Alabama News

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, and our third list focused on the best wide receivers in 6A. Our fourth list focuses on the best tight ends 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 TIGHT ENDS, ALABAMA 6A

Connor Greb, jr., Spain Park

Greb is a tight end/fullback on the football field and a standout third baseman and left-handed hitter on the baseball diamond. He’s No. 8 in Prep Baseball Alabama’s class of 2027 state rankings. “He has a chance to have a really big year,” Jaguars coach Tim Vakakes said.

Nick Hampton, sr., Gulf Shores

Hampton received honorable mention on the Press-Register all-Coastal team after catching 35 passes for 378 yards and eight touchdowns as a junior. He racked up more than 20 college offers before committing to Troy last month.

Jackson Hanner, sr., Gardendale

Hanner hasn’t played football since his freshman year, but Rockets coach Eric Firestone is counting on him to be a major part of the offense. “We will lean heavily on him in both the run and the pass game,” Firestone said. “Very athletic and versatile.”

Ethan Haynes, sr., Hartselle

Haynes was mostly a blocker for the Tigers last season, but that will change this year. “We’re looking to expand his role as a physical skill guy,” Tigers coach Bert Newton said.

Anthony “Tank” Jones, sr., St. Paul’s Episcopal

Fans know him best as a dominant pass-rusher — he’s the No. 16 player nationally in the class of 2026 based on 247Sports’ composite rankings — but Jones also contributes on offense for the Saints as a tight end, wide receiver and Wildcat quarterback. As a junior, he had five rushing touchdowns and three touchdown catches. “If he wanted to be a tight end, he’d probably be the No. 1 tight end in the country because his ball skills are elite,” St. Paul’s Episcopal coach Ham Barnett said. “His route-running is elite. He could be anything he wants to be.”

Cohen Jones, jr., Chelsea

Jones said his strengths as a tight end are his stalk blocking and his ability to gain yards after contact. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he’s a great target in the red zone. As a sophomore for the Hornets, Jones caught 15 passes for 162 yards and five touchdowns. He said he’s spent the offseason working to improve his speed, footwork and agility. He’s also been keeping up on his schoolwork — Jones has a 4.07 GPA.

Quentin Lewis, jr., Russell County

As a sophomore, Lewis recorded 28 receptions for 642 yards and 10 touchdowns playing wide receiver and tight end. He has picked up several Division I offers this offseason, including one from the University of Miami. “Quentin is a big target for our offense and always does something with the ball,” Warriors coach Dillon Griggs said. “He is great with or without the ball.”

James Newby, jr., Athens

Newby started at tight end as a sophomore. He’ll do the same this year in addition to taking on a starting position on the defensive line. “Great athlete; jumps and runs extremely well,” Golden Eagles coach Cody Gross said.

Nasir Ray, jr., Clay-Chalkville

Ray is the tight end/slot receiver in a high-powered Cougars offense. “A good blocker and route-runner; he has good hands and is good at using his body to get open,” said Clay-Chalkville senior quarterback Aaron Frye, who appreciates having Ray on his side — for multiple reasons. “Nasir is a chill person,” Frye said, “but he will fight for you and stand behind you.”

Carson Stephens, jr., St. Paul’s Episcopal

Stephens is a two-year starter with more than 40 receptions, 600 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns through his sophomore season. Now an upperclassman, he’ll assume an even bigger role on the team. “He has taken steps this offseason in being a leader on offense,” Saints coach Ham Barnett said.

Hayes DeCoudres and J.T. Watts, srs., Homewood

The Patriots boast two standouts at the tight end position. “Both are very good blockers with exceptional hands,” Patriots coach Ben Berguson said. “They both can attach as a traditional tight end, flex at receiver or line up as a sniffer back.” The classmates combined for 18 catches and 228 yards last season.

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 MISS MANNERS: I am 64 years old. My mother insists that when I am offered another helping of food, it’s rude for me to reply, “No, thank you, I’m full.” She says I should just say “No, thank you” and leave it at that because no one wants to know whether I’m full.

If I say that I am full, she frowns and gives me a withering look. In fact, she gives me the same look when I just say “No, thank you” because she always thinks I’m going to add that I am full.

However, many of my other relatives regularly say that they are full! Is my mom right?

