Who’s next? An early look at 15 of the state’s top 2024 players
With both Signing Days for the Class of 2023 now in the rearview mirror, it’s time to look ahead a bit.
Here is a look at 15 of the top high school football players in the state from the Class of 2024. This list is based on rankings from multiple recruiting services as well as AL.com high school experts.
AL.com will release its official A-List of the top 15 prospects in August.
Until then …
15. A’Mon Lane, DB, Moody
College status: Committed to Auburn
Junior stats: Finished the season with 55 tackles, 4 tackles for a loss and a sack.
14. Josh Flowers, QB, Baker
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, N.C. State, Texas A&M, Tulane, UAB.
Junior stats: Rushed for 1,370 yards and 16 TDs on 185 carries, an average of 7.4 yards per carry. Completed 109-of-161 pass attempts for 1,453 yards and 10 TDs.
13. Travaris Banks, DB, Northridge
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Maryland, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee.
Junior stats: Not available
12. Malcolm Simmons, ATH, Benjamin Russell
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Arkansas, Liberty, West Virginia, Georgia Tech.
Junior stats: Rushed for 763 yards and 11 TDs on 120 carries. Caught 31 passes for 503 yards and 7 TDs. Returned 8 kickoffs for 179 yards. Went 2-for-2 passing for 112 yards and a TD. Made 19 tackles on defense. Averaged 43.7 yards on 30 punts and placed 12 inside the 20.
11. Bradley Shaw, LB, Hoover
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Georgia, Arkansas, Auburn, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee.
Junior stats: Finished with 106 tackles, including 15 for a loss, and 5 sacks.
THE TOP 10
Leeds’ Kavion Henderson closes in on Moody quarterback Cole McCarty in Moody, Ala., Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
10. Kavion Henderson, DL, Leeds
College status: Committed to Arkansas.
Junior stats: Recorded 61 tackles with 7 tackles for a loss and 9 sacks. Also recovered 3 fumbles.
St. James quarterback KJ Jackson looks to hand off to St. James’ Cosner Harrison during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 3A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
9. KJ Jackson, QB, St. James
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Charlotte, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisville, North Carolina, Ole Miss, Penn State, Troy, Tulane, UCF, West Virginia.
Junior stats: Led the Trojans to the Class 3A state title, threw 5 second-half TD passes in the championship game against Piedmont. Completed 132-of-205 pass attempts for 2,813 yards and 42 TDs. Was intercepted 7 times. Also rushed for 171 yards and 6 TDs.
Andalusia’s J’Marion Burnette hangs out with his team before the Andalusia at Montgomery Catholic high school football 4A playoff semifinal game at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
8. J’Marion Burnette, RB, Andalusia
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Troy, UAB.
Junior stats: Rushed for 1,473 yards and 17 TDs on 187 carries in 11 games. Missed the semifinal and championship game due to injury.
Clay-Chalkville’s Mario Craver leaves a trio of Parker defenders in his wake during an AHSAA Class 6A first-round playoff game in Clay, Ala., Friday, Nov. 27, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
7. Mario Craver, WR, Clay-Chalkville
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Auburn, Cincinnati, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UCF, West Virginia.
Junior stats: Caught 32 passes for 525 yards and 9 TDs for the Cougars.
Mobile Christian’s Sterling Dixon in the open field during a prep football game, Friday, November 25, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
6. Sterling Dixon, EDGE, Mobile Christian
College status: Committed to Alabama.
Junior stats: The ASWA’s Class 3A Lineman of the Year set single-season school records with 172 tackles and 18 sacks. He also had 39 tackles for a loss.
Ramsay’s Noah Sanders and Parker’s Jeremiah Beaman battle during the Ramsay at Parker high-school football game in Birmingham, Ala., Thursday, Aug 25, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
5. Jeremiah Beaman, DL, Parker
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, UAB.
Junior stats: Finished with 72 tackles, 11 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks and 3 interceptions.
Vestavia Hills’ defensive end Jordan Ross (5) tackles Oak Mountain’s Trey Vassell (5) during a game in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Oct. 14, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
4. Jordan Ross, EDGE, Vestavia Hills
College status: Uncommitted. Offers include Auburn, Cincinnati, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Troy, UAB, USC.
Junior stats: Finished with 49 tackles, 16 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Also had two defensive touchdowns.
Foley’s Perry Thompson catches a pass during a prep football game, Thursday, October 6, 2022, in Bayou La Batre, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
3. Perry Thompson, WR, Foley
College status: Committed to Alabama.
Junior stats: Caught 87 passes for 1,059 yards and 9 TDs for the Region 1 champions. He also had a pair of interceptions on defense.
Chilton County’s Demarcus Riddick is already committed to two-time defending national champion Georgia. (Brandon Sumrall | [email protected])
2. Demarcus Riddick, LB, Chilton County
College status: Committed to Georgia.
Junior stats: Finished with 109 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks and 11 QB hurries.
Clay-Chalkville’s Jaylen Mbakwe is shown before the Briarwood game in Clay, Ala., Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
1. Jaylen Mbakwe, WR/DB, Clay-Chalkville
College status: Committed to Alabama.
Junior stats: Caught 41 passes for 615 yards and 9 TDs. Rushed for 118 yards and 2 TDs on 11 carries. Returned 9 punts for 145 yards and 2 TDs.
WATCH LIST
Gulf Shores’ Ronnie Royal runs the ball against Williamson in the first half of a prep football game Friday, Sept. 30, 2022, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Ronnie Royal, Gulf Shores; JacQawn McRoy, Clay-Chalkville; Damian Thompson, Mars Hill; Kevin Riley, Tuscaloosa County; Malik Blocton, Pike Road; Jayden Lewis, Anniston (Auburn); Cameron Coleman, Central-Phenix City; Kamari McClellan, Clay-Chalkville; Caleb McCreary, Montgomery Catholic (Troy); Keion Dunlap, Enterprise; Dre Kirkpatrick Jr., Gadsden City; Tevis Metcalf, Pinson Valley; Jacorey Whitted, McAdory; Jayden Coleman, Central-Phenix City; Blaine Burke, Moody; Rodreckus Johnson, Clay-Chalkville; Jabari Murphy, Elmore County; Jordan Washington, Helena; Kaleb Harris, Thompson; Keion Dunlap, Enterprise; Malachi Harris, Anniston; Eric Handley, Fairfield; Joseph Phillips, B.T. Washington; Landen Marshall, Andalusia;
MORE AL.COM RECRUITING
Where did the top 2023 players sign?
Anniston’s Jayden Lewis commits to Auburn