Alabama News

A suspect is in custody in connection with a shooting at a Birmingham nightclub that left two men seriously wounded.

Casimiro Hernandez, 34, of Bessemer, was arrested in Texas, Birmingham police announced Wednesday. He is awaiting extradition to Alabama.

The shooting happened at 4:30 a.m. Sunday, June 22, at El Centenario nightclub in the 1100 block of Third Avenue West.

Both victims were taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening injuries, said Officer De’Rell Freeman.

Later that day, police put out photos of potential suspects asking for help identifying them.

On June 23, felony assault detectives presented their evidence to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office which issued an attempted murder warrant against Hernandez.

He was quickly taken into custody during a traffic stop conducted by San Patricio Sheriff’s Office deputies in Texas.

Freeman said Hernandez is the only one being charged in the shooting.

Birmingham’s Crime Reduction Team and the FBI worked together on the investigation.

The National Hurricane Center continued to forecast a medium chance of a tropical depression forming in the Gulf in the next few days.

However, the center of the system was over land on Wednesday morning.

Tropical depression or not, it still could bring some heavy rain to parts of the Gulf Coast through the end of the week.

The hurricane center said the area of low pressure, or Invest 93L, was between Panama City and Tallahassee, Fla., on Wednesday morning, and most of its rain and storms were to the southwest and over the Gulf.

The hurricane center expects the system to continue to track westward, and there’s a chance it could move out over the warm waters of the Gulf later today or tonight.

Forecasters think it will continue heading west and reach the Louisiana coast by Thursday.

If it makes it back out over water, and stays there, the hurricane center said a tropical depression could form before it moves fully inland by the end of the week.

Depression or no depression, the system could bring several inches of rain to the north-central Gulf Coast, including Alabama, through Friday.

The National Weather Service in Mobile thinks that the most rain with this system will likely fall closer to the coast, with scattered storms possible.

The day with the best chances for rain for southern Alabama looks to be on Thursday.

The system will cause choppy seas, and the risk for rip currents will increase to moderate by tonight and high, the highest level, on Thursday and Friday.

Here’s a look at expected rain totals through Saturday morning for areas closer to the coast:

With a weaker and more disorganized system, the weather service decided to hold off on any flash flood watches for Alabama so far.

There were no other areas being watched for potential tropical development as of Wednesday.

Rep. Philip Ensler, D-Montgomery, announced Monday night that he will not be seeking reelection for the House District 74 seat next year and plans to move back to his home state of New York.

“My dad who lived in New York, passed away two years ago, and ever since then, it certainly has been tugging at my heartstrings,” Ensler said in an interview Tuesday. “Just the thought of being closer to other family has certainly weighed on me.”

Ensler won the seat in 2022 against Republican Charlotte Meadows with 60% of votes, according to election results. The seat had been held by Republicans since 2002, according to election records. It was the first Democratic flip of a Republican-held seat in the Alabama Legislature since 2010.

More from Alabama Reflector

Ensler, who plans to finish his current term in the House, said that he is most proud of working with other House Democrats to fight for voting rights and rights of minorities in the state.

“Even though the majority has still passed a lot of what I think are really harmful bills, it’s important that on our side of the aisle that we’ve stood up against some of those attacks on people’s fundamental and basic rights,” he said.

Rep. Tashina Morris, D-Montgomery, said in an interview Tuesday afternoon that she has loved working with Ensler and will miss the asset that he is to the Montgomery community and the state.

“I definitely understand his decision to not seek reelection, but he was an asset to our party,” she said.

Ensler said he was proud of fighting to make possession of Glock switches a state crime over the last three years. A version of the bill sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, became law in the spring as part of Gov. Kay Ivey’s public safety package. The bill, banning the possession of devices that can turn semi-automatic firearms into automatic ones, was the first firearm restriction legislation to pass the Alabama House of Representatives since 2010.

“I think it really demonstrates the ability to not give up on a really tough issue, and to work well across the aisle and build a really strong coalition of Democrats, Republicans, community groups and law enforcement,” he said.“I realize that getting any sort of gun legislation passed is a challenge, and recognize that it took a lot of work, but will certainly be worth it for people’s lives.”

He also is proud that funding for mental health in public schools made it into the fiscal year 2026 Education Trust Fund (ETF) budget, which takes effect on Oct. 1. The pilot program will get $2.5 million for the fiscal year.

“To have that support for our young people and to focus not just on the academics, which of course is so important, but to be able to support the whole child,” he said.

Ensler plans to bring back a bill that would make it a Class B misdemeanor to confine a dog for an unreasonable amount of time and establish guidelines for such. 

“It’s a little bit of a niche issue, but it’s really important,” he said. “There are just horrible stories of dogs who are abused and subjected to really cruel conditions.”

On the gun violence side, Ensler hopes to bring a bill for hospital-based intervention of gun shot victims and one that would require gun owners to carry their ID so that police can identify them, should they get pulled over.

