A pair of defending state champions and several new coaches highlighted the AL.com Birmingham area high school football media days.

Defending champions Class 7A Thompson with four straight titles and Class 5A Ramsay were two of 45 teams facing media over a two-day period at Thompson High School.

New coaches include Jerad Holder at Calera, Trent Campbell at Corner, Keon Handley at Fultondale, Rodney Bivens Jr. at Huffman, Shane McComb at Oak Mountain, Gentrell Eatman at Pinson Valley, Matt Stockton at Tarrant and Clarence Williams at Woodlawn.

Ramsay won its fourth state championship last season behind a bludgeoning ground game and stifling defense, beating Charles Henderson 41-20 to finish 13-2.

Class 5A championship game MVP Ashton Ashford benefitted from a strong offensive line and run-first philosophy that propelled the Rams to the title.

Ashford expects no less this season.

“Oh, it could be really good,” Ashford said at AL.com high school football media days at Thompson High School. “Nobody can stop us if we run the fire.”

Ramsay was one of 21 teams answering questions for print, television and online media on Monday. Media days wrapped up on Tuesday.

The Rams defense accounted for 13 touchdowns in 15 games last season. They have a chance to be even better.

“We’re only losing two players (on defense) and everybody else has come back,” said all-state linebacker QB Reese, who recently announced an offer from Alabama. “I feel like we should be the best in the state.”

NEWS AND NOTES

New Huffman coach Rodney Bivens Jr. was hired May 23 and had little time with his team during spring training.

“It’s hard to install much without knowing what they can do,” Bivens said. “We get them in shape with conditioning, focus on fundamentals.”

At Helena, coach Richie Busby expects to play two quarterbacks, senior Carson Acker and sophomore Nate Ferguson.

“Honestly, Carson is a pocket passer and going to get ball out earlier,” said receiver Hunter Hale, who caught 57 passes for 752 yards last season. “Nate can scramble and make plays, can throw late on the run. They have different skill sets, both capable to play.”

Homewood scored 400 points last year, all coming from the class of 30 seniors. The Patriots return two offensive starters, both on the offensive line, and three on defense. Senior Center Jack Watson is a four-year starter while senior lineman Jaxon Brooks has started the past three seasons.

Center Point graduated explosive playmakers in running back Troy Bruce and quarterback Jabari Collier.

“We’re still going to win, just in a different way,” said coach George Bates. “Last year, we could score in 4-5 plays, but we’re going to have to hang our hat on defense until we find the offensive rhythm.”

Coach Matthew Forester said Briarwood Christian can rebound from last season’s 3-7 finish because “program is program. The idea is trusting not in recent successes, not in trends, but in foundations of what has been built.”

Pelham returns four players on offense and five on defense, including linebackers South Alabama commit Will Felton and Navy commit Bishop Rella.

Coach Mike Vickery said the Panthers are a power running team.

“(Running back) Mike Grayson checks all the boxes at running back,” Vickery said. “He’s not going to rush for 300, but he can catch the ball, he’s a tough kid inside the tackles. He’s turned himself into really good player.”

It’s the second year for Hoover under coach Wade Waldrop. The Bucs return seven offensive starters, but had nine in last year’s rotation.

“Offensively, we feel like everybody at every skill position can do something with the ball,” Waldrop said.

Vestavia Hills under coach Robert Evans was 7-5 in his first year with the Rebels, losing 21-12 to Thompson in the second round of Class 7A playoffs.

Evans said the Rebels “weaponize” their intelligence. “We do a lot of quirky stuff (moving and shifting on offense and defense) and we do it at a frenetic pace” to put pressure on opposing offenses and defenses.

First year coach Clarence Williams at Woodlawn – he was a Ramsay assistant last season – talked about tradition in the program. Bobby Bowden, Tony Nathan, Karlos Dansby and Chris Davis of Kick-6 fame, all played at Woodlawn.

“That builds our confidence more, seeing people come through Woodlawn,” Williams said. “We can be better. We can be successful.”

Hewitt-Trussville plays in Class 7A, Region 3, the toughest in the state with Thompson, Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Spain Park, Tuscaloosa County, Oak Mountain and Chelsea.

“What makes it so tough, is top to bottom — hate to even say bottom,” said coach Josh Floyd. “All the programs have great players. It’s important in their communities. Every single week you have to fight, scratch and claw. If you get (into the playoffs), you’re battled-tested.”

“Our plan every year, we want to bring home the blue map (championship trophy) to Trussville. It’s never been done. Every year I tell our guys, only going to take us as far as the seniors can take us. These guys have played together a long time, it’s a tight-knit group. They play not just for themselves, but each other.

Alabama commit Jaylen Mbakwe will play multiple positions for Clay-Chalkville, including quarterback.

“Jaylen will probably play some DB, probably return some kicks,” said coach Drew Gilmer. “He does little bit of everything. He studies, he’s smart. It’s not very hard coaching when you got the No. 3 player in the country.”

The defensive front four at Leeds will be formidable with all four playing college football. Led by Arkansas commit Kavion Henderson, the front also features Chris Burge with offers from Maryland, Missouri, UAB, Troy and more. Nick Davis and Joseph Stone round out the front.

Coach Tim Vakakes at Spain Park said sophomore quarterback Brock Bradley — offers include Texas A&M, West Virginia, UAB, Memphis, Arkansas State and Troy — texts him at night to ask about offensive scripts.

Vakakes is trying to instill toughness in the Jaguars while competing in Class 7A, Region 3.

