Two All-State football players who will be forever linked on the high school level are set to be future rivals in the Southeastern Conference.

Quarterback KJ Lacey and wide receiver Ryan Williams helped Saraland to its first state football championship as sophomores in 2022.

Lacey is now committed to play for SEC newcomer Texas when he finishes his high school career in two years. Williams, the state’s reigning Mr. Football, is committed to Alabama. Lacey picked the Longhorns over the Crimson Tide.

Both told AL.com at this week’s 7-on-7 event at Foley that they are 100 percent committed to their college homes. Although both also said they were trying to convince the other to flip.

“I’m definitely all Tide, but I’m just enjoying the recruiting process, which is what KJ is doing as well,” Williams said. “Don’t let him tell you a story.”

Lacey said he’s “locked in” with the Longhorns, and it could be Williams who eventually changes his mind.

“I’m working on him as we speak,” Lacey joked.

The two enjoyed prolific seasons last fall as the Spartans went 14-1, beating Mountain Brook in the Class 6A state title game.

In his first year as Saraland’s starting quarterback, Lacey completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,177 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was intercepted just 5 times.

Williams caught 88 passes for 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns and rushed 57 times for 700 yards and 15 TDs. He also threw a touchdown pass and scored on a pair of punt returns for a total of 42 TDs. He was just the second underclassmen to win the Alabama Sports Writers Association’s prestigious Mr. Football award.

Both expect the challenges to pick up during their junior seasons.

“I definitely expect it to be harder,” Williams said. “The competition level is always tough. We have a very good region. The opponents know more of what to expect. They know who is going to get the ball. With that alone, I expect it to be a little harder, but I know my teammates and I are prepared for whatever is to come.”

“We are growing up, getting older,” Lacey said. “We aren’t those young guys anymore. We are all upperclassmen now. It’s time for us to take on more of a leadership role and try to help our team get to another state championship.”

Williams hasn’t fully participated in 7-on-7 drills this summer after suffering a mild hamstring injury at the Class 6A state track meet in May. He was serving as Lacey’s center this week in Foley. (In the 7-on-7 game, that just means he’s on one knee snapping the ball to Lacey).

“I’m the best center in the nation,” he joked.

He hopes to be back in full-time action when the team returns from the Fourth of July holiday.

Both players know there is another level they can reach in their high school careers.

“I’m definitely looking to be more of an impact blocker,” Williams said. “I want to pancake some kids. Beyond that, I want to continue to grow as a receiver. You can always come out of your break faster. You can always catch better. You can always keep developing for the next level.”

Continued development is what Lacey is striving for as well.

“Just working on building chemistry before we go into the season,” he said. “As far as my game, I’m working on making all the easy passes, making all my reads and progressions and working on everything to have another state championship run.”

Williams is currently the fourth-ranked player in the nation in the Class of 2025, according to the latest 247 composite rankings and the top receiver. Lacey is No. 7 in the state of Alabama and No. 54 overall.

Saraland will open the season at home in a high-profile matchup against Tennessee power Lipscomb Academy on Aug. 25. Though it hasn’t been officially announced, that game is likely to be televised nationally.

Meanwhile, Lacey continues to try to get his teammate to say, “Hook ‘em Horns.”

“I would never say anything of that nature,” Williams said.