Morris said she loved how Ensler has been present in his community throughout his tenure, which is what Ensler said he’d miss the most.

“He’s always very supportive and understanding the needs of the community when it comes to gun violence prevention,” she said.

Ensler said he enjoyed interactions with people in his district the most.

“I love bumping into constituents in the grocery store, getting coffee and visiting the schools in the district and throughout Montgomery, seeing our teachers and students firsthand, it is always really rewarding,” he said. “I’m going to miss that a lot.”

Is it the shoes?

It was a day where Auburn coach Hugh Freeze said he wants to be more like Scottie Pippen than Micheal Jordan when it comes to coaching his players.

The Tigers‘ third year coach stepped out of his comfort zone during Tuesday’s SEC media day session, rocking Nike air maxes in support of Auburn’s new brand deal with Nike.

“We’re thankful to be partnering with Nike. Mr. Knight and his wife Penny have known them for years,” Freeze said during his SEC media day conference. “I’ve never worn sneakers with a suit before, but I felt like it was appropriate to celebrate our turnover and partnership with them that began July 1.”

Just like how legendary film maker Spike Lee assumed Jordan’s shoes gave him his basketball abilities. Freeze’s Nike’s and suit collab might have cooled down his hot seat just a little bit.

Freeze survived the gauntlet of questions in every scrum of media he stood before. He spoke with a passion and confidence that sparked a wave of hope in what’s being built on the plains.

“I embrace the expectation of Auburn. You should have them ever year,” Freeze said. “I think every year you should have them. But the exciting now is I really like this locker room. I like the kids; I enjoy coaching them and we are primed to start winning every game.

“It’s time to start being in every game and finding a way to win them. We have to do the little things better we did not do last year.”

Five of the Auburn’s seven losses last year came by 10 or fewer points. The Tigers scored just eight red zone touchdowns in eight conference games, while leading the SEC with 22 turnovers.

With aspirations to lead the Tigers to the College Football Playoff, Auburn’s season opening game against Baylor will be the country’s first glimpse of the new look Tigers.

“There is zero hiding from the fact that that first game is a big game, and we must embrace that too,” Freeze said.

“That should help elevate our focus all throughout our fall camp because we’re playing a very good football team that has a very good football coach in Dave Aranda.”

Auburn will begin fall camp on July 29, exactly one month before Auburn travels to Waco to face Baylor.

So, whether it was the media day atmosphere or the Nike’s on his feet. Freeze made promises Tuesday that he’ll have to back up come this fall.

With an 11-14 overall record at Auburn, this is the season to silence the critics.

If not, it could be his last dance.

Jerry Humphrey III covers Auburn sports forAL.com. You can follow him on X at @Jerryhump3or email him at [email protected].

This is an opinion cartoon.

In Alabama, getting access to evidence from a police body camera is tougher than ordering soup from an authoritarian chef. It’s damn near impossible.

As I’ve said and drawn before, Alabama police bodycam rules are as transparent as ductape.

To catch y’all up to speed, please read John Sharp’s comprehensive story on the Alabama police bodycam issue: Alabama police know they don’t have to show bodycam videos to families: ‘Why hide it?’

Excerpts:

The family of a young man killed by police at a soccer park south of Birmingham says an officer shot him in the back.

But police won’t show the video to the public or even to Jabari Peoples’ family.

Across the state — in Decatur, Bay Minette, Huntsville, Madison, and Montgomery — the pattern repeats: Someone dies in police custody, grieving families ask for body camera footage, and authorities often say no with the same refrain: “Due to an ongoing investigation.”

“In order to eliminate some of the confusion, disruption, lawsuits even, and the mistrust and distrust of law enforcement, I think the video camera footage should be shown,” said Robert Clopton, president of the Mobile branch of the NAACP. “If there is nothing to hide, why hide it?”

In Alabama, police now know they don’t have to release the tapes.

Four years ago, the state supreme court ruled that police can keep all of their investigative materials, including bodycams, hidden from the public.

And a state law passed in 2023 allows them to choose whether to keep the footage hidden from families.

While there’s no law or court ruling that says they can’t show the footage, in Alabama, that only tends to happen when the videos are convenient for police, or if a judge orders it released years after the fact.

Read all of Sharp’s story here.

Related: Jabari Peoples’ death sparks political fight: Lawmaker who helped pass bodycam law attacks family lawyer

Related: Independent autopsy leaves questions unanswered about Jabari Peoples’ death, lawyers say: ‘We need the bullet’

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group andAL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter@Crowejam andInstagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].

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Director Jimmy Jenkins had more than 130 years and literally thousands of players, games and big moments from which to choose in making his new Alabama football documentary “Nothing But A Winner,” but you can’t fit all that into a little less than two hours.

So Jenkins had to be selective, he said in an interview with AL.com on Tuesday. In the film — which has its invitation-only premiere Wednesday night in Birmingham followed by a wider theatrical release on July 31 — Jenkins seeks to tie together the Paul “Bear” Bryant and Nick Saban eras of Crimson Tide football, while spotlighting the experience of Alabama’s pioneering Black players and their relationships with their famous coaches.