GENTLE READER: Always. And Miss Manners agrees that picturing your full stomach has a bad effect on other people’s appetites.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at missmanners.com, by email to [email protected], or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

DEAR ABBY: My spouse and I are retired and on Social Security. We’ve both worked hard all our lives and are content living a modest retirement. Our house is paid for, and we have little debt.

However, we’re both experiencing physical and mental decline. I worry about our house. We aren’t able to clean and maintain it like we used to because of our physical limitations. We used to have parties, but we’re embarrassed to have people over now, which means we’re kind of isolated.

We also worry that our Social Security and Medicare benefits will be stripped away. We rely on them to live. We both paid into the system since age 15. Shouldn’t we expect to reap the benefits of paying into the system all these years? We worry all the time about the future, which seems so grim right now.

Even if we can survive the next few years, I’m increasingly concerned about the disintegration of our home. I am not sure where to turn. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. — WORRIED ABOUT THE FUTURE

DEAR WORRIED: If there is a senior center in your community, reach out and ask if there are any services that could assist you in finding reasonably priced help with your house.

As to your embarrassment about entertaining friends, that concern may be needless. If you want company, invite friends over for afternoon tea, a picnic or a barbecue outside if the weather permits.

Regarding your anxiety about Social Security, you are far from alone in feeling worried. Approximately 70 million American seniors are worrying right along with you. Every senior should be writing to their local politicians, their state representatives, congresspersons and senators reminding them that those benefits were paid for and, if they are interfered with, it could cost them the next election.

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.

As someone who has visited every county and most cities in Alabama, I can tell you our state has a love of quirkiness that rivals that of any other.

I enjoy nothing better than seeking out things like World’s Largest Business Shirt (Andalusia, Ala.), the World’s Largest Office Chair (Anniston, Ala.) or the movie town of Spectre used in the 2003 film “Big Fish” (Jackson Lake Island, Ala.)

I made a list of 11 cities in Alabama that are the definition of “eccentric,” meaning “unconventional” or “quirky,” in the best possible way.

Let’s see if you agree. What cities would you add? Email [email protected].

Abbeville

The Henry County town of Abbeville, whose population hovers at about 2,400 people, is not on the way to anywhere. Located in a far southeastern corner of the state, within spitting distance of the Georgia line, it’s a little town with tons of personality. Civic leaders and Abbeville’s most prominent resident, Jimmy Rane, have preserved the town’s historic buildings, encouraged new businesses and added fun and quirky touches to make Abbeville a destination city. Rane’s collection of vintage neon signs hangs on the city’s main street, filling it with color and nostalgia. Rane also opened a restaurant named for the legend of Huggin’ Molly, a witch of local lore. The eatery is filled with Rane’s collection of movie memorabilia.

Daphne

The city of Daphne is located on the eastern shore of Mobile Bay. With about 30,000 residents, it is the largest city in Baldwin County. Daphne gets its quirkiness from two things, one natural and one manmade. Daphne is nicknamed the “Jubilee City” thanks to the natural phenomenon of jubilee. This event occurs when oxygen levels in the water change and force fish, shrimp and crabs to jump onto the shoreline. When it occurs, people flock to the shore to collect their “catch.”

Daphne also benefits from the unique art of Bruce Larsen, who lives in nearby Fairhope. The U.S. Sports Academy in Daphne commissioned several sculptures from Larsen, who creates figures from found objects. The sports figures dot the campus and draw curious visitors.

Elberta

Elberta, located in Baldwin County, is home to about 2,000 souls. But at any given time, that number is much higher due to people who come to Barber Marina. People come for the usual reasons, to fish or boat, but they also come to take a little trip inside the mind of George Barber. Barber, the owner of the marina, has commissioned dozens of quirky artworks to adorn his property. Fish Trap Road, which winds its way to the marina, is dotted with four oversized dinosaurs and a Stonehenge replica. The bay itself is home to the Lady in the Bay, a huge female figure who seems to float in the water. But there are smaller surprises everywhere, including statues of knights, seahorses, alligators, dolphins, a giant metal spider and a massive ornate fountain adorned with horses and lions.

