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, our third list focused on the best wide receivers in 6A, our fourth list focused on the best tight ends in 6A, our fifth list focused on the best linebackers in 6A, and our sixth list focused on the best quarterbacks in 6A. Our latest list focuses on the best defensive backs 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 DEFENSIVE BACKS, ALABAMA 6A

Chimenum “Chim” Ajinwo, sr., Pelham

“Anybody that goes to Pelham and looks at the DBs knows why Ajinwo is an emerging prospect,” Panthers coach Ross Newton said. “He has great size for a guy that can move at a defensive back’s speed.” Ajinwo is listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds. He can play cornerback and safety. “Chim can do a lot for us this season,” Pelham senior linebacker Joe Hampton said. “He can cover on the back end and come up from the secondary to make tackles near the line of scrimmage.” Benji Augsburger, another senior linebacker for the Panthers, summarized Ajinwo in two words. “Freak athlete,” he said.

Quinteris Anderson, sr., Baldwin County

After an all-region performance at safety last season, Anderson is transitioning to become the Tigers’ lead ball-carrier this year. “I believe Q will have success at running back due to his vision and his burst on the second level,” Baldwin County coach Andrew Davis said. Despite the offensive duties, Anderson’s improved strength and speed still will be utilized on defense, making him a valuable two-way contributor.

Jeremiah Atkins, sr., Bessemer City

Atkins brings versatility and athleticism to the Tigers’ defense. He received all-region honorable mention from the Birmingham News as a linebacker last season. Bessemer City coach Antonio Nelson describes Atkins as a “rangy type kid” with “a knack for the football” who “loves contact” and brings excitement to the field with his competitive play. The coach said he can play Atkins at safety, linebacker, receiver and possibly other positions. “We can use him everywhere,” Nelson said. “I haven’t put him at quarterback or anything crazy like that — but I think he could maybe do that, too, if we needed him to.”

Demarcus “Duke” Beckham, so., Theodore

The sophomore brings elite coverage skills to the Bobcats’ defense. Even though Beckham couldn’t play as a freshman, he’s quickly established himself as a shutdown cornerback. Theodore junior running back Kendrick Able Jr. calls Beckham “a pick artist who will take it back,” highlighting Beckham’s ball skills and return ability. Able said Beckham’s exceptional speed prevents deep completions, and his technique and football IQ make him a complete cornerback. Able describes Beckham’s coverage area as “an entire island,” suggesting the level of confidence the Bobcats have in Beckham’s one-on-one coverage abilities.

Tyler Buchanan, so., Spanish Fort

The versatile sophomore plays safety and wide receiver, with Toros coach Chase Smith noting his “high upside.” Defensively, Buchanan describes his style as “aggressive but under control,” with strong backfield awareness that helps him react quickly to pass and run plays. Buchanan said he’s focused this offseason on improving his releases and hand strength.

Jermaine Bush, so., Theodore

Bush started as a freshman and established himself as a standout safety. Bobcats junior running back Kendrick Able Jr. describes him as “a ball hawk and a smacker.” Bush combines excellent field vision with impressive physicality. According to Able, Bush is the youngest player to start and receive an offer in the history of the Theodore program. “He is the future,” Able said. “Great eyes and great physicality. He backs down to no one.”

Brayden Butler, sr., Clay-Chalkville

After missing last season because of injury, Butler returns to lock down one side of the field for the Cougars. The cornerback, who will be making his first starts as a senior, recently received an offer from Lyon College. “Brayden is good in man and zone coverage. He is a strong guy, so it’s hard to knock his hands off,” Clay-Chalkville senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. “He will be a great help for us having two good cornerbacks who can lock down one whole side.”

Landen Buttleman, sr., Athens

The 5-foot-9, 150-pound transfer from Austin brings starting experience at cornerback to the Golden Eagles. Buttleman also will play wide receiver and will factor in the return game. Athens coach Cody Gross praised his “great understanding of the game” and describes him as “a physical corner that loves to compete.”

Deon Callins, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Callins excels in zone and man coverage for the Cougars. The cornerback committed to South Alabama in April and brings a quiet leadership style to Clay-Chalkville’s secondary. “Deon is a smart, strong DB. He is great in zone coverage, and I’ll say he’s better in man coverage,” Cougars senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. “He is a quiet person but a leader who will knock people straight.”

Bryce Carter, sr., Benjamin Russell

Carter made a successful transition from wide receiver to cornerback last season. “His incredible speed allows him to always be near the play,” Wildcats coach Kirk Johnson said. Carter’s junior campaign included 50 tackles and four interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns. “He’s a long corner that can get physical in the run game, and he can guard your best receiver,” Benjamin Russell sophomore quarterback Kingston Preyear said. “His speed and ball skills stick out the most to me. He knows what it takes to win.”

Ian Coleman, sr., Gardendale

A two-year starter in the Rockets’ secondary, Coleman has established himself as a team leader who commands respect from coaches and teammates. The senior defensive back has an offer from UVA Wise. Coleman’s leadership will be especially crucial this season as Gardendale retools after losing 15 senior starters from last year’s squad, according to Rockets coach Eric Firestone.