“This story could be told a hundred different ways, so there’s so many different ways you can take it,” said Jenkins, a Maryland native who played small college football in Illinois before becoming a full-time filmmaker. “We had to find one through line and tell it that way. Now, if we were doing a four-, five-, six-part series, we would have time to dive into everything. There was so much of this story that deserved to be in it, but we just didn’t have the time to do it.

“… One of the things that I wanted to kind of really focus on was the African-American experience through the Alabama football program and through the state. And so we were able to talk to a lot of those guys who integrated the team and to see how the doors they opened helped Alabama football to become what it is today. … We also wanted to show how Bryant and Saban had a very similar process that they put their players through and how the ingredients for winning never change.”

“Nothing But A Winner” — which takes its name from Bryant’s famous quip about how he’d like to be remembered — packs in interviews with more than two dozen former Alabama players and archival footage from Crimson Tide games and practices, as well as major news events of the last half-century-plus. Among those featured in the film are such Crimson Tide legends as Sylvester Croom, Gene Stallings, Wilbur Jackson, Bobby Humphrey, Antonio Langham and Jeremiah Castille, along with more recent stars like Jalen Hurts, CJ Mosley, Jonathan Allen, Jaylen Waddle and HaHa Clinton-Dix.

Jenkins and his team, which includes former Alabama star Marlon Humphrey as executive producer and former Crimson Tide walk-on-turned-actor Caleb Castille as a producer, also secured a rare, lengthy sit-down interview with Saban. Caleb Castille — whose father starred on Bryant’s last Alabama teams and whose older brothers Tim and Simeon preceded him in Tuscaloosa in the early 2000s — said his former coach’s participation in the film is a “shining example of humility.”

“He’s somebody that’s done it all at the highest level — winning championships, setting all the records,” said Castille, who began his acting career portraying former Alabama football star Tony Nathan in the 2015 feature film Woodlawn and later co-starred for four seasons on the CBS series NCIS: Los Angeles, “and to see him sitting there and saying that he believes Coach Bryant was the greatest of all-time is really amazing. It was super-special having him to just even agree to be part of this thing.

“I was a walk-on there, it’s not like I contributed anything majorly to his success. I was just a role-playing guy. But as soon as I called on Coach Saban to be a part of this, there was no hesitation from him. That is him being a coach that will always root for and celebrate and support his guys.”

The Saban era at Alabama gets a full treatment in “Nothing But A Winner”, from the Crimson Tide’s re-emergence as a national power in 2008-09 to the program’s run of perennial dominance in the 2010s. Saban and Hurts provide keen insight into the story of how Hurts won the starting quarterback job as a freshman in 2016, lost it to Tua Tagovailoa during halftime of the national championship game in January 2018 and then had his redemption while filling in for the injured Tagovailoa in the following season’s SEC championship game.

However, many of the more poignant moments in the film come from the older former players. Jackson relates the story of how he became Alabama’s first Black scholarship player in 1970, while Croom tells of growing up in segregated Tuscaloosa and later becoming an All-America center and a long-time assistant coach to Bryant, who had such an effect on him that he is still moved to tears when discussing his former coach’s 1983 death.

“Croom talked about where he had to sit in the back of the bus (growing up) or he was being spit on or he couldn’t even talk to white men,” Jenkins said. “But what encouraged me so much is that this man is breaking down about the impact a white man had on his life. And it shows that Alabama is a great state and that there are great people in that state.

“And even with Jim Crow and all that, there are people like Coach Bryant, who opened so many doors for these Black players to give a life that they’re living now. It’s rare to see players cry about a coach. You really have to mean something. And for me to be able to see that, it touched my heart.”

The teaser trailer for “Nothing But A Winner” is posted above, with a more extensive trailer available HERE. For more information on the film, including a list of future showings, visit Fathom Entertainment’s website.

If you are a true sports fan and you happen to live in Alabama, there are three events that you need to put on your bucket list.

Two speak for themselves.

First, attend a NASCAR race at Talladega.

Second, attend an Iron Bowl game.

Third, and central to this treatise, is either fish in or visit in person the weigh-in at the Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.

Why, you ask, is this such an event? For starters, it is officially the largest fishing tournament in the world.

Let that sink in for a minute. The biggest in the entire world.

How big, you also ask, is it?

Annually it attracts more than 3,800 fisherpersons who will battle in 33 categories. More than half a million dollars in cash and prizes will be awarded to the winners.

And as for big, consider that some 100,000 people will turn out over the span of the three-day event.

It’s been a few years since I wet a line in the rodeo. I had my fill of it back in the day.

But I still love it, and it continues to make me hungry. I see a load of fresh fish and I’m thinking not of trophies, but of what’s for supper.

As is my custom this time of year, I will now offer a few tried-and-true ways to enjoy the bounty of our shimmering seas and hopefully make you hungry in the process.

