Final A-List Rankings: Who moved up, who moved in this season?
Thompson’s Peter Woods finished his final high school football season the same way he started it – at the top.
The Clemson signee, the No. 1 player on AL.com’s summer A-List of top senior recruits in the state, is still No. 1.
AL.com released its revamped and final A-List for the 2022 season on Sunday with the 6-foot-3, 270-pound Woods still at the top. He edged Carver’s 5-star defensive duo of James Smith and Qua Russaw to remain No. 1.
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“He is a gamechanger for sure,” Thompson defensive coordinator Shawn DeFoor said. “He can do so many things. We stood him up some, but we played him more on the line because of depth. He’s agile enough to play Mike linebacker. He is a difference maker. I’m going to miss Peter Woods.”
Woods was a part of four straight Class 7A state title teams for the Warriors. He finished his senior season with 77 tackles, including 21 for a loss, and 9 sacks. He also was the MVP of Alabama’s win over Mississippi in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic. He had 8 tackles, two sacks and seven tackles for a loss in the win.
Auburn High coach Keith Etheredge coached against Woods in the Class 7A championship game before the two joined forces in the All-Star Game.
“He’s really, really good,” Etheredge said.
The final A-List features a pair of newcomers from the original list in Selma DB Dakaari Nelson and Highland Home DL Keldric Faulk.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Hunter Osborne made the biggest jump within the A-List, moving from No. 13 in August to No. 7 in December.
Alabama’s Jeremiah Cobb of Montgomery Catholic High School runs the ball during the Alabama Mississippi All-Star Game, Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
15. Jeremiah Cobb, RB, Montgomery Catholic
Original A-List rank: 14
College: Neither Auburn nor Montgomery Catholic has announced Cobb’s official signing, but he is expected to be a Tiger and will be celebrated in February with his Catholic teammates.
The skinny: A first team Class 4A All-State selection, Cobb rushed for 2,163 yards and 30 touchdowns on 195 carries as a senior – an average of 11 yards per carry. He also had 24 receptions for 561 yards and 8 TDs and a kickoff return for a score. He finished his high school career with 6,567 rushing yards and 75 TDs.
Penn State head coach James Franklin greets recruit Dakaari Nelson before the Rutgers game on Nov. 20, 2021. Joe Hermitt | [email protected]
14. Dakaari Nelson, DB, Selma
Original A-List rank: Not ranked
College: Signed with Penn State
The skinny: A first-team Class 5A All-State selection, Nelson finished the season with 80 tackles and 8 interceptions. He also had a pair of sacks and played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.
Wilkin Formby (75) is a standout offensive tackle for Northridge High School in Tuscaloosa. Formby starts the season at No. 10 on the 2022 AL.com A-List of the top 15 senior prospects. He plans play football at the University of Alabama and enroll in December 2022. (Submitted)
13. Wilkin Formby, OL, Northridge
Original A-List rank: 10
College: Signed with Alabama
The skinny: The 6-foot-7, 295-pound Formby is a first-team Class 6A All-State selection and finalist for Lineman of the Year. He graded out at 91 percent as a senior.
Central-Phenix City’s Tomarrion Parker sacks Hewitt-Trussville’s Peyton Floyd during an AHSAA football game Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett for AL.com)Julie Bennett for AL.com
12. Tomarrion Parker, DL, Central-Phenix City
Original A-List rank: 11
College: Signed with Clemson
The skinny: The one-time Penn State commit ended up signing with Dabo Swinney and the Tigers. He finished his final season at Central with 63 tackles, including 16.5 for a loss, and 12 sacks.
Central High-Phenix City’s AJ Harris tackles Auburn High’s DV Williams during an AHSAA football game Friday, Oct. 14, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett | [email protected])Julie Bennett | [email protected]
11. AJ Harris, DB, Central-Phenix City
Original A-List rank: 9
College: Signed with Georgia
The skinny: After transferring from Glenwood, Harris helped Central-Phenix City to the Class 7A state semifinals. He finished the season with 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and 3 INTs.
Thompson’s Tony Mitchell, left, and Peter Woods check out their phones during a football scholarship signing ceremony at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
10. Tony Mitchell, DB, Thompson
Original A-List rank: 4
College: After flirting with Auburn and Texas A&M, Mitchell ended up sticking with his original commitment and signing with Alabama.
