Trader Joe’s is opening its newest location today.

The grocery chain with the cult following is opening a new store in Northridge, California today, pushing the stores count in that state to more than 200.

30 new stores

Trader Joe’s is planning to open 30 new stores, according to the “Coming Soon” tab on its website. According to Fast Company, the new locations will span 17 states and the District of Columbia with the most openings set for California, New York, Oklahoma and Texas, each with three. Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Utah are each scheduled for two store openings.

No Alabama locations are listed on the website. The chain has three other stores in the state: Birmingham, Hoover and Huntsville.

The Trader Joe’s website lists the other stores are coming soon:

Arizona

• N. Bullard Ave. & McDowell Road, Goodyear

California

• 9224 Reseda Blvd., Northridge
• 2330 Foothill Blvd., La Verne
• 31545 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa

Colorado

• 9350 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster

Connecticut

• 801 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton

District of Columbia

• 5335 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC

Florida

• 1511 Cornerstone Blvd., Daytona Beach

Georgia

• 258 City Circle, Peachtree City

Louisiana

• 2428 Napoleon Ave., New Orleans
• 2501 Tulane Ave., New Orleans

Massachusetts

• 1165 Needham St., Newton

Missouri

• 201 N. Stadium Blvd., Columbia

New Jersey

• 675 US-1, Iselin

New York

• 6400 Amboy Road, Staten Island
• 388 Feura Bush Road, Glenmont
• 302 NY-25A Miller Place, Miller Place

Oklahoma

• 1451 E Hillside Drive, Broken Arrow
• 6920 Northwest Expressway, Oklahoma City
• 2083 NE Burnside Road, Gresham

Pennsylvania

• 125 West Lincoln Highway, Exton
• 550 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn

South Carolina

• 115 SayeBrook Parkway, Myrtle Beach

Texas

• 12812 Shops Parkway, Bee Cave
• 8101 Eldorado Parkway, McKinney
• 11745 I-10 W., San Antonio

Utah

• 1895 E. Rodeo Walk Drive, Holladay
• 4060 Riverdale Road, Suite B, Riverdale

Virginia

• 220 Constitution Drive, Virginia Beach

Founded in California in 1967, Trader Joe’s now has 581 stores across 42 states and the District of Columbia.

Dylan Marlowe took to social media about getting “kicked out” of a concert in which he was performing.

To be clear, he was performing at a music festival which included him in the lineup.

Marlowe, a country music singer, performed his set at Country Jam in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

According to Marlowe, he was escorted out by a security guard while trying to watch Jake Owen’s show.

“Getting kicked out of a concert I just played,” Marlow said in a video he later deleted, per Parade. “Got kicked out of our concert trying to watch Jake Owen. Good job, dude. I’m a huge threat.”

Per the report, Marlowe was led through the festival crowd while security kept a tight grip on his shirt.

“I just want to hop on here and kinda clear the air a little bit of what I posted yesterday,” the 28-year-old singer stated in a second video posted to replace the deleted one. “I took the video down after sleeping on it and watching church this morning. I just decided that it wasn’t fair for that festival to have this video blowing up about their festival when it was really just one bad apple in the whole thing.”

Marlowe explained he had “All Access” and “Artist Credentials” passes and had been watching Jake (Owens) from the top of a tower at the front of the house when he and a friend were approached by security.

“This dude comes up and says we can’t be there,” Marlowe explained. “We were like, ‘Hey. We have ‘All Access’ wristbands given to our tour manager for us to wear to be anywhere we want to be. … So we had two different credentials. We’re like, ‘Hey. We have these. We’re good.’ He was like, ‘No. I don’t care.’”

Marlowe explained the security guard suggested they watch the show from the pit. Of course, the singer had just gotten done performing and didn’t want to draw attention to himself.

“The last thing I want to do is make a scene during Jake Owen’s set because that, to me, is disrespectful,” he said.

So, Marlowe and his friend moved to a different location and was told to move again by the same security guard. He added that they were both removed by police officers at the request of the security personnel.

“We walk downstairs to where this guy continues to say, ‘Hey, you gotta get the F out of here. You gotta get the F outta here. You’re not allowed to be down here either,”’ Marlowe said. “We had these passes, and we knew we were allowed to be there. These cops came up and I was like, ‘Oh God.’ So we talk to these cops and we’re like, ‘Hey guys. We had these passes. Not sure what the confusion is because we were told these are ‘All Access’ passes. We’re just trying to watch the set,’ to where the cops responded, ‘This security is our boss and he’s telling us to get ya’ll out of here.’”

Marlowe said that’s when he became “rude back to the guy.”

“I’m not going to paint it like I was this perfectly great dude who wasn’t rude back to him after he was rude to me,” Marlowe said. “After that, there were definitely a few heated words exchanged with that guy, nothing crazy, but I feel like he was rude to me and I was rude back to him, and I shouldn’t have been… so I just wanted to clear things up. That’s where he grabbed my shirt, yanked me out, just wanted to clear the air a little bit to say to the festival, there’s no hard feelings. We had a great time. To that dude, I forgive you. That’s pretty much all I have to say.”

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

The death toll from Texas flash flooding around the July 4 holiday is now more than 130.

And at least 27 of those deaths were young girls or staff members staying at Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River.

One of the young Texas flooding victims was an 8-year-old girl from Alabama who was staying at Camp Mystic. And four people from a Mobile family also died when their cabin was swept away by the floods along the same river.

The tragedy has shaken many, especially parents, and caused them to wonder, could this happen in Alabama?