It’s a misconception that you need some huge boat with multiple engines to participate in the rodeo. Some of the best fish can be caught from a pier or the bank with nothing more than a hook and some bait.

This is a recipe from one of my most cherished resources, the excellent “Tribute” that was penned by the late May Ladnier Tillman. It is very easy to make and a great way to enjoy one of the more abundant fish found in and around Alabama’s seashore.

Redfish Pontchartrain

6 servings

• 6 redfish steaks at least 1 inch thick and deboned
• 1 cup white crabmeat
• 8 large mushrooms, sliced
• ½ cup green onions, minced
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 stick butter, divided
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 lemon wedges, garnish

Melt ½ stick of butter and add lemon juice. Salt and pepper fish on both sides and place in a shallow baking dish. Saturate fish with half of the butter mixture.

Pace under broiler about 3 inches from heat; broil for 10 minutes.

While redfish is broiling, saute mushrooms, onion and crabmeat in the remaining ½ stick of butter. Set aside

After 10 minutes, turn fish pieces over in pan; brush with remainder of the butter/lemon sauce and return to oven. Broil for 5 more minutes; remove from oven and cover with crab mixture.

Broil for an additional five minutes or until golden brown. Serve with lemon wedges.

Flounder is also one of the more abundant forms of seafood found in the verdant waters of the Gulf of Mexico. They are also fun to catch, and a total joy to eat.

Here is a recipe that has been in my arsenal a long, long time. It was sent in by a reader whose name is now lost to the ages.

Grilled Flounder

4-6 servings

• 2 pounds flounder fillets
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 3 tablespoons chopped green onions
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Coat a piece of heavy-duty foil with cooking spray. Place fillets on foil and brush with lemon juice.

Crimp foil, forming edges. Place foil flat on the grill, but do not seal. Grill, covered, over medium-hot heat for 4 minutes.

Combine Parmesan cheese, butter, mayonnaise, onions and salt; brush over fillets. Grill 3-4 minutes longer or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Finally, one of the first things that you learn when you go fishing is that they call it “fishing” instead of “catching” for a very good reason. Sadly, even the best anglers sometimes come home empty handed.

But don’t fret. In that case, you simply take the next logical step: Eat the bait.

Fortunately, one of the best forms of bait for saltwater fish is shrimp. So, a good practice is to buy more shrimp than you need so that even if you get skunked on the water you can at least feed the family when you get home.

This recipe is from a great seafood cookbook by a woman who lived for a time on Dauphin Island. It’s entitled “Wimberly Cooks” by Wimberly Hory.

Shrimp Alfredo

• 5 green onions, chopped
• 2 cups mushrooms, chopped
• 2 gloves garlic, minced
• 1 stick butter, divided
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Salt, to taste
• 8 ounces pasta (I like linguine)
• ¾ cup Romano cheese, grated
• ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ¼ cup parsley, chopped

Sauté onions, mushrooms and garlic in ½ stick of butter and oil. Add shrimp and sauté until pink. Season with salt to taste.

Cook pasta according to package directions and drain. In a saucepan, melt remaining ½ stick of butter and add cheese and cream. Mix well and combine with shrimp mixture. Top with chopped parsley and serve.

So, if you find yourself in the vicinity of Dauphin Island on July 18-20, I encourage you to stop by and see what all the fuss is about at the 92nd annual Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo.

And while you’re there, pick up some fresh Alabama seafood to take home. That’s a winner in my book.

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, and our fourth list focused on the best tight ends in 6A. Our fifth list focuses on the best linebackers 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 LINEBACKERS, ALABAMA 6A

Will Abrams, jr., St. Paul’s Episcopal School

Abrams is a weapon as a running back, but his biggest contributions come on defense — he has more than 150 tackles and four takeaways in high school, and he brings an old-school linebacker mentality to the middle of the Saints’ defense. “I would describe my game as hard-nosed and physical,” Abrams said. “Being confident in my reads allows me to play fast and create that strike at the point of contact. When I tackle, I tackle with intention — I want you to feel it.” As he enters his upperclassman years, Abrams said he is working to become more of a leader. “In my previous two years, I never had to lead and be that vocal guy — I just played and let my game talk,” he said. “Now that I’m in that role, it was definitely uncomfortable at first, but I think since these guys have seen me do it, they’re responding well to me.” Abrams has several college offers, including from Georgia Tech, Michigan and Mississippi.

Benji Augsburger, sr., Pelham

Augsburger is a physical player who battled injuries last season. If he’s fully healthy as a senior? “Look out,” Panthers coach Ross Newton said. Augsburger and classmate Joe Hampton will make for an intimidating linebacker tandem for Pelham’s opponents. “He’s willing to mix it up between the tackles and quick enough to run with receivers in the pass game,” Hampton said of his teammate.

