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Wisconsin Sports Network and WisSports.net are happy to announce Notre Dame's James Flanigan as the 2024 recipient of the Al Toon Award as the most outstanding senior wide receiver or tight end in Wisconsin, part of the WSN Senior Football Awards.

James Flanigan becomes the first traditional tight end to win the Al Toon Award, which goes to the top wide receiver or tight end in the senior class.

He is a returning All-State performer and an Offensive Player of the Year in the FRCC-South for a second straight season. He's caught 25 passes for 609 yards and 11 touchdowns this season, averaging nearly 25 yards per catch as an in-line tight end.

Flanigan becomes the first traditional tight end to win the Al Toon Award, which goes to the top wide receiver or tight end in the senior class.

He's also a dominating blocker in the run game, helping Crazylegs Hirsch Award winner Christian Collins to a second straight 2500-plus yard rushing season. Flanigan was once again a two-way First Team All-Conference choice as a tight end and defensive end. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish recruit is a big reason the Tritons are unbeaten and the FRCC-South champs heading into the Division 3 state title game.

Flanigan was recently announced as a repeat WFCA Large School All-State pick as a tight end.

Finalists for the award were Flanigan, Chris Kiel of Mount Horeb/Barneveld, Kaden MacKenzie of Waunakee, Marion Moore of Madison Memorial, Brock Story of West De Pere, and Blake Thiry of Prairie du Chien.

Past winners of the award include Madison Memorial's Lechein Neblett (2009), Monona Grove's Zach Zweifel (2010), Montello/Princeton/Green Lake's Matt Sosinsky (2011), Black River Falls' Jordan Millis (2012), Greendale's Mitchell Brees (2013), Marquette's Jake Matkovich (2014), Kimberly's Jordan Janssen (2015), Oconomowoc's Zach Clayton (2016), Lake Mills' Hayden Iverson (2017), Waunakee's Sawyer Maly (2018), Waukesha North's Chimere Dike (2019), Cumberland's Jack Martens (2020), Cedar Grove-Belgium's Sam Peiffer (2021), Mosinee's Davin Stoffel (2022), and Sussex Hamilton's Nick Kihn (2023).

The award is named after Al Toon, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin who still ranks in the top three or four of almost all game, season, and career receiving categories. Toon was a first-round draft choice by the New York Jets who led the NFL in catches in 1988 with 93. Injuries forced him to retire early from the NFL, but he has been a fixture back in the Madison area for many years. 

The voting panel for the WSN Senior Football Awards consisted of:  Travis Wilson, WSN General Manager and Head Football Writer;  Norbert Durst, WSN Content Manager; Dennis Semrau, ESPN Madison; Bob Brainerd, Thursday Night Throwdown broadcaster; Jimmie Kaska, Civic Media; Dan Barwick, WSN Contributor; Colton Wilson, WSN Content Producer; Fan Vote

Travis Wilson serves as the WisSports.net General Manager, Football Editor, and contributing writer for other parts of the site. Wilson was selected as part of the Sports 40 Under 40 list by Coach & AD Magazine and the National High School Athletic Coaches Association for 2019. The Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) named Travis the 2015 recipient of the Dave McClain Distinguished Service Award. He currently serves on the WFCA Executive Board and is a member of the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association. A graduate of Richland Center High School and Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Travis was a three-sport athlete in high school (football, baseball, basketball), inducted to the Richland Center High School Hall of Fame in 2023, and currently resides in Reedsburg. You can follow him on Twitter at @travisWSN.

For the latest and most up to date football news and recruiting information, follow Travis on Twitter @travisWSN. Email story ideas, recruiting info, etc. to Travis at travis(at)wissports.net.