And what can outdoor camps do to prevent such a disaster from happening again?

“It’s a heartbreaking tragedy. And it really highlights the vulnerability that we all have across our entire country, especially in Alabama, to severe weather,” said John De Block, the warning coordinating meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Birmingham.

Camps are essentially on their own in terms of crafting a plan to deal with weather emergencies.

Alabama camps must get permits from the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Division of Food, Milk and Lodging, according to Henry DeHart, interim president and CEO of the American Camp Association.

“This is administered through their county health departments. The rules they must follow are related to ”the safety and sanitation of food, sanitation of lodging facilities,” DeHart said in a statement.

But weather doesn’t fall under that umbrella, according to the Alabama Department of Public Health.

And it appears there is no state agency that sets guidelines on weather safety. That leaves camps to set safety protocols on their own.

Many camps look for guidance from the American Camp Association, which offers accreditation services for camps nationwide.

“ACA offers a voluntary educational accreditation program for camps. ACA accreditation is a voluntary process, separate from state permitting, through which camps agree to meet ACA’s national standards for health, safety, and risk management,” DeHart said in his statement.

 Accreditation involves a review process and a site visit by ACA reviewers, he said.

There are about 20 camps in Alabama that have ACA accreditation, according to the group.

ALABAMA WEATHER WORRIES

Severe weather is a fact of life in Alabama.

While flash flooding is a concern in some areas, the entire state is vulnerable to tornadoes or severe thunderstorms nearly year round. That means lightning and winds that could knock down trees and heavy rain.

All things that put campers at risk if they’re caught off guard.

The weather service’s De Block said tornadoes and thunderstorms with damaging winds and lightning are some of the biggest concerns when it comes to campers spending time outdoors in the summer months.

While tornadoes are possible year round in Alabama, typically their numbers go down during June, July and August (unless a tropical storm or hurricane affects the area).

But that doesn’t mean there’s no cause for vigilance, he said: “But you know what happens probably four out of seven days in the summer in Alabama in the summer is a thunderstorm and the threat for lightning. Making sure that people are aware if you hear thunder, go indoors. If it roars, go indoors.”

He continued: “We typically don’t have hail but we can get localized flash flooding from thunderstorms that develop and move very slowly. You can wind up with significant flash flooding very easily in many locations across Alabama.”

The National Weather Service office in the Texas area hit by the deadly flooding has come under fire, but reports show the areas hit hardest had timely flash flood warnings, and a flash flood watch was issued days in advance.

But the flooding escalated very quickly — some reports have in less than an hour — and happened in the middle of the night when most were sleeping.

Questions remain about whether those in charge of the camps got the warnings.

And that’s the challenge the National Weather Service faces nationwide.

You can have the best warnings in the world, but they are for nothing if they are not heeded.

“My heart sinks when I realize that some people didn’t get the message,” the weather service’s De Block said about the Texas floods.

“We try time and time again to remind people of the importance of being weather aware. When a watch is issued you need to pay attention to what is going on. You need to make sure that you have multiple ways to get those weather warnings, whether it’s a flash flood warning or a tornado warning. You’ve got to be aware, especially when there’s a watch out … the watch is to get your attention. You need to be ready to see those warnings and act on them.”

THIS CAMP DOES IT RIGHT

One camp in Alabama is an example of how to be prepared. Children’s Harbor is a 36-year-old nonprofit organization that has a mission is to provide respite, resources and refuge for families of children with serious illnesses or disabilities.

Children’s Harbor runs year-round camps or retreats at its 66-acre campus at Lake Martin (there is also another facility, the Harbor Family Center, at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham). Visitors can range from children or teens facing medical challenges to their families. The summer months are particularly busy with weeklong camps for various groups.

Weather is a big concern for camp officials.

“Weather is on our mind every single day,” said Vicki Tuggle, the chief operating officer for Children’s Harbor.

“A tornado can happen any time of the year in Alabama. While Texas and New Mexico are dealing with floods, chances are we are not going to see something like that here just because of the lay of the land, but we know that tornadoes are real and they have happened. The tornadoes in 2011 really changed Children’s Harbor. We lost over 500 trees on campus when that came through.”

Since then, Tuggle said, any time a new building goes up on campus “we try to put in some sort of storm shelter. So we have at least four storm shelters on the property,” she said.

One of those shelters was built using donations from Bo Jackson’s Bo Bikes Bama. That storm shelter is also made available the the local community, Tuggle said.

Children’s Harbor allows campers a lot of time on the water, so severe storms and lightning are major concerns as well, Tuggle said.

The group reached out to the Elmore County Emergency Management agency for advice while going through the accreditation process with the American Camps Association, which has “very firm standards when it comes to emergency notification type systems and emergency procedures,” Tuggle said.

Now, she said, camp officials are automatically notified of any sort of hazardous weather.

“We can be notified automatically about watches and warnings and then we have a lightning detection software that we subscribe to,” she said.

“So when that happens we have a mass notification system that goes off. And it’s a huge speaker array, very tall pole that has loudspeakers and it will scare you if you’re not prepared for it, but we wanted to get their attention. We have it set up for a 15-mile radius, and I know that sounds far away … if they’re out on the water in a boat, then they have plenty of time to get back. Those are the biggies for us, is lightning, getting them off the water and out of the pools. And then any sort of thunderstorm or tornado activity you’re expecting.”

WEATHER SAFETY

But other camps may not have those same policies. That’s when it pays to be weather aware, whether you are the one camping or sending a child away to camp.