Phillip “Trey” Blanding, sr., McAdory

Blanding is an important chess piece in the Yellowjackets’ defense. “He’s very versatile — can fit in the run game and cover,” McAdory junior wide receiver Carter Feagin said. Blanding also helps by filling a leadership role on the team. “A vocal player on defense,” Feagin said.

Rufus Boone Jr., sr., Pike Road

Boone did a little of everything for the Patriots as a junior, recording 152 tackles (12 for loss), two sacks, an interception and a blocked punt — and even throwing a touchdown pass. He models his game after a certain Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker. “I try to make my play style as close to Ray Lewis’ as possible,” Boone said. “He had that aggressive mindset and is a natural-born leader, which is what you have to be as a linebacker.” Boone has received several college offers in recent months, including from Alabama A&M, Central Arkansas, North Alabama and West Alabama.

Keenan Britt, sr., Oxford

Britt was a first-team all-state pick by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after his junior season. He’s a versatile defender for the Yellow Jackets who projects as a linebacker in college. He committed to South Carolina. Auburn, Florida, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee and several other big-time programs were trying to get him. “Keenan plays with amazing effort and has played a ton of football for us, starting every year since his eighth-grade season,” Oxford coach Sam Adams said. Britt tallied 100 tackles last year.

JJ Bush, sr., Theodore

Bush, an Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team all-state defensive back in 2024, recently committed to Arkansas over LSU, Florida, Michigan, Missouri and others. He finished his junior season with 30 solo tackles, 39 assists, 22 tackles for loss, six sacks and an interception. He ran for 344 yards and six touchdowns on offense. “One of the best tacklers I have had to face,” Bobcats junior running back Kendrick Able Jr. said. “He is explosive every play. He reads plays very well.” Able is equally impressed with Bush’s team-first attitude. “JJ is a real-deal leader,” Able said. “He is a person who is about business. So much you can say about him. He looks for the betterment of the whole team.”

Chris Butler, sr., Gadsden City

Butler has been playing regularly for the varsity team since he was a freshman and starting since he was a sophomore. He had more than 120 tackles in 2023 and would have reached that total last season were it not for injuries. He still led the team in that category. “He plugs a lot of holes for us,” Titans senior quarterback Kai Franklin said. “He has great instincts, and he’s a very smart player.”

Austin Campbell, jr., Athens

Campbell won the 165-pound wrestling state title in February and helped lead the Golden Eagles to the team championship. He’s also an elite performer on the football field — he was the team’s leading tackler as a sophomore. “Savvy, instinctive player who finds a way,” Athens coach Cody Gross said.

Charles Chappelle, sr., Benjamin Russell

“A dominant force in the middle of the defense” is how Wildcats coach Kirk Johnson describes Chappelle, who tallied 114 tackles (15 for loss) last season for 5A champion Montgomery Catholic. Kingston Preyear has been Chappelle’s teammate at both schools and has seen first-hand the type of difference Chappelle can make for a team. “He’s a physical guy who can defend the run and pass game,” said Preyear, a sophomore quarterback. “He’s a great leader, and he knows what it takes to win the big games.”

Demaron Dunklin, sr., Saraland

Spartans coach Jeff Kelly said Dunklin is a versatile linebacker who can play sideline to sideline and is effective in coverage and in the blitz game. “Demaron plays with great intensity on every play,” Kelly said. “He has played in many big games.” In the spring, Dunklin received his first Division I offer — from Samford University.

Landon Everett, sr., Gulf Shores

Everett’s resume is impressive. He ranked among the state leaders last season with 178 tackles and was a first-team all-state choice by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He’s also a former wrestling state champion and a High School Scholar All-American with a 4.05 GPA. He committed to play football for Army.

Jiyez Fleming, jr., Oxford

Keenan Britt will be heading to the University of South Carolina after his senior season, but the Yellow Jackets still will have a superstar linebacker on their roster in 2026. Fleming recorded 143 tackles as a sophomore, but he gets even more excited when somebody else on the team makes a big play. “I’m going to put my teammates in positions to get the ball,” he said. “I’m not a selfish linebacker. I want everybody on my team to enjoy that feeling and be the best they can be.” He has offers from Arkansas State, Southern Mississippi and UAB, among others, but he still feels as though he’s a bit overlooked. “I just want to wake everybody up because a lot of people have been sleeping on me,” he said. “But I love playing the underdog role. After this season, everybody’s going to know who Jiyez Fleming is.”

Joe Hampton, sr., Pelham

Panthers coach Ross Newton said “General Joe” is known all around Pelham as a great leader. As for his play, Hampton is a high-motor, versatile defender who can line up all over the field. “He plays edge with the ability to play in space and put his hand down as a defensive end,” Newton said. Hampton has put on more muscle this offseason and said he has been working to improve his quickness, footwork and hand technique. “I believe I have the confidence and ability to make any stop at any time,” Hampton said. “I won’t be stopped by any one player getting in my way.” Hampton has five offers — including from Arkansas State and Florida A&M — and is hoping a big senior season will lead to more. “Ready to make one coach/recruiter out to be a genius once I get on campus,” he said.