“The Hoovers and Thompsons know how to win,” Vakakes said. “It’s bred in them. We’ve got to get there. These kids are not going to be scared of whoever is on that other sideline.”

Chelsea finished 1-9 last season, its first competing in Class 7A, Region 3.

“I feel the kids know what to expect this year,” said Chelsea coach Todd Cassity. “I think early on their eyes were a little bit wide — ‘Oh my gosh, we are 7A.’ We’re bigger stronger and little bit faster.”

Hueytown coach Greg Patterson is looking for third double-digit win total in his fifth season with the program, facing a tough opening two opponents. The Class 6A Golden Gophers open against Class 5A defending champ Ramsay, then play Clay-Chalkville.

Hueytown must replace all-state quarterback Earl Woods with Jebron Ellington taking over.

“Jebron doesn’t have a lot experience in varsity games other than some mop-up duty,” Patterson said. “He’s just not Earl, he’s different, just different style runner, can still run pretty well. Might be faster in straight line (than Earl). He made a ton of progress during spring training and summer.”

Gentrell Eatman is the fifth Pinson Valley head coach in eight years, third in three years. He replaced Lee Guess, who replaced state title winner Sam Shade, who replaced two-time champion Patrick Nix.

“Going in, the first season, we need to make sure we’re disciplined, not making mistakes,” Eatman said. “Mistakes cost you ballgames. I told them, I’m not Patrick Nix, not Sam Shade or Lee Guess. Every coach has own philosophy. I have my own philosophy.”

Pleasant Grove coach Darrell LeBeaux is 56-12 in his first five years, hoping to get back to state title game for the fourth time. The Spartans were 11-2 last season, both losses coming to Class 5A champion and Region 5 foe Ramsay.

Eric Handley, the 3-star Pleasant Grove quarterback, plans to announce commitment on Friday at 4:30.

“Recruiting is a very time-consuming and thought-consuming,” Handley said. “If you don’t have people around you, it can be draining and make football not fun. You need to make sure you have people around who can humble you. It wasn’t hard for me to come to a decision.”

Midfield coach Rod Isaac said, “Our quarterback is Aaron Martin, who was the first 14-year-old kid I ever started at quarterback last year. He’s a pretty good athlete and a smart kid.”

Even though Gardendale lost five defensive players to college rosters, coach Chad Eads likes his defense.

“I’m excited about our defense,” Eads said. “I know it sounds crazy with the guys we lost, but with youth comes the belief you can do about anything. I think the unique way we win on defense is being willing to play longer than everybody else.”

An offensive bright spot is returning quarterback Mac Beason.

Keon Handley — son Eric is the quarterback at Pleasant Grove — takes over at Fultondale. Sophomore Brandon Woodall will start at quarterback.

“He’s developing and coming along,” Handley said. “He has the pleasure of working one-on-one with my son, getting some of the training and skill fits from coach Demetric Price, one of the best quarterback trainers in the City of Birmingham. Going into this offense we’re running, he’s becoming mindful of how to be a leader as a quarterback, understanding the importance of the quarterback position at all times, all eyes on him. He represents me as the head coach in everything he does.”

Mountain Brook won to the Class 6A title game last season before falling to Saraland.

“This is not going to be an Unfinished Business Tour,” said coach Chris Yeager. “We learned a lot of lessons from that (loss) that were valuable. Our focus is something higher than a state championship.”

At Tarrant, it’s the first head coaching position for Matt Stockton, who has been an assistant for 17 seasons, including tutelage under John Grass and Chip Lindsey at Spain Park.

“Those spots have groomed me to be here to take over the program that right now is not on the winning side of things,” Stockton said. “The kids have bought into the culture. We’re not going to accept losing. We have great facilities at Tarrant, great administration at Tarrant. It’s a challenge, has been a challenge, don’t get me wrong, but very rewarding.”

McAdory coach Aryvia Holmes is excited about the Yellow Jackets placekicker.

“We’ve got the best kicker in Jefferson County,” Holmes said. “I haven’t seen them all, but I believe it. I went to a soccer game and saw Humberto Rosales, who is left-footed. I said, ‘Kick this football,’ and after the first kick I told him, ‘You’re on the football team.’”

Receiver and cornerback Javon Rogers of Montevallo has about 20 college offers, including UAB, Memphis, Indiana, Marshall, Army, Navy and more for the 3-star prospect.

“You don’t have to go to a bigger school to be successful,” Rogers said. “Most players before me did the same and I wanted to be like them. Players who are looking up to me, as long as you make plays and do what you’re supposed to do, they will find you.”

Corner has 70 players on the roster for first-year coach Trent Campbell and that includes 21 seniors.

Thompson is trying to do something no other team has one in the state’s largest classification — win five straight titles.

“You have to be able to accept success,” said Thompson coach Mark Freeman. “We had to build a culture of not being afraid to say ‘We don’t lose.’”

First-year Oak Mountain coach Shane McComb has lots of newness.

“We’ve got a whole new offense and a whole new defense put in with 10 new coaches,” McComb said.

Veteran coach Rueben Nelson will start his third season with Shades Valley. He spent the previous nine years at Ramsay after restarting the program that had been dormant since 1976 and guided the Rams to the 2016 Class 6A title. He also coached six years at Midfield with five playoff appearances.

“We have got to make sure we’re doing what it takes to build pride in the kids, make sure doing what need to do in the classroom,” Nelson said, “make sure we love on our own kids, make sure they know we love them and we’ll keep them.”