That may mean doing some research beforehand.

“Certainly as a camper you need to be aware of your surroundings,” De Block said.

“When you check out a campsite, find out if they have any kind of notification systems. Do they have anybody that’s watching the weather? Do they have recommendations on where to go in case of a tornado? Do they have sheltering on site? Do they have high ground nearby?

“You want your vacation and your camping experience to be as enjoyable as possible. And certainly you want to come home from your camping experience, so it’s a little bit incumbent on the camper to ensure that they’re coming to a place of safety. And … if you’re at the water’s edge, you’ve got to realize that water rises. Whether you’re the beach or a river or a lake, you need to assess the threat for flooding that’s associated with that body of water.”

The weather service continually stresses the importance of having multiple ways to receive weather information, so that if one fails there is a backup and critical warnings are received.

One of most accessible and least expensive warning alert methods is a weather radio.

“A weather radio is a very reliable device for about $30-$40,” De Block said.

“It’s a smoke detector for weather that, if I were responsible for a group of people, whether it’s kids or adults, staying at my camp, I would want to know that I have a way to be alerted of significant-impact weather. I would use a NOAA Weather Radio. I would find out in my county if there is a subscription service available that I could get phone calls for impending hazardous weather.”

Then get a phone app — many are free— that can alert you about severe weather.

And, don’t forget about federal Wireless Emergency Alerts.

“That’s also automatically installed on your phone,” De Block said. “ (And) make sure that it is on for tornadoes and flash floods. I don’t necessarily want to receive all the other options that are available to be alarmed on my phone, but tornado and flash flood … I’ve got to have those alerts.”

Because you never know how a potential disaster could unfold, he said.

“Is the cell phone coverage going to go out? You hope and trust that the weather radio will still be up. If the weather radio goes out, hopefully you still have internet access and you’ve got apps on your phone. You’ve got telephone service to fill in those gaps. By having multiple systems you have redundant methods of receiving those life-saving warnings,” he said.

Heat advisories will be in effect for sections of Alabama on both Monday and Tuesday.

The National Weather Service is forecasting highs in the mid-90s both days for wide areas in the state.

Add to that the July Alabama humidity and it will feel much hotter, possibly as hot as 107 to even 112 degrees, according to the weather service.

Here are Monday’s expected high temperatures:

The “coolest” spot could end up being northeast Alabama, where there will be a higher chance for rain and storms today.

The hottest spot could be southeast Alabama. Dothan has a forecast high today of 98 degrees.

Tuesday could be a degree or two hotter in many areas. Here is the forecast for Tuesday:

Many spots in south Alabama could get close to triple digits on Tuesday for highs.

There will be chances for scattered rain and storms both today and Tuesday.

The Storm Prediction Center has dropped a Level 1 risk for severe weather for today for Alabama but has added another Level 1 risk for east Alabama for Tuesday:

A Level 1 risk means that isolated severe storms will be possible.

Temperatures are forecast to back off — a bit — from Wednesday through the end of the work week, with forecast highs still in the 90s but the lower 90s for many locations, according to weather service forecasts.

Here is a look at the heat advisories that will be in effect for Alabama:

NORTH ALABAMA

Heat advisory from 11 a.m. Monday until 8 p.m. for Lauderdale, Colbert, Franklin, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan and Cullman counties.

The National Weather Service in Huntsville said the heat index could reach 108 degrees in those areas this afternoon.

CENTRAL ALABAMA

A heat advisory will be in effect from 11 a.m. Monday until 9 p.m. Tuesday for the following counties in central Alabama: Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Walker, Winston, Autauga, Bibb, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Marengo, Montgomery, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Tuscaloosa.

The National Weather Service in Birmingham said the heat index could reach 107 degrees on both Monday and Tuesday afternoons.

SOUTH ALABAMA

A heat advisory will be in effect from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Monday for Washington, Escambia, Mobile and Baldwin counties.

The National Weather Service in Mobile said the heat index could climb as high as 110 degrees in those areas today.

Another heat advisory will be in effect today from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. CDT for the southeast Alabama counties of Geneva and Houston.

The National Weather Service in Tallahassee said the heat index could reach 112 degrees in those two counties today.

If Mobile’s annual Gulf Coast Ethnic and Heritage Jazz Festival was just one night of poetry and three nights of music, it’d be a good time.

But by the time the public entertainment starts on Thursday, July 24, some participants will already have spent two weeks living up to the “heritage” part of the name. That was evident one day last week at the History Museum of Mobile, when Andrew Ayers and others conducted a session of the Marcus Johnson Summer Jazz Camp, a program named for a founder of the Bay City Brass Band who died in 2014 at 43.

Ayers was leading an ensemble of about two dozen middle- and high-school-age participants. Four days in, they were learning to take turns improvising solos as the group vamped through verses and choruses. “Everybody say less is more,” Ayers said, after one ragged but promising session.

The program promises “celebrity guest artists.” One of those on hand wasn’t acting like a celebrity: Ted Keeby, a bandleader and stalwart of the Mobile scene, was sitting in the back row in shorts and a T-shirt, playing bass and giving pointers to the student next to him. That student happened to be his grandson, Nate Keeby, playing a keyboard bigger than he was.

Generational exchange and deep local roots are a given with this festival. The Marcus Johnson Jazz Camp Orchestra will perform at a July 25 gala that also will feature Andrew Ayers & Friends.