Briston Hardy, jr., Chelsea

As a sophomore, Hardy led the Hornets in tackles with 128. He had 12 tackles for loss and five sacks and received all-region honorable mention from the Birmingham News. “He is the type of kid that is all over the field and never quits,” Chelsea coach Todd Cassity said. Added senior running back Chase Malone: “He makes acrobatic plays and is always in on the tackle.”

Jakari Harris, jr., Saraland

Jeff Kelly has been coaching for 22 years, so it’s high praise when he says “Jakari might be the best inside linebacker I’ve coached in a long time.” The Spartans coach describes Harris as a physical player who can cover. “He has a great knowledge of the game and uses that to get an advantage,” Kelly added. “He leads our defense and should have a huge year.” Kelly is contemplating ways to get Harris involved on offense this season.

Razarius Horn, jr., Bessemer City

Horn is listed at 5-foot-6, but Tigers coach Antonio Nelson said that’s irrelevant. “He plays like he’s 6-foot-3,” Nelson said. “His IQ is very high. He watches film. He studies film. He’s one of those kids who sees it, he diagnoses it, and he’s on it.” As a sophomore, Horn received all-region honorable mention from the Birmingham News. Nelson expects Horn will start to receive more interest from college programs in the next year. “Whoever goes and looks at him, they’d be crazy not to take him,” Nelson said. “Every coach will fall in love with this kid — from who he is, his demeanor, to how he affects people around him. His teammates love him. He’s just a phenomenal kid.”

MJ Johnson, jr., Muscle Shoals

Johnson proved himself to teammates after an injury forced him in the lineup during a key game as a sophomore. “He was the youngest player making big plays on the field,” Trojans senior cornerback Cam Hogans said. Johnson ended up recording 52 tackles (five for loss) for the season. “His strengths are his speed and his ability to make plays on the ball,” Hogans said.

Brionni Jones, jr., Muscle Shoals

Injuries forced Jones to take on more responsibility in the Trojans’ linebacking unit last season. He proved he was up to the challenge. “He showed up for the battle,” Muscle Shoals senior cornerback Cam Hogans said. “Showed he has a type of love for the game.” Jones finished the season with 84 tackles, including six for loss. “His strengths are meeting the running back in the hole and knocking him back and playing the underneath routes that the wideouts run,” Hogans said.

Casey Justice, jr., Decatur

The Red Raiders are excited about the addition of Dan Styles as defensive coordinator, and one of the veteran coach’s favorite pieces likely will be Justice. “Great motor and an old-school linebacker,” Decatur coach John Ritter said. Justice returned a fumble for a touchdown in a memorable 42-16 win at Columbia last October.

EJ Kerley Jr., sr., Spain Park

Kerley had 146 tackles last season, setting a Jaguars single-season record. He was a second-team all-state honoree by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. “One of the toughest players on the team,” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said. Kerley received an offer from UAB in January.

Miles Khatri, sr., Pike Road

Is there a better group of linebackers in the state than the one at Pike Road? Khatri was an Alabama Sports Writers Association second-team all-state pick for Montgomery Catholic after he helped the Knights win the 5A state championship in 2024, when he totaled 117 tackles (14 for loss) and four sacks. Khatri, who committed to West Virginia last month, joins fellow future college linebackers Rufus Boone Jr. and Braylon Outlaw with the Patriots.

Miller Lee, sr., Mountain Brook

Lee recorded 82 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions as a junior. “He is a leader and role model and will be an elite playmaker for us on the field,” Spartans senior center Rocco Gray said. “He is very vocal and makes sure everyone on the field is on the same page, and he keeps the team fired up.”

Cole Miles, sr., Hartselle

Miles is a three-year starter on defense as a hybrid linebacker/safety. He was an Alabama Sports Writers Association second-team all-state pick as a defensive back after totaling 77 tackles (44 solo), 10 tackles for loss, five sacks and two interceptions last season. He also contributed on offense (279 yards and two touchdowns receiving) and special teams (seven kickoff returns for 146 yards). Despite all that, football might not be his best sport — he committed to play baseball for Jacksonville State.

Jeffrey Moorer, sr., Baldwin County

Tigers coach Andrew Davis is counting on Moorer to be the leader of the defense. “His size, speed and skill make him a dangerous player to defend off the edge,” Baldwin County senior quarterback Hayden Coley said. “Jeff is a first-one-in, last-one-out type of guy. He shows up every day and leads by example for the younger guys.”

Camrein Murray, sr., Russell County

Murray led the Warriors in tackles last season as an outside linebacker. An extremely smart player, he also serves a vital role as one of the team’s leaders. “He’s like a coach on the field,” Russell County coach Dillon Griggs said.

