This is an opinion piece.

Saraland quarterback KJ Lacey has shredded some of Alabama’s top high school defenses for three years now.

Though the Texas commit already has been named the first-team Class 6A All-State quarterback twice – maybe the most competitive position in any classification – he seemingly was underpublicized a bit for two years with Ryan Williams on the same field at the same time.

No one can ignore Lacey now.

The senior became just the fifth player in Alabama high school history to pass for more than 10,000 yards in his career in last week’s second-round win over McAdory. He has a chance to keep moving up the list tonight when his top-ranked Spartans host undefeated Spain Park in the Class 6A quarterfinals.

“I’ve had a front row seat to watch KJ develop into one of the best players this state has seen at arguably the hardest position to play,” said Saraland coach Jeff Kelly, a talented quarterback himself at Southern Miss and in the NFL. “To see him grow from a young 10th-grader with a ton of talent to a seasoned quarterback that can put a team on his shoulders has been special.”

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Entering tonight’s game, Lacey has passed for 10,154 career yards. He trails Piedmont’s Jack Hayes (11,024), Williamson’s Jamarcus Russell (10,774), Pinson Valley’s Bo Nix (10,386) and American Christian’s Chris Smelley (10,385) on the all-time list. He needs 233 yards tonight to move past Nix and Smelley into third place – this despite missing two full games due to injury this year.

“The expectation he sets for himself is extremely high,” Kelly said. “He prepares with great consistency week in and week out. He has never allowed complacency to set in. None of our seniors have. That has allowed us to have consistency in the program.”

Lacey has led Saraland to a 39-2 record in his three years as a starter. His only losses came against Theodore (27-26 in the 2022 regular season) and Clay-Chalkville (31-28 in last year’s 6A title game). He can finish his career with a perfect home record with a win tonight. (The Spartans would be on the road for the semifinals if they defeat Spain Park).

“Most quarterbacks are judged by their record,” Theodore head coach Steve Mask said. “Look at his record.”

Mask said there is no doubt in his mind that Lacey will be a success in the SEC with the Longhorns.

“He sees everything so well,” he said. “He’s like a point guard in basketball. He sees everything so well and distributes the ball. He has all the intangibles, and it seems like he has eyes in the back of his head. Just when you think you’ve got him, the ball comes out of there at a different arm angle. The more I watch him, the more he reminds me of (former Alabama QB) Bryce Young.”

Lacey could have felt slighted in his sophomore and junior seasons while Williams was winning a pair of Mr. Football awards and garnering headline after headline. (Of course, Williams overshadowed every high school player in the state and doing the same on the college level).

If Lacey felt slighted, he never showed it.

It’s not in his character.

He kept playing and kept winning and has done it all with class.

It’s his time. He deserves it.

Thought for the Day

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” – James 1:2.

Ben Thomas is the high school sports managing producer at AL.com. He has been named one of the 50 legends of the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Follow him on twitter at @BenThomasPreps or email him at [email protected].