Festival founder Creola Ruffin said the same night’s program also would feature a special appearance by Mobile natives, Williamson High School graduates and lifetime educators Willie Lee Hill and Fred Irby III. Hill’s resume includes a lengthy tenure as leader of the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts Amherst; Irby recently retired after spearheading jazz education at Howard University for 51 years.

The two will be honored with the Hosea London Jazz Education Award. “They are so happy to be coming home,” Ruffin said.

That’ll be followed the next night by a chance to see the genre-melding, guitar-driven music of Mobile-area act Roman Street and a Mobile Big Band performance featuring an all-too-rare guest appearance by Fred Fred Wesley Jr. Wesley is a trombonist and arranger from Mobile whose credits include extensive work with James Brown and funk pioneer George Clinton. His memoir “Hit Me, Fred” includes a wonderful account of the musical education he got from an older generation of Mobile jazz players before his first professional job put him on the road with Ike & Tina Turner.

A third night of music will feature both the Excelsior Band and the Jukebox Brass Band, among other acts, exploring another side of Mobile musical tradition.

Festival founders established their credo long ago, saying the event was created “in the belief that ‘ethnic’ means everybody and ‘heritage’ is not some fixed point in the past.”

Our purpose is still the same,” said Ruffin. “Keeping jazz alive for future generations. In saying that, we are so happy this year that we have some of Mobile’s legendary musicians that are coming in. That’s what I’m most excited about.”

“Just to be able to get them all in one place at one time, we were just blessed to be able to do that,” she said of Irby, Hill and Wesley. “That’s the most joyous thing about this particular festival.”

The schedule of events:

Thursday, July 24, 6 p.m.-8 p.m. – The festival traditionally kicks off with “An Evening of Poetry,” a spoken-word event that tends to be full of surprises. This year’s event takes place at the Historic Avenue Cultural Center, 564 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. Huggy Bear Da Poet will serve as host. Admission is $10. Advance tickets are available through Eventbrite.com.

Friday, July 25, 7 p.m. – The annual Hosea London Jazz Music and Education Award Gala will be held at the Temple Downtown, 351 St. Francis St. Entertainment will include performances by Andrew Ayers & Friends and the Marcus Johnson Summer Jazz Camp Orchestra. Tickets are $40.

Saturday, July 26, 6:30 p.m. – A second night of music at the Temple Downtown will feature Roman Street, the Mobile Big Band with Fred Wesley Jr. and Tonya Boyd-Cannon with Keep It Live. Boyd-Cannon, who was featured in Season 8 of “The Voice,” is a Mississippi-born, New Orleans-based artist who has appeared at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Essence Music Festival. Tickets are $25.

Sunday, July 27, 4 pm. – Music continues at the Temple Downtown, starting with a second line with the Excelsior Band. The following lineup includes Mobile-area artist Alvin King & the Fifth K’Nection, Jukebox Brass Band and Gino Rosaria. Tickets are $25.

RELATED: Mobile’s big-band tradition lives on, in an unlikely venue at the water’s edge

Texas A&M lineman Ar’maj Reed-Adams likes Tennessee’s uniforms.

“That orange and black combination is fire,” Reed-Adams said.

But he wanted to be completely clear, he only likes Tennessee’s orange.

“The other orange is shitty,” Reed-Adams said.

AL.com spent SEC Media Days in Atlanta asking 23 players the same question: Who has the best uniform in the SEC? The only catch: You could not say your school.

We did not limit players to one vote. If a school/uniform was mentioned while a player answered, that was considered a vote for the purpose of tallying them up. Most players limited their answers to one or two, though.

One more important disclaimer — Most players did not distinguish an exact uniform. Only one of the top vote recipients had a specific uniform mentioned (Texas A&M). Otherwise, players primarily answered with a school’s overall uniform combinations.

Here are the unscientific results after polling 23 players across 12 SEC schools.

How many received votes?

Ten different schools received votes: Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, LSU, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.

Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt each received one vote.

“I would say I like Missouri’s all-black,” said Kentucky linebacker Alex Afari Jr. “They’ve got a little bit of yellow in it. I like that.”

Meanwhile, his teammate showed support for Vanderbilt’s all-black uniform.

“I just feel like theirs sticks out, the V on the Commodore helmet,” said Kentucky defensive back Jordan Lovett.

T-4th place (3 votes): Tennessee uniform combinations

The Vols picked up three votes for their uniforms.

Mississippi State safety Isaac Smith was another voter, because “orange is my favorite color.” Texas A&M defensive back Will Lee III also showed support for Tennessee.

“The combos they put together are nice,” Lee said.

T-4th place (3 votes): Texas A&M’s all-black uniforms

The Aggies received three votes for their all-black uniforms, specifically. Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold, Missouri safety Daylan Carnell and Missouri lineman Connor Tollison each voted in support.

“I would say the Texas A&M blackout is a really good look for them,” Tollison said.

T-2nd place (4 votes): Florida’s uniform combinations

Oklahoma defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings knew his answer right away.

“I like Florida’s,” he said. “Florida has a lot of combinations. I’m going Florida for sure.”

Kentucky tight end Josh Kattus specifically likes Florida’s all-black uniforms.

“I think those are pretty cool,” Kattus said. “I don’t know what it is. I kind of like the blue and orange color.”

T-2nd place (4 votes): LSU’s uniform combinations

Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk was among the most certain of those surveyed when he picked LSU.

“They have different color combinations that go with anything,” Faulk said. “They have a purple jersey with white. It’s just the different color combinations they have that make it the best in the SEC.”

Tennessee defensive lineman Bryson Eason also voted for LSU in that he likes the colors.