Enterprise

This city of 30,000 people is unusual from the get-go because it is located in two counties: Coffee and Dale. It is best known for having the statue of an insect in its main downtown intersection. The figure of a woman holds aloft an oversized boll weevil, which the city erected in 1919 because the bug’s destruction of cotton harvests forced farmers to diversify their crops and grow peanuts. But the insect statue is not the quirkiest thing about Enterprise. Just over 100 years later, in 2022, the local McDonald’s erected a boll weevil version of Ronald McDonald, complete with six legs and a snout. Enterprise is a city you don’t want to miss!

MORE: 7 clever Alabama roadside attractions that help tell their towns’ histories

Evergreen

Evergreen is a quaint small town in Conecuh County with about 3,500 residents. It is known as the Emerald City because it was once the smilax capital of Alabama (for the uninitiated, smilax is a type of beautiful greenery that can be draped as decoration. In the 1890s smilax was gathered from Evergreen to decorate the White House at the request of President Grover Cleveland, according to a marker outside the city’s historic train depot. But Evergreen makes this list not for its greenery but for its Bigfoot sightings. In 2017, the city council voted to name Evergreen, the “Bigfoot Capital of Alabama.” While Bigfoot hasn’t made an appearance in town, many folks claim to have seen him, or her, in the surrounding woods.

Fyffe

On Feb. 11, 1989, several people reported seeing UFOs over Fyffe, a DeKalb County town of about 1,200 residents. The sightings would become a national story.

The New York Times reported: “The prospect of seeing a UFO lured more than 4,000 people to this town of 1,300 in northeast Alabama Friday night, but for all the hoopla no unidentified flying objects were sighted. Visibility was difficult because of clouds and light rain. Fyffe got on the UFO circuit Feb. 10, when a woman reported seeing a strange light in the sky and the police later reported seeing a large lighted object passing silently over them. Numerous other sightings have been reported since then.” The sightings were given validity by the fact that then-Police Chief Charles “Junior” Garmany and Assistant Police Chief Fred Works saw the UFOs. Today, the tiny town commemorates the event with a festival called UFO (Unforgettable Family Outing) Days each August. It features hot air ballons and entertainment.

Leeds

Leeds, a Birmingham suburb that is home to about 12,000 people, is unusual because it crosses three counties: Jefferson, St. Clair, and Shelby. But it made this list because it’s another mecca for the quirky art of George Barber, a one-time racecar driver. Leeds the location of Barber Motorsports Park and Museum, where people can watch races or visit an exhibit of Barber’s collection of 1,300 motorcycles, for which he holds a Guiness World Record. He has also filled this property with statues and quirky figures such as a giant ant carrying an oversized Coke, a colorful horse, tigers, spiders and zombies. It is also home to a second (the other is in Elberta) giant woman in the water, this one called the Lady in the Lake. Read how Barber ended up commissioning two ladies in the water for Alabama here.

Mentone

Mentone, a mountain town in DeKalb County, is known for its arts colony and its plethora of natural wonders, including DeSoto Falls and Little River, as well as a ski resort with manmade snow. Mentone is home to about 319 people. A couple of its eccentricities include the Sallie Howard Memorial Chapel, which is a church built around a boulder that forms its pulpit, and the ruins of Mentone Springs Hotel, a Victorian-era lodge that burned in 2014.

Seale

Seale is an unincorporated community in Russell County with about 200 residents. What makes it quirky is resident Butch Anthony, an artist who invites people to his “drive-through” museums. Anthony created the Museum of Wonder, where he displays artwork outdoors on his property and encourages visitors to walk or drive through. He has also erected shipping containers at the corner of Alabama Highways 1 and 169 to display even more art, including paintings, taxidermy, found objects and folk art.

Slapout

This community makes the list for one reason: its name. It has now mostly been absorbed by Holtville, an Elmore County city of about 5,000 people. According to lore, Slapout community got its name from the 1920s-era general store, which was typically “slap out” of many staples. When quizzed about his stock, the owner would respond simply, “I’m slap out.” Residents still honor the legend by naming business Slapout Produce and Slapout Barber Shop.