Cayden Oliver, sr., Decatur

“Bubba” is the Red Raiders’ team captain and defensive play-caller at middle linebacker. He totaled 131 tackles (seven for loss) last season and received honorable mention all-region by the Huntsville Times. Decatur coach John Ritter expects Oliver to “thrive” in new defensive coordinator Dan Styles’ 3-3 defense.

Braylon Outlaw, sr., Pike Road

Patriots coach Granger Shook isn’t shy about expressing his opinion of Outlaw’s place in the Alabama high school football landscape: “Best linebacker in the state.” Outlaw is the defensive leader for a team that reached the 6A semifinals last fall. He was a first-team all-state honoree by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after recording 147 tackles as a junior. He committed to Tennessee over Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Oregon, Purdue, South Carolina and many other major college programs that made him an offer.

Eldrick Paige, sr., Russell County

This will be Paige’s third season as a starting linebacker, and Warriors coach Dillon Griggs is expecting big things. “He plays the position like any linebackers coach would appreciate — with intent and violence,” Griggs said. “Eldrick is primed to have a big senior year.”

Kyan Parker-Crawford, sr., Theodore

Parker-Crawford is a transfer from Murphy. “He is what you call a human missile,” Bobcats junior running back Kendrick Able Jr. said. “He has incredible game speed — can go from sideline to sideline with a snap.” Able’s favorite thing about having Parker-Crawford as a teammate? Getting to test himself against Parker-Crawford multiple times every week. “When we go head-to-head at practice, it’s like Eddie George and Ray Lewis,” Able said.

Ayindae Pugh, sr., Saraland

Pugh makes it three linebackers on this list for the reigning 6A runner-up Spartans. Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said Pugh had a great junior season and is primed for even bigger things in 2025. “He is faster and more explosive that last year, and it shows in how he plays,” Kelly said. “As a senior, we will look for him to anchor a salty defense with the other linebackers.”

Jonathan Roberto, jr., Helena

Huskies coach Richie Busby considers Roberto the leader of the team’s defense. As a sophomore, he recorded 109 tackles, including eight for loss. “I would say my strengths are man coverage, physicality, instincts and motor,” Roberto said. “I take pride in reading offenses before the ball is snapped.” After receiving all-region honorable mention from the Birmingham News last year, Roberto said he’s spent the offseason working to improve his speed, explosiveness, strength and mental game. His first Division I offer came last month from Jacksonville State.

Porter Schott, sr., Chelsea

Schott racked up 118 tackles last year and received honorable mention all-region by the Birmingham News. “Porter is one of the best linebackers I have had the pleasure to coach,” said Hornets coach Todd Cassity, who is entering his 28th season as a football coach. “He won the 215-pound state championship in wrestling, which shows his ability to do whatever it takes to dominate his opponent.” Schott has a 4.39 GPA. “He expects the best in the classroom as well as on the field,” Cassity said.

Benny Seibert, sr., Athens

Seibert has played linebacker and defensive end for the Golden Eagles. He’ll make the move to full-time outside linebacker this season. “Extremely intelligent,” Athens coach Cody Gross said. “He is one of our fastest players as well as one of the strongest players on our team.” Seibert recorded nine tackles for loss and five sacks as a junior.

Telly Simmons, jr., Hueytown

Golden Gophers coach Greg Patterson calls Simmons “a new-generation inside linebacker.” Simmons is 6-foot-2 and weighs 220 pounds. “He has the size and speed on this level to handle the physical demands of playing inside of the box as well as being an apex player situationally,” Simmons said. “Telly also showed promise as an adjuster, being able to walk down and play edge as a 9- and 5-technique. There was no fall-off between him and our every-down ends in terms of setting the edge in the run game, rushing the passer or attacking pullers.” Simmons had 49 tackles (three for loss) as a sophomore. He has more than 20 Division I offers.

Donovan “Dj” Verges, jr., Pell City

Verges also is a standout running back, but he’ll likely play linebacker at the next level — Jacksonville State, Liberty, Southern Mississippi and UAB are among the college programs that have made him an offer. He’s the leader on defense for the Panthers. “He is a playmaker,” Pell City junior quarterback Brody Gossett said. “He reads things very well and has very good vision on both sides of the ball.”

Xzavier Wright, sr., Gadsden City

A consummate team player, Wright’s focus never strays from doing whatever he’s asked to do to help the Titans win games. “We have a very great team at Gadsden City, especially defensively,” he said. “When I’m given my assignments, I like to just worry about that, so everything works out how it’s supposed to go on our side of the ball. Defense wins championships.” He has spent the offseason working to become a better tackler and a team leader, and Titans coach Ali Smith identified Wright as a potential breakthrough player in 2025. He recently received his first two college offers — from Lyon and Culver-Stockton. “Every opportunity is a blessing — truly,” Wright said.

Jamarcus Jackson, so., and Jordan Riley, jr., Brookwood

The Panthers could be a team on the rise with these two youngsters in the middle of the defense and getting carries on offense. Jackson got some playing time as a freshman. “I believe he will develop as a starter on defense and be one of the leaders in tackles for the team,” Brookwood coach Chris Foster said. And Riley? “I expect him to lead the defensive unit.”