“They all come together in one,” Eason said. “They look so clean.”

1st place (7 votes): Ole Miss’ uniform combinations

There are powder blue options. Red. Navy. White. Helmets. Pants. Jerseys. There is no shortage of options. But it was clear Ole Miss had the most popular combinations overall.

“If I wasn’t wearing a Texas Longhorns jersey, I always thought that Ole Miss had cool colors,” said Texas safety Michael Taaffe.

There wasn’t consensus on the exact uniform, and that’s not surprising considering Ole Miss has more than a dozen possibilities.

“What’s that new color way Ole Miss came out with?” Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter asked. “Powder blue? That one was really sweet. I like that.”

Ole Miss garnered support across the conference, including from Alabama tackle Kadyn Proctor, Oklahoma defensive lineman R Mason Thomas, and Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks, among others.

“It’s that red I like a little bit and that navy blue they’ve got going on,” Banks said. “That (powder blue). It’s pretty cool.”

Nick Kelly is an Alabama beat writer for AL.com and the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X and Instagram.

Leading up to the 2025 season, AL.com is highlighting the top high school football players in Alabama.

Our first statewide list focused on the best running backs in 6A, our second list focused on the best defensive linemen in 6A, our third list focused on the best wide receivers in 6A, our fourth list focused on the best tight ends in 6A, and our fifth list focused on the best linebackers in 6A. Our sixth list focuses on the best quarterbacks in 6A.

We contacted coaches across the state and asked them to fill out a survey requesting information about their team. These lists were compiled primarily based on the information provided by the coaches who chose to respond.

If you are an Alabama high school football coach who did not receive the survey, email [email protected] or [email protected]. We will continue to add to these lists throughout the summer.

BEST QUARTERBACKS, ALABAMA 6A

Brock Bradley, sr., Spain Park

Bradley passed for 2,667 yards and 32 touchdowns (only five interceptions) as a junior en route to first-team Birmingham News all-region accolades and honorable mention all-state from the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He added six touchdowns on the ground as the Jaguars rolled to the 6A quarterfinals. “He makes us go,” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said. Bradley committed to Clemson last summer. He said his strengths as a quarterback include his accuracy, leadership, decision-making and poise — or “staying calm when bullets are flying,” in Bradley’s words. He added that he’s been working on making quicker reads and playing faster; the Jaguars have increased their scoring average each year since 2022, and Bradley said he thinks they can make a further jump in that category this season.

Kaleb Carson, sr., Homewood

“Kaleb is the best all-around athlete in our school,” Patriots coach Ben Berguson said. Carson will take over this season as the team’s full-time starting quarterback. As a junior, he totaled 17 touchdowns — eight passing, eight rushing, one receiving. In Homewood’s playoff game against Fort Payne last fall, Carson accounted for 440 of the Patriots’ 500 yards of offense. “He is very good at adapting to different situations,” Berguson said. “He picks up schemes quickly, often demonstrating a high-level understanding of timing, coverage tendencies and situational awareness.” He demonstrates a similar vision and awareness on the basketball court — Carson is a top college recruit as a point guard.

Kade Clemmons, sr., Muscle Shoals

Clemmons passed for nearly 2,000 yards last season and had 350 more yards on the ground. He had 20 touchdown passes and was intercepted only twice. “I believe my greatest strengths as a quarterback are my ability to move within the pocket, escape pressure when necessary, and make accurate throws on the run,” he said. “I’m confident in my deep ball and take pride in making big-time throws when the opportunity presents itself.” He said he’s been focused this offseason on improving his touch and overall accuracy and is excited for whatever his senior season holds. “As a team, we’re built on faith, brotherhood and trust in one another — and I believe that foundation will take us far,” Clemmons said.

Hayden Coley, sr., Baldwin County

As he enters his final high school season, Coley is leaving nothing to chance. “I have been working hard this offseason on ‘playing the game in my head,’ as my offensive coordinator would say,” he said. “Having a better understanding of what the defense is doing before the snap has helped me to play with a lot more confidence and speed.” Coley also has gained more than 20 pounds and reduced his 40-yard dash time from 5.1 seconds to 4.8. He said he has big expectations for the Tigers this season, but his top priority is leaving the program in a positive place. “I have big football-related goals for the team this year because I know what we are capable of,” Coley said. “But my main goal for this season is to create a culture that will last after I’m gone.”

Nate Ferguson, sr., Helena

Huskies coach Richie Busby describes Ferguson as a true leader of the offense and a student of the game. Ferguson also is an exceptional student in the classroom, as his 4.2 GPA would attest. “I feel that I am a tough, hard-nosed QB that can make plays with both my arm and legs,” Ferguson said. “I lead by example and am fully committed to helping my brothers and coaches be successful.” Ferguson said he’s spent countless hours this offseason working with his receivers and running backs to perfect their timing and chemistry. “My goals for the upcoming season are all about focusing on the success of the Helena Huskies football team,” Ferguson said. “We want to leave everything on the field on Friday nights, win the region and make a huge push in the state playoffs.”

Kai Franklin, sr., Gadsden City

Franklin passed for 2,207 yards and 22 touchdowns last season and was intercepted only two times. Asked about his biggest strengths as a quarterback, Franklin mentioned three things. First is his poise in the backfield and his knack for staying calm under pressure. Next is his playmaking ability. “I like being able to make something out of nothing and give our team second opportunities,” he said. Third, his IQ. “When it comes to knowing what is going on, what the defense is doing, I think that’s what helps me be poised and calm most of the time,” he said. As a junior, Franklin set Titans program records for pass attempts, completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. He’s also a star guard for the Gadsden City boys basketball team. But here’s the most impressive thing about him — his GPA is 4.8.