Wetumpka

Wetumpka, the seat of Elmore County, is home to about 7,200 people. It received national attention in 2020 when it was featured on HGTV’s “Hometown Takeover.” It is also known as the filming location for many scenes in the 2003 film “Big Fish.” The 1874 Victorian home featured in the film is located on a hill overlooking the city. Other scenes were filmed outside Elmore County Courthouse and downtown businesses. An oversized catfish made from hubcaps is located in downtown Wetumpka to commemorate the film. It was also the location for filming the 1995 film “The Grass Harp,” by Truman Capote, as well as “The Rosa Parks Story.” Wetumpka is also unusual because it is the location of a meteor crater that is 4.7 miles in diameter and thought to be 85 million years old.

Dear Eric: My friend who lives in the same apartment building doesn’t drive. She insists I take her shopping or to other places. She knows I don’t like to drive, especially when she doesn’t give me gas money. I keep telling her to ask other people for a backup. I’m ready to just say no most times. She’ll never get mad at me. Should I just say no?

– No Guilt

Dear No Guilt: Yes. I notice that you say your friend insists, rather than asks. That’s a problem. It seems she’s treating you like her personal taxi rather than a friend helping her out.

Have a calm but firm conversation with her in which you tell her that you need to find other solutions for getting her to the store and to other errands. If you want, you can help her brainstorm. Perhaps there are other friends or relatives, perhaps she can make use of a grocery delivery service, perhaps she can use public transportation, if available in your area.

Doing kind things for friends can be mutually beneficial. We don’t always need payment as thanks. But when these generous acts don’t come with mutual respect, they can turn into resentments. Better to be honest with your friend about what you can and can’t do, than to risk the friendship.

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

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 Eric: My wife and I have been married for about 10 years. We both love each other very much, but it has been rocky the entire time.

We tried going to counseling a few times, but she said she felt picked on and walked out in the middle of a session.

One evening years ago, while on a family vacation, she said that there was a work event going on at a bar she needed to attend.

She was sharing her location with me from her phone. I casually looked and it appeared that she was at the apartment of a former work friend, John, nowhere near the bar.

For years, she had been pulling away from me. She would sleep on the couch; if I tried to kiss her, she would turn and give me her cheek. We tried to work through this, and I asked her to go back to counseling, but she refused.

Recently, I figured out the password on her phone and read the messages between her and John. It looked like they have been regularly meeting up, even though she says they haven’t. It even looked like they went to a musical together once and went walking by the beach together frequently.

The text messages look like friends chatting, not romantic.

She swears that she never met this guy outside of a group of friends, though she is unwilling to show me proof. She says she went to the musical by herself, for example, even though she bought two tickets and texted John that she would see him at the show. She said she sold the two tickets and bought a single ticket and went on a different day.

She says she loves me and that the real issue is my snooping around.

We are at an impasse, and this has escalated to talk of divorce. But that is not what I want. If I believe her without seeing the proof, am I being naïve? Am I in the wrong for snooping on her phone? Or is she really good at lying to my face?

– Confused

Dear Confused: A couple of things are happening here. The snooping was wrong; it’s an invasion of her privacy and you owe her an apology for that.

At the same time, I’m left wondering what version of your marriage you’re trying to get back.

Putting aside the John of it all, the larger issue for you seems to be the lack of affection and communication. The snooping may be your way of trying to figure out the source of the trouble. But it’s not going to be found externally. It’s between you and your wife.

You owe each other a conversation about what you think this marriage is, how each of you knows it’s working or not working, and what you both need from the union. There’s a reason that you’re both staying. I don’t know that it’s a healthy reason, but from your actions, neither of you seems to want to separate. Why else would she use excuses that seem implausible instead of just telling you that she went to a show with John?

But this is not working as it is. If you can’t have an honest conversation – without surveillance or subterfuge – it will be hard to move forward. So, ask yourself and ask her: why are we doing this? Then ask, how can we make a good faith effort to do it better?

Read more Asking Eric and other advice columns.

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.

Auburn athletics hosted its final AMBUSH coach’s caravan Monday evening to kick off SEC media days.

The Tigers media session with Texas and Georgia is set to begin Tuesday at 9:30 am in Atlanta.

Auburn football coach Hugh Freeze knows his margin of error is very thin entering the 2025 season. During the AMBUSH event, Freeze spoke on the team’s progression and announced the Tigers fall camp dates to members of the media.

“I couldn’t be more pleased. I really couldn’t. I love what I see from our kids. I love what I see from our staff. I try to give everybody a little break over the last two to this week and them it’s time to get going again. But most of our guys show up to watch our team runs anyway if you’re in town,” Freeze said.

