest improvement I made this summer — getting much better at deep routes.”

Entering his senior season, Forrest knows he must take even more of a leadership role than in the past. With his longtime quarterback, Tyler Caldwell, gone to graduation, Forrest has been asked by the coaching staff to help bring along Caldwell’s potential replacement.

So far it’s gone well, thanks in part to a few informal Saturday morning run-throughs with top contenders Dylan Skipper and Austin Crider.

And the results have been surprising.

“They’ve impressed me a lot, both of them,” said Forrest.

One person that’s not surprised is Britton, who’s been used to seeing Forrest be a leader since taking over as a starter during his sophomore season in 2007.

Forrest made a big catch that year during the Bearcats’ 42-41 win over Hartselle in the playoffs, and he hasn’t looked back ever since.

“Since then, he’s been asked to produce a lot, and he’s done a good job of being a leader,” said Britton. “Now, it’s different as a senior … but he’s done a great job.”

Michael Cummings can be reached by e-mail at michaelc@cullmantimes.com or by phone at 734-2131, ext. 258.