Rico Freeman, sr., Pinson Valley

Freeman has played quarterback and wide receiver for Pinson Valley. His yards-after-catch ability is part of what makes him successful when he’s behind center. “I would say Rico’s strengths are definitely his ability to scramble and make defenders miss as well as his incredible arm strength,” Pinson Valley senior wide receiver Christian Thomas said. “His game is definitely wild and unexpected but in a positive way. He makes plays that we didn’t think were possible.” As a junior, Freeman threw for 823 yards and eight touchdowns, rushed for 588 yards and four scores, and had 215 yards and a touchdown receiving. He received honorable mention all-region from the Birmingham News. “My favorite thing about Rico is his positivity and his unselfishness, as he always puts the team first,” Thomas said. “He gives everything he has to this team every Friday night, and I couldn’t ask for a better teammate.”

Aaron Frye, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Frye is a do-it-all quarterback who received all-region honorable mention from the Birmingham News after a junior season in which he passed for nearly 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns and rushed for nearly 600 yards and seven scores. “I feel like my strengths are being able to extend plays but also having my eyes in the right spots to get the ball out on time and being a big part in the run game also,” he said. Frye intends to continue playing football after his senior season with the Cougars — he hasn’t picked a college, but he has numerous Division I offers, and he said his plan is to enroll in January.

Brody Gossett, jr., Pell City

Gossett is a guard for the Panthers’ boys basketball team and a dual-threat quarterback for the football team who also has played wide receiver. He accounted for nearly 1,300 yards and 11 touchdowns as a sophomore. Gossett, who excels in the play-action game, said he’s been working to improve his footwork this offseason. “If you have good feet, you will be a good QB,” he said.

Blake Griggs, sr., Fort Payne

Griggs is a two-year starter at wide receiver who is taking over at quarterback this season from the graduated Dax Varnadore. He said he thinks his experience as a wideout will help him be successful at the new position. “I think my skill of being able to find open grass and windows as a wide receiver will benefit me in several ways,” he said. “For example, being able to be on the same page as my guys running routes this year.” He said he’s spent the offseason working on how to read a defense and learning about all the key details that come with quarterbacking. Griggs also is a standout baseball player who hit for the cycle in the Wildcats’ first-round playoff win against Muscle Shoals.

Jud Harris, jr., Gulf Shores

“Controlled chaos.” That’s how Harris describes his play as a quarterback. “Regardless of how the game is going, I am in the driver seat, and it’s always next-play mindset,” he said. Harris has started since his freshman season, when he led the Dolphins to a 15-0 record and the 5A state championship. He said he’s been working this offseason on picking up the blitz and getting the ball off with a quick release. Harris is a 4.0 student and a top prospect on the baseball diamond. “I would recommend being a multisport athlete to anyone,” he said. “It has improved my arm strength and athleticism overall drastically.”

Cayden Hofbauer, sr., Mountain Brook

Hofbauer is the epitome of a dual-threat quarterback. “He is one of the fastest guys I have ever seen — and there is plenty of film to prove it,” Spartans senior center Rocco Gray said. As a junior, Hofbauer passed for 1,116 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he added 633 yards rushing. In the winter, he was a part of Mountain Brook’s state-champion 4×400-meter relay indoor track team. According to Gray, Hofbauer is even more impressive as a teammate. “He has a great work ethic and truly cares about the game and the success of the team,” Gray said. “There’s not anyone else I would rather have catching my snaps and to be protecting.”

Crishon Overton, sr., Theodore

An injury to the Bobcats’ starting quarterback gave Overton, previously a wide receiver, an opportunity to take over behind center as a sophomore, and he hasn’t looked back. One of the highlight-reel plays of the past several seasons in Alabama high school football is Overton’s 35-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass to JJ Bush as time expired to give Theodore a stunning 16-14 victory at Gulf Shores last October. “He is smart and has great IQ of the game,” Bobcats junior running back Kendrick Able Jr. said. “He knows everyone’s job and can make adjustments efficiently.” Able said Overton also is the commanding presence every team hopes to have at the quarterback position. “He is hands-down a great leader,” Able said. “He takes accountability for everything without hesitation — even when it’s not his fault.”

Justin Patton, sr., McAdory

Carter Feagin is a highly recruited wide receiver for the Yellowjackets in the class of 2027. He points out that Patton helps make his job easier. “He always puts the ball in places his receivers can make plays,” Feagin said. Patton threw for 1,760 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. In March, he stood out as one of the top performers at the Polynesian Bowl Combine in Las Vegas. Feagin said 2025 should be Patton’s best season yet. “He has a strong arm and can make just about any pass on the field,” Feagin said. “He’s a smart player and is always poised in the pocket and never lets one play get to him. He’s also mobile when he has to be, which is an underrated part of his game.”

Jaedyn Powell, sr., Hueytown

Powell is entering his first season as the starting quarterback, but he played several meaningful snaps for the Golden Gophers last year. “He has a strong arm and can make every throw,” Hueytown coach Greg Patterson said. “He is a smart young man who brings a great approach during meetings and on the field. Jaedyn is a great leader for our team.” Powell is coming off a standout performance in the Golden Gophers’ spring game.