“I love the chemistry I see between the quarterbacks and receivers right now. They believe in each other, it’s obvious and hopefully that is shown when we start playing games. Camp starts 29th, I believe it is, Tuesday if I’m right on the date, I know it’s Tuesday. I think that’s the 29th.”

After adding key skill players to its roster over the offseason, Freeze believes this roster is built to compete in the SEC this year.

Having three new quarterbacks on the roster called for intense offseason planning from the coaching staff. When explaining the play-calling duties, Freeze said it’ll be a collective effort.

“Play-calling will be shared, just like always, between myself, Patrick Nix, Ken Hunter. I don’t really care who gets the credit. Whoever has the hot hand, whoever has the best idea at the time, it ultimately all comes through me, and I can veto something,” Freeze said.

“We haven’t waited. We’ve been doing it since February. In the allowed minutes we have with the kids and in our studies trying to make sure we’re installing for them things that we believe are going to help us improve those situations.”

Freeze also added what a glimpse of fall camp would look like this month.

“Each night in camp when we do our walkthroughs, there’s going to be a five-minute emphasis, and a lot of that will be what we weren’t very good at last year, Freeze said.”

“Our main goal is making sure our kids have a clear understanding of situational football and what our plan is for that. I don’t think you need a lot of things. I really don’t. You’ve just got to be really good and execute at what we’re going to do. That will show up in fall camp, for sure.”

Auburn’s fall camp will be one month before the Tigers first game of the season at Baylor.

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

EDITOR’S NOTE: Every day until Aug. 29, Creg Stephenson is counting down significant numbers in Alabama football history, both in the lead-up to the 2025 football season and in commemoration of the Crimson Tide’s first national championship 100 years ago. The number could be attached to a year, a uniform number or even a football-specific statistic. We hope you enjoy.

Derrick Henry has made a career out of being a workhorse running back, but even he took it to an extreme against Auburn on Nov. 28, 2015.

Henry carried the ball an astounding 46 times for 271 yards and a touchdown in Alabama’s 29-13 victory in the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, helping the Crimson Tide secure the SEC West title on the way to a national championship. The 6-foot-3, 242-pound junior ran the ball on Alabama’s final 14 offensive plays and on 19 of its last 21 as the Crimson Tide pulled away from upset-minded Auburn.

“We’d really like for someone else to run the ball, but it got tough to take him out and he seemed to get stronger as the game goes on,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said. “It’s hard to take him out at the end of the game. He’s the go-to guy and he didn’t want to come out. He wanted to go and said that he could, and certainly finished the game like we needed to today. My hat is off to him as a competitor, and he really inspires everybody on our team in the way he competes, plays and the toughness that he runs with. What a spirit.”

The Iron Bowl performance was part of a Heisman Trophy-winning season for Henry, and one of the greatest ever by an SEC running back. In 15 games, he carried the ball 395 times for 2,219 yards and 28 touchdowns, all school and conference records.

But breaking records was nothing new for Henry, who had set a national high school mark with 12,124 yards during his career at Yulee High School in Florida (the previous record, set by Ken Hall of Sugar Land, Texas, had stood since 1953). As a senior in 2012, Henry ran for an incredible 4,261 yards and 55 touchdowns in just 12 games, averaging 327.8 yards per game and 9.2 yards per carry.

“He’s just making college football look like high school all over again,” high school teammate Dante Owens told AL.com in 2015. “It looks the exact same with him running by people and nobody wanting to tackle him and everybody being kind of scared.”

Henry was a 5-star recruit in Alabama’s top-ranked 2013 signing class, though many recruiting services listed him as an “athlete” rather than a running back. Some analysts were of the opinion he might be an even better prospect as a defensive end or linebacker.

But Saban left Henry at running back, though he played sparingly as a freshman in 2013 as part of a loaded backfield that also included T.J. Yeldon and Kenyan Drake. Henry gave a glimpse of his potential in a season-ending loss to Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl, rushing for a 43-yard touchdown and catching a 67-yard TD pass from AJ McCarron.

Yeldon and Henry split time in 2014, combining for 1,969 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading Alabama to the SEC championship and a berth in the first College Football Playoff. Yeldon left for the NFL draft after the season, and the running back position was all Henry’s.