Joshua Littleton, jr., Jeremiah Pouncy, jr., and Camarien Yow, sr., Calera

Second-year Eagles coach Scott Rials is feeling good about his linebackers with these three leading the way. Littleton is “physical and determined,” Rials said. Pouncy is “hard-nosed and a steady worker.” Yow? “Great player and a smart team leader.”

Isaiah “Zay” Brown and Quinten Lowe, jrs., Clay-Chalkville

Brown recorded 84 tackles last season, including eight for loss. He is known as a hard hitter. “I mean, he will knock somebody’s helmet off — which he did last year versus Pell City,” Cougars senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. Lowe is entering his first season as a starter. “He is also a very hard hitter who fills gaps well and has good speed,” Frye said. Both linebackers have an offer from Tennessee-Martin.

Luke Eldridge and Joey Luckianow, srs., Homewood

Eldridge and Luckianow are third-year starters who combined for 137 tackles last season. Eldridge plays inside; Luckianow plays outside. “Our years of varsity experience allow us to bring leadership and consistency to the field,” Luckianow said. “Our chemistry, communication and shared football experience allow for us to read plays faster and play physical, making it difficult for offenses to find a rhythm.”

JD Bonamy and Ta’karee Slaughter, srs., Spain Park

With Slaughter transferring from Clay-Chalkville to join Bonamy and Jaguars single-season tackles record-holder EJ Kerley Jr., Spain Park could have one of the state’s best linebacker units in 2025. Bonamy has “played a lot of football, he’s very smart, he gets us into the right plays,” Jaguars coach Tim Vakakes said. The coach has one word to describe Slaughter’s game: “Aggressive.”

Hayden Coleman, so., and Ricky Strong, jr., Theodore

Bobcats junior running back Kendrick Able Jr. is expecting big things from both linebackers this season. He considers Strong an integral piece of the team’s defense. “He is reliable, physical and determined,” Able said. “He is always willing to listen to anything a coach says to him.” As for Coleman? “Hardest player I ever had to block,” Able said. “He reads run very well and does not drop picks whatsoever.” Able said Coleman reminds him of Cam Pruitt, a 2024 Theodore graduate who plays for the University of Miami. “Hayden can turn third-and-2 into fourth-and-6,” Able said.

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.

Dear Eric: I’m on a condo board with a couple of men who seem very controlling and regularly impugn my honesty. This is extremely uncomfortable. I’m not sure how to respond. For example, we had a meeting and one of them said we never have discussed these topics at this kind of meeting. I’m the secretary. I said look at last year’s special meeting after the annual election. You will see that we had some old business, new business and an executive session after the election of officers.

Instead of saying, I’m sorry I guess I was just mistaken, he said, “Well, I’ll look it up.” This person doesn’t always respond to questions or information. I recognize that most of this is probably his issue, not mine. But it is very aggravating to have somebody frequently questioning my motives, my integrity or the information that I provide.

Nobody else steps up and says stop it. If I say that’s inappropriate or request that he handle things differently, then I am berated. I’m not sure what to do with his confrontational behavior. Please, give me suggestions other than just ignoring him.

– Avoiding Condo Boorishness

Dear Avoiding: Some of the biggest obstacles to condo and HOA boards are the Three Ps: Parking, Pets and People. You’ve got a people problem which, to my mind, can be the most vexing.

One suggestion is to make addressing this behavior part of the new business. A board governs the running and maintenance of the building, but it also governs itself. So, putting in place guidelines for respectful discourse and consequences for failing to show respect falls within the board’s purview. Admittedly, this might escalate things, but if you’re being berated publicly and no one is coming to your aid or stopping this inappropriate behavior, then this is more than just a problem between you and him. It’s an issue with the board.

Now, if the board is made up of more boors than just the one, this may not be a workable solution. Other options: telling him “we can speak like adults when you calm down, but until then we can’t be in communication;” or, if your condominium works with a management company, ask them if they provide mediation or conflict resolution assistance.

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Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.

DEAR ABBY: I’m a single, never married man. I was having trouble finding a nice woman to date, so I bought a T-shirt from a dating website to show the women at the grocery and hardware stores that I’m single and looking for a date.

I now have a new problem — women at the hardware store and grocery stores keep coming up to me, asking about my shirt and trying to get a date with me. I am grateful for it, although I’m having trouble deciding which one I want to go out with.

How do I tell the ones I am not interested in that I’m busy or seeing someone else? They don’t want to take no for an answer. — FLOODED IN FLORIDA

DEAR FLOODED: Stop saying no so quickly. If you are looking for someone special, you are going to have to do some sifting. As you will discover, dating is a process of trial and error. You may find your taste in women will change if you experience a few of them (or more).

P.S. I’m sorry you didn’t mention which website you bought that T-shirt from. Do they also come in women’s sizes?

Read more Dear Abby and other advice columns.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.