Kingston Preyear, so., Benjamin Russell

His sophomore year hasn’t started, and Preyear already is a two-time state champion on the football field. He won in 4A and 5A the past two seasons with Montgomery Catholic, and he’ll try to add a 6A crown after transferring to Benjamin Russell. As a Knights freshman, Preyear completed 70 percent of his pass attempts for 1,787 yards and 20 touchdowns (only two interceptions) for the top-ranked offense in 5A. This year? “The sky’s the limit,” Wildcats coach Kirk Johnson said. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Preyear’s frame makes him the prototypical quarterback for college scouts. He has offers from Florida International, Georgia State, Houston, Mississippi, Purdue and Troy. He also has the intangibles coaches at every level want in their signal-caller. “My role on the team is to lead at all times, on and off the field,” Preyear said.

Dylan Reese, sr., Parker

As a junior, Reese threw for 1,876 yards and 14 touchdowns and led the Thundering Herd to the 6A state championship. It can’t get any better than that, right? Wrong — Reese has put himself in position to have an even better season in 2025. “I’ve been focused on getting stronger without putting on bad weight,” he said. “I’ve worked a lot on footwork, film study and my deep ball placement. I’m also building chemistry with my receivers — timing and trust are everything.” The improvements were on display during the team’s spring game against Carver Montgomery, when Reese passed for 226 yards and five touchdowns in one half of action. Reese said he takes pride in his ability to stay calm under pressure and make smart decisions with the ball. “He has a great arm, but he will run over you if he has to,” Parker senior running back Chancellor Sparks said. “He is also a high-IQ player and one of the leaders for our team.”

Bryson Riggins, sr., Russell County

Warriors coach Dillon Griggs can’t say enough about his star quarterback. “Leader of the team. Bryson is great at everything that he can control,” Griggs said. “He is the most consistent player I’ve ever been around. I’ve never seen a high school QB with a higher football IQ. He always keeps us in good situations.” As a junior, Riggins threw for a 6A-best 3,251 yards and 40 touchdowns, including an ASHAA record-tying nine touchdown passes in one game. He received honorable mention all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Here’s the scary part for opponents: Riggins might be even better in 2025. “This offseason I have been working on adding a couple of pounds, adding more tools to my bag and finding more ways to be the best version of myself for my team,” Riggins said, adding that his personal goals for his senior season are to pass for 4,000 yards and 50 touchdowns.

Jamison Roberts, jr., Saraland

KJ Lacey was the Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team all-state quarterback last year after leading Saraland to the 6A championship game for the third consecutive season. He won the state’s Mr. Football award and finished No. 2 in passing yards in AHSAA history. The first shot at replacing him goes to Roberts, and the Spartans already know he’s up to the challenge — Roberts filled in admirably at times when Lacey couldn’t play. “Jamison is a leader and a competitor,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said. “He gained respect and confidence when he was forced to lead the team last year due to an injury with Lacey.” Roberts has six Division I offers, including from North Alabama, South Alabama and Troy. Kelly said Roberts can make all the throws. “He’s just a great athlete,” Kelly added. “He is ready to take the reins of the Spartan offense, and I expect him to be a dominant player.”

Aaden Shamburger, sr., Spanish Fort

Shamburger is a two-year starter for the Toros who has accounted for 36 touchdowns in high school. He said his strengths as a quarterback “are being able to extend plays when the pocket collapses and using my running ability when I have to.” He’s been working with his quarterbacks coach, David Morris, this offseason to improve his accuracy. “Aaden has really grown as a leader and at the QB position overall,” Spanish Fort coach Chase Smith said. “We’re looking for big things from him this season.” Shamburger committed to South Alabama in June.

Vernon “VJ” Slaughter, jr., Bessemer City

Slaughter had to sit and watch after transferring from Jackson-Olin midway through his sophomore season. But now? “He’ll be The Man for us this year,” Tigers coach Antonio Nelson said. Nelson describes the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Slaughter as a pro-style quarterback. “Strong-armed kid,” Nelson said. “He can really sling it.” The coach also lauds Slaughter’s leadership abilities. “Kids cling to him on the offensive side of the ball,” Nelson said. “He’s a great and wonderful young man. You can talk to him, he’ll talk ball with you. He loves it.”

Dylan Smith, jr., Pelham

Smith started as a sophomore and, in the words of Panthers coach Ross Newton, “showed his toughness and had plenty of learning experiences.” The coach thinks those lessons will pay off for Smith in 2025. “He is surrounded by weapons, and in this new system, he could have a breakout year if he can get the ball in all the playmakers’ hands,” Newton said. Smith’s teammates also see the potential. “Dylan is as cool as they come at QB,” Pelham senior linebacker Joe Hampton said. “He can make any throw on the field. He’ll win us a few games this year and be a top QB in 2027.” Smith is a standout catcher and infielder for the school’s baseball team.

Jordan Ward, sr., Calera

Ward joined the Eagles from Montevallo. As a junior, he passed for 1,672 yards, rushed for 1,328 yards and accounted for 23 touchdowns. He said he’s been spending the offseason working to build chemistry with his new teammates and preparing his arm to make at least twice the number of throws he made last season — the Bulldogs passed about 15 times per game, whereas Ward expects to make 30-40 attempts each game for Calera. “I’ve built so much chemistry with the guys on and off the field,” Ward said. “They trust me, and I trust them to make plays, and I definitely trust my line to protect me.”

For complete coverage of Alabama high school football, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit AL.com’s high school sports section throughout the season.

Country music stars have been making it a point to poke fun at the “Coldplay” kiss-cam scandal during their performances recently.