Henry began 2015 with 143 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-17 win over Wisconsin, then scored at least one touchdown — and twice topped the 100-yard mark — in the next five games. But as he did in the 2015 Iron Bowl, Henry saved his best for the second half.

He burned Texas A&M for 243 yards and two scores, then hit Tennessee for 143 and two more TDs, before back-to-back 200-yard games vs. LSU (210, three TDs) and Mississippi State (204, two). He played less than a half in a 56-6 rout of Charleston Southern, but still scored twice.

That took him into the Iron Bowl, in which Alabama led just 12-6 at halftime and 19-13 after Auburn scored on a 77-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter. After the teams exchanged punts, Henry took over.

He ran the ball on five of seven plays as the Crimson Tide drove for Adam Griffith’s 47-yard field goal, which put Alabama up 22-13 with 10:04 left. After Auburn punted again, he carried the ball 10 straight clock-killing times before being stopped on fourth-and-1 with 2:46 remaining.

Alabama’s defense forced four straight Auburn incompletions, and Henry provided the exclamation point moments later. He ran the ball four consecutive times, including a 25-yard touchdown to ice the game with 26 seconds remaining.

“It was huge,” center Ryan Kelly said of Henry’s performance. “You know, the guy seems to never get tired. We ran the ball a lot and him getting that touchdown at the very end, it kind of sealed the deal.”

The victory was Alabama’s only one at Auburn between 2011 and 2021. More importantly, it clinched the SEC West after Ole Miss — which had beaten Alabama in September — had suffered a second conference loss to Arkansas earlier in November.

Henry ran for 189 yards and a touchdown on 44 carries in a 29-15 victory over Florida in the SEC championship game on Dec. 5. A week later, he was awarded the Heisman Trophy in a relatively close vote over Stanford’s Christian McCaffrey.

Henry added two touchdowns — and one epic stiff-arm — in a 38-0 win over Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl, then finished his college career with 158 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-40 victory over Clemson in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He somehow lasted until the second round of the 2016 NFL draft, going to the Tennessee Titans with the 45th overall pick.

Henry has proven to be an all-time great at the NFL level as well, with 11,423 yards (19th all-time) and 106 touchdowns (sixth) in nine seasons with the Titans and Baltimore Ravens entering 2025. He rushed for 2,027 yards for Tennessee in 2020, becoming the first player to top 2,000 in a season in high school, college and the NFL.

Henry has shown few signs of slowing down, rushing for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns last season with the Ravens. At age 31 and a decade removed from his epic Iron Bowl performance, he just keeps running.

Coming Wednesday: Our countdown to kickoff continues with No. 45, Alabama’s famous ‘Tin Horn’ game.

Neil Diamond still has it.

Seven years after retiring, the rock icon stunned fans with a liver performance over the weekend during Saturday’s performance of “The Neil Diamond Musical: A Beautiful Noise” in Los Angeles.

The 84-year-old singer, who was sitting in the audience, performed “Sweet Caroline.”

In the video, Nick Fradiani, who portrays Diamond in the musical based on his life, introduced the musician.

In 2018, Diamond said he was retiring from concert touring as a result of the diagnosis.

“It is with great reluctance and disappointment that I announce my retirement from concert touring. I have been so honored to bring my shows to the public for the past 50 years,” Diamond said in a statement on his website. “My sincerest apologies to everyone who purchased tickets and were planning to come to the upcoming shows.”

Diamond said he would continue writing and recording music.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that can cause tremors in the hands and arms, rigid muscles and speech changes such as slurring, according to the Mayo Clinic.He made the announcement while in the midst of his “50 Year Anniversary World Tour.”

Diamond – who has been nominated for 13 Grammy awards and won one – will be given the coveted Lifetime Achievement Awards at Sunday’s Grammy Awards. Diamond, who has sold more than 125 million records, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2011.

“My thanks goes out to my loyal and devoted audiences around the world. You will always have my appreciation for your support and encouragement,” Diamond said in the 2018 statement. “This ride has been ‘so good, so good, so good’ thanks to you.”

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 buildout at Town Madison is far from over.

Breland Companies President Joey Ceci said the more than $2.2 billion development on the south side of Interstate 565 is between 60%-65% complete.

