Saraland coach Jeff Kelly has seen a lot of quality quarterbacks in his day.

In fact, he was one himself at Southern Miss and in the NFL.

He said it’s hard to compare any of them to current Spartans’ starter KJ Lacey.

“I think KJ is the best quarterback in the country,” he said this week. “I think he is making a strong case to be one of the leading contenders for Mr. Football. His record as a starting quarterback here is 22-1, and I think that’s the best stat for a quarterback. He has done a great job leading our offense.”

Lacey, a junior Texas commit, is one of the leaders on one of the top teams in the state. Saraland won the Class 6A title a year ago, has been ranked No. 1 all season and has won 14 straight games entering Friday’s home game with No. 9 Theodore.

He may well be one of the top candidates for Mr. Football in the state as Kelly said. Of course, there is one slight hiccup in that thought. The reigning Mr. Football, Alabama commit Ryan Williams, also plays for the Spartans and is having another good year as well.

There are other quality candidates in the state as well but if it comes down to Lacey and Williams for the top annual Alabama Sports Writers Association award that would be an interesting debate.

In his second season as the Saraland starting quarterback, Lacey has completed 94 of 133 passes (71 percent) for 1,610 yards and 24 TDs. He’s been intercepted just three times.

Ironically, his statistics from last year at this exact time are almost identical. A year ago, he was completing 69 percent of his passes for 1,676 yards and 25 TDs with three interceptions.

“I get to see him every day,” Kelly said. “The things he does from throwing the football and arm talent is remarkable. He is extremely accurate and has a great understanding of how we want to attack. The things that he does in terms of reading the defenses and anticipating open windows and throwing his guys open and having that feel of when to be aggressive and when to take the shot is as good as I’ve ever been around.”

Longtime recruiting writer Jason Caldwell, who covers Auburn for 247 Sports, said Lacey reminds him of former Alabama QB and current Carolina Panther Bryce Young, a sentiment that multiple analysts have agreed on.

“It’s so effortless the things he does,” Caldwell said this week on Sports Talk 99.5 FM. “He makes good decisions. He obviously has good players around him, but he understands how to play quarterback. Jeff Kelly does a great job of coaching those guys, a former quarterback himself. He gives me those vibes where he is not going to be Cam Newton, the most physical guy, but he can find windows and knows how to do those things.”

Williams could be the first player in the history of the Mr. Football award to repeat. Last year, he become only the second underclassmen to win it, joining current South Alabama running back La’Damian Webb (2016). Williams accounted for 42 touchdowns as a sophomore in helping Saraland to the state title.

Through eight games this year, the five-star receiver has 32 receptions for 653 yards and 11 TDs. He also has rushed for 107 yards and 4 TDs on just 13 carries. Like Lacey, his stats are comparable to this point last year (15 receiving TDs, 5 rushing TDs a year ago). And, also like Lacey, their stats have been limited by a lack of playing time in the second half of games due to Saraland’s lopsided victory margin.

“Ryan is electric wherever he is on the field. He is the reigning Mr. Football for a reason. He is fun to watch play,” Kelly said. “He is also one the best leaders and teammates and guys I’ve ever been around. His athletic ability is second to none. I feel like he is going to play a long, long time. Whether he is catching it, or we hand it to him or snap it to him, all of those options usually come with pretty good outcomes. From a play-calling standpoint, it gives you a lot of creativity and flexibility to find different ways to attack defenses and find different ways to go after a weakness we may see.”

Other statewide Mr. Football candidates could include Clay-Chalkville’s Jaylen Mbakwe, Central-Phenix City’s Andrew Alford and Cam Coleman, Oneonta’s Fluff Bothwell, Elba’s Alvin Henderson, Cherokee County’s Jacob Cornejo, MGM’s Jared Hollins, Westminster Christian’s Brandon Musch and others. The ASWA prep committee votes on the award after the Super 7. The winner will be announced in January.

As for the college future of Lacey and Williams, both juniors are already committed. Lacey committed to Steve Sarkisian and Texas in June. Williams has been committed to Alabama since last October. However, both players were at Auburn last week for the Tigers’ game against Ole Miss.

Is their recruitment over?

“I think Auburn is in the picture with both,” Caldwell said. “Can they get over the top and get over the hump? I don’t know. But them being here for Georgia and Ole Miss and being on multiple-day visits doesn’t hurt Auburn’s chances I don’t think.”