Andy Byron, the CEO of Astronomer who was caught in an embrace at a Coldplay concert with the company’s chief people officer Kristin Cabot, has resigned his position.

The Internet has created more memes than one can count.

And country music performers have gotten in on the fun.

Morgan Wallen, Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean all made references to a the Coldplay concert, where a couple was shown on the big screen. They were cuddling and smiling, Byron’s arms wrapped around her, as she leaned back into him. When they saw themselves on the big screen, her jaw dropped, her hands flew to her face and she spun away from the camera. He ducked out of the frame, as did she.

On Friday in Arizona, Wallen told concertgoers, “Anybody in here with their side chick or whatever, I think you’re safe here,” as the fans began to cheer.

He added, “I don’t condone cheating, anymore.”

Aldean posted the following to his Instagram story: “Bring your girl to the Aldean show before her CEO does. Just saying.”

Bryan, meanwhile, on Thursday night, asked his crowd if anyone had their “secretary” with them at his concert.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.

This is an opinion column.

Let’s talk about THE University of Alabama. So-called. Let’s talk about its football scheduling philosophy. So contradictory.

On the one hand, Alabama football has set a standard for what non-conference scheduling should be. Florida State and Wisconsin this season. Ohio State and Notre Dame on the horizon. Power conference opponents galore for years.

Salute. That’s big-boy scheduling befitting one of the sport’s biggest brands.

So why can’t the folks at the Capstone get it right when they go searching for other non-conference opponents to throw money and opportunity at? Why won’t they, like Auburn, keep it down home, cuz?

Because it can be done. It’s being done all across the SEC. Shout out to Florida. The Gators know home is where the heart is. They’ll play three games this season against teams from the Sunshine State, at home against South Florida and annual rival Florida State, on the road against Miami.

Hat tip to South Carolina. The Gamecocks also understand what it means to share the water from the local well. They’ll play three in-state opponents in South Carolina State, Coastal Carolina and traditional rival Clemson.

In all, 11 of the SEC’s 16 football teams will play 18 non-conference games this season without crossing state lines. Brian Kelly, whose LSU team will play Louisiana Tech and Southeastern Louisiana, explained at SEC Media Days.

“Why not play the schools from your own state and share the revenue?” Kelly said. “If we’re going to have to pay somebody to come in and play us, why not pay your in-state schools and take care of them?”

Good question. It’s one we’ve been asking Alabama for decades, through one coach and athletics director after another. Not one of them has provided a good answer.

Greg Byrne reiterated the longstanding party line shortly after coming on board as the Alabama athletics director in 2017. During his first visit to the SEC spring meeting in that position, he made it clear that he was not going to change the system.

“I think we have a very good (scheduling) model that’s worked well for us,” he said, “and I don’t see that changing.”

During Nick Saban’s 17-year Alabama tenure, the coach who didn’t mind playing Louisiana schools while at LSU punted every time that ball entered his court. He called it “a philosophy that’s above my paygrade.” As if any subject related to Alabama football were above his paygrade.

The head coach has changed, but Alabama still stands alone on that defiant island. Of the five SEC teams that don’t play an in-state, non-conference opponent this season, the other four have done it far more recently than Alabama.

Missouri, Oklahoma and Vanderbilt have done it since 2021. It’s been a good long while for Ole Miss, but the Rebels did play Southern Miss back in 1984.

How stubborn has Alabama been? You have to go back 81 years to 1944 – the year before World War II ended – to find the last time the Crimson Tide stepped on the same football field as another school in the state not named Auburn. On Oct. 7, 1944, Alabama beat Samford, then known as Howard College, 63-7.

Auburn has been a much better neighbor in terms of spending its money on guarantee games on Alabama schools. The Tigers have played an in-state non-conference opponent 10 times in the last 14 years. They’ve met Samford four times, Alabama A&M three times, Alabama State twice and Jacksonville State once in that span.

Auburn’s record in those games: 10-0. Only Jax State made the Tigers sweat. In 2015, Gus Malzahn’s third Auburn team had to score with 39 seconds left to force overtime. In the extra period, the heavy favorite escaped with a 27-20 victory.

When Auburn welcomes South Alabama to Jordan-Hare Stadium for homecoming on Sept. 13, the Jaguars will become the sixth in-state school the Tigers have chosen to play since 1996, when they beat UAB in their only meeting. Auburn is scheduled to add North Alabama to that list in 2028. The noteworthy omission from Auburn’s willingness to give its in-state brethren an opportunity and a payday is Troy.

Alabama supporters like to argue that it’s not the Crimson Tide’s responsibility to help fund or promote anyone else’s program. That point would carry more weight if Alabama weren’t funding and promoting programs from other states in other conferences that compete directly with in-state schools.

Last season, Alabama paid Western Kentucky $1.9 million to christen the Kalen DeBoer era in Tuscaloosa, a game the Tide dominated 63-0. The Hilltoppers are a member of Conference USA, where they compete with Jacksonville State. Imagine how much Jax State would benefit from a one-day payday of $1.9 million and how much it would mean to the Gamecocks to compete in Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Not that not playing Alabama bothered JSU. In its second year in the league, its second season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Jax State destroyed Western Kentucky in the C-USA Championship Game 52-12.

This season, while the Gamecocks head to Central Florida, UAB visits Tennessee and Troy travels to Clemson in payday games, Alabama will spend its money on Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois.

Sigh. Out-of-state opponents. Out-of-state students. And you call yourself THE University of Alabama.