The skinny: Though he missed his team’s first three playoff games, Mitchell returned in the Class 7A championship and helped the Warriors beat Auburn. He finished the season with 56 tackles, 8 TFL and 6 PBUs.
Alabama’s Christopher Vizzina of Briarwood Christian High School runs the all during the Alabama Mississippi All-Star Game, Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
9. Christopher Vizzina, QB, Briarwood Christian
Original A-List rank: 6
College: Signed with Clemson
The skinny: The state’s top senior quarterback committed to Dabo Swinney’s Tigers in April and never wavered. He threw for 1,828 yards and 16 TDs and ran for 341 yards and 11 scores for Briarwood.
South’s Keldric Faulk (44) grabs a rebound against the North during the AHSAA All Star basketball game at the Multiplex in Montgomery, Ala., Tuesday, July 19, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
8. Keldric Faulk, DL, Highland Home
Original A-List rank: Not ranked
College: Faulk flipped his commitment from Florida State on NSD and signed with Auburn.
The skinny: Faulk finished with 89 tackles, 23 TFL and 4 sacks for the Flying Squadron. He also caught 28 passes on offense for 586 yards and 8 TDs and ran 22 times for 155 yards and 5 scores.
Hunter Osborne, Hewitt-Trussville, DL (Alabama) practices for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
7. Hunter Osborne, DL, Hewitt-Trussville
Original A-List rank: 13
College: Signed with Alabama
The skinny: A Class 7A Lineman of the Year finalist, Osborne had 52 tackles, 7 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks for Josh Floyd’s Huskies.
Florence Jahlil Hurley (3) carries the ball against Huntsville during the first half of a football game Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 in Huntsville, Ala. (AL.Com Photo/Butch Dill)AL.COM
6. Jahlil Hurley, DB, Florence
Original A-List rank: 5
College: Signed with Alabama
The skinny: Hurley led the Falcons defense with 56 tackles and 4 interceptions. He also had 4 TD receptions on offense.
Gardendale’s Kelby Collins tackles Hueytown quarterback Earl Woods in Gardendale, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
5. Kelby Collins, DL, Gardendale
Original A-List rank: 8
College: Signed with Florida
The skinny: A Class 6A Lineman of the Year finalist, Collins finished the year for the Rockets with 111 tackles, 9.5 TFL and 14 sacks.
Alabama’s Yhonzae Pierre of Eufaula High School sacks Mississippi’s Bray Hubbard of Ocean Springs High School for a loss during the Alabama Mississippi All-Star Game, Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
4. Yhonzae Pierre, DL, Eufaula
Original A-List rank: 7
College: Signed with Alabama
The skinny: A finalist for 5A Lineman of the Year, Pierre had 64 tackles, 23 tackles for a loss and 10 sacks. He also caught a pair of TD passes from the tight end spot.
Carver-Montgomery’s Jaquavious Russaw looks on at the St. Paul’s at Carver-Montgomery high school football playoff game at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
3. Qua Russaw, LB, Carver-Montgomery
Original A-List rank: 2
College: Signed with Alabama
The skinny: Russaw finished with 80 tackles, including 15 for a loss, and 5 sacks. He took center stage a year ago when teammate James Smith was not on the field, racking up 16 sacks as a junior.
Carver-Montgomery’s James Smith lines up at the St. Paul’s at Carver-Montgomery high school football playoff game at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
2. James Smith, DL, Carver-Montgomery
Original A-List rank: 3
College: Signed with Alabama
The skinny: Smith finished the season with 75 tackles, including 13 for a loss, and 9 sacks. He missed most of his junior season after transferring briefly to IMG Academy and then transferring back to Carver.
Alabama’s Peter Woods of Thompson High School tackles Mississippi’s Jeleel Fleming of Vicksburg High School for a loss of yardage during the Alabama Mississippi All-Star Game, Saturday, December 10, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
1. Peter Woods, DL, Thompson
Original A-List rank: 1
College: Signed with Clemson
The skinny: Woods was a part of four straight Class 7A state title teams for the Warriors. He finished his senior season with 77 tackles, including 21 for a loss, and 9 sacks.