That’s with dual brand The Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott nearing completion just beyond the left field fence of the development’s anchor, Toyota Field. Another hotel nearby, Homewood Suites, is awaiting a ribbon cutting ceremony after opening a few days ago.

And restaurants continue to open on the east side of the development.

The hotels

Counting the Marriott brand as two, Ceci said Town Madison now has seven hotels either announced, under construction or opened with more than 600 rooms.

The Courtyard and Residence Inn will feature 206 rooms. Its completion had been delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The hotels are expected to open either later this summer or early this fall.

“They are moving furniture in and doing all of their internal finishings,” Ceci said. “They are getting closer.”

Homewood Suites with 100 rooms is open. The $12 million hotel was developed by PHD Hotels, which developed the Hilton Garden Inn and Home2Suites in Town Madison.

Fite Construction of Decatur built the hotel.

It is considered one of Hilton’s upper brands, an extended stay in which every room has a kitchen. The hotel features a meeting space, a swimming pool, a firepit, a business center and a guest laundry.

Restaurants

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux opened at 121 Outfield Drive in May with a staff of about 100 people. The popular Cajun-themed sports bar and grille features indoor/outdoor seating for more than 200 guests, a state-of-the-art sports bar, over 50 big-screen TVs, a large outdoor patio area, and an atmosphere that caters to both sports fans and families. It features dishes such as Cajundillas, Boudin Balls and Alligator Bites, along with salads, burgers, cocktails, and beers.

Also open nearby is Steam Boys, which offers Chinese comfort food such as dumplings, noodles and soups.

Ceci said Lola’s Cocina will open later this month. It is a collaboration of local restauranteurs Kumar Patel and Phil Sandoval. Ceci describes it as Mexican cuisine with a drive-thru concept.

It is near Patel’s other Town Madison restaurants off Zierdt Road – Five Guys, Super Chix and Prohibition.

The restaurant is named after Phil’s mother.

On the west side of the development, construction is beginning on The ChopHouse, a sister restaurant to Bridge Street’s Connors Steak and Seafood. The steakhouse will open in about a year, Ceci said.

Near it is a construction site for a Whataburger and a second Starbucks, which would give Town Madison a Starbucks on both the eastern and western side of the development. The first Starbucks is open on Zierdt Road.

Ceci said there are 27 restaurants in the development either announced, under construction, or built.

Other businesses

Escapology, an escape room business, is currently under construction on the east side of the development. It is expected to open winter of next year, Ceci said.

Escapology offers immersive escape games where players are gathered inside a themed room and must find hidden clues, crack codes, and solve puzzles before time runs out. There is another Escapology in Huntsville on Old Monrovia Road.

Also opening on the east side is Marx Optical, which will offer eyecare and eyewear services.

Fite Construction is the builder of the 24,162-square-foot Ardent Preschool and Daycare facility that will sit on a 3.23-acre site in the heart of Town Madison at 530 Dunlop Boulevard.

It is being developed by Leeland Ventures. It will be Madison County’s fourth Ardent Preschool and Daycare. Other locations are at Redstone Gateway, Clift Farm, and Jones Valley. The Town Madison site was chosen for its central location and easy access for north Alabama’s growing workforce.

Residential development

Construction is ongoing on both single-family home and multifamily home sites. That includes a single-family subdivision that’s actually in the city of Huntsville that has been before the Huntsville Planning Commission.

The commission a few months ago gave preliminary approval for 138 single family lots. It is on the western side of the development.

Also under construction is the second phase of the Ovation apartments, which consists of cottage style homes. The apartment community also includes townhomes.

Ceci said the opening of the interchange earlier this year near Toyota Field has been beneficial to Town Madison and residents.

“The interchange has helped out a lot,” Ceci said. “The traffic continues to build. It’s helped the stadium a tremendous amount. It’s also bringing a lot more people by the retail businesses, by their front door.”

Other access points include Zierdt Road, Intergraph Way under I-565 to Madison Boulevard and the Wall Triana interchange.

Town Madison is on land that used to be part of the Intergraph – now Hexagon – campus. Breland Companies founder Louis Breland purchased the eastern part of what is now Town Madison. The anchor, Toyota Field, is the home of the Double A Southern League Trash Pandas.