Anthony Craig, so., Parker

Although just beginning his time on the varsity team, Craig is positioned to be a key piece in the secondary for the defending 6A state champions. Thundering Herd coach Frank Warren, entering his sixth season at Parker, has identified Craig as one of the top prospects in his class.

Joe Cross, sr., Spain Park

The ball-hawking free safety recorded five interceptions last season for the Jaguars. Cross also is a standout baseball player and is considered a top recruit as an outfielder and a left-handed hitter.

Tyveonne Davis, sr., Russell County

Davis has established himself as an exceptional run defender with a complete skill set. “Ty is the best run fitting safety I’ve ever been around,” Warriors coach Dillon Griggs said. “Ty is another player who just consistently does everything the right way. His work ethic on the field, in the weight room and in the class is unmatched.” Davis has offers from Liberty, UAB and several other college programs.

Hakim Dunnigan, sr., Columbia

The two-way standout excels at cornerback and wide receiver for the Eagles. Dunnigan received honorable mention all-region from the Huntsville Times as a junior. “On defense, I like touching, tackling — I strive to hold them every yard possible,” Dunnigan said. He added that his defensive goals this season are to record at least 50 tackles, five interceptions and four tackles for loss.

Kamari English, so., Oxford

English started 13 games as a freshman safety for a Yellow Jackets team that reached the 6A state semifinals. “Very physical player with good ball skills,” Oxford coach Sam Adams said of the sophomore standout.

Keivay Foster, sr., Muscle Shoals

Foster is an Arkansas commit who tallied 69 tackles, five tackles for loss, six pass breakups, two interceptions and one touchdown as a junior. He chose the Razorbacks over offers from Mississippi State, Missouri and other college programs. Trojans senior cornerback Cam Hogans speaks to Foster’s character and ability. “Keivay is a great person to be around — very social with everyone,” Hogans said. “His strengths are making plays on the ball and covering fast receivers with his length.”

George French, sr., Homewood

A 6-foot-1 cornerback, French brings excellent size to the Patriots’ secondary. Homewood senior linebacker Joey Luckianow said French “leads by example, especially to the younger DBs.” Luckianow also highlighted French’s communication skills and work ethic. “He has put a lot of work in during the offseason and encourages other players to do so,” Luckianow said.

Jeffrey Garrott Jr., sr., Hueytown

After recording 35 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as a junior, Garrott returns as a key piece in the Golden Gophers’ secondary. The tall, physical cornerback thrives in zone coverage schemes. “Jeffrey is only scratching the surface of his potential as he started back playing football as a sophomore after not playing middle school ball,” Hueytown coach Greg Patterson said.

Zyan Gibson, sr., Gadsden City

The Alabama commit brings elite speed and length to the cornerback position for the Titans. Gibson earned first-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a junior and attracted offers from several college football powerhouses, including Auburn, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Oregon. “He’s the fastest dude on our team,” Gadsden City senior quarterback Kai Franklin said. “He’s a great athlete. He’s long, he’s quick, he plays receiver and DB. He’s like a lockdown corner. I don’t think too many teams are going to test his side.”

Ca’maree Gooden, jr., Gardendale

Entering his third season as a starter in the Rockets’ secondary, Gooden is described by Gardendale coach Eric Firestone as “the best overall athlete on our team.” The junior defensive back’s experience will be invaluable for the Rockets, who graduated 15 senior starters from last year’s team.

Caleb Gosha, sr., McAdory

Gosha joins the Yellowjackets from Pleasant Grove. He brings a wealth of experience as a four-year starter — and, in his words, “energy, leadership and love for the game.” Gosha said his biggest strengths as a defensive back are his vision, route recognition and instincts. He promises his new teammates he’ll give 100 percent effort every snap. “We all feed off of each other’s energy,” he said. “If one person is energetic and engaged, everyone is going to follow that same energy.”

John Griffin, sr., Homewood

Griffin, a three-year starter at safety, recorded 68 tackles and two interceptions last year. Patriots senior linebacker Joey Luckianow praises Griffin’s instincts. “John has an excellent nose for the ball,” Luckianow said. “He’s an excellent on-field leader. He has high energy and gets us pumped up to get off the field, especially on third downs.” Luckianow particularly values Griffin’s attitude and reliability. “He is always encouraging his teammates, and I know I can always count on him to make a big play,” Luckianow said.

Jordon Hill, sr., McAdory

The former wide receiver has made a smooth transition to cornerback for the Yellowjackets. “Jordon is a very underrated player on our team,” McAdory junior wide receiver Carter Feagin said. “His build along with his speed makes him a tough corner to go against, and I expect him to ball out all season and really contribute to the team’s success.”

Cam Hogans, sr., Muscle Shoals

A speedy cornerback with playmaking ability, Hogans recorded 40 tackles, one tackle for loss, five pass breakups, one interception and one touchdown last season for the Trojans. “My strength as a corner is my speed on having the ability to keep up with any receiver if I were to be beat over the top,” he said. “My coverage skills are great whether in man or zone coverage. I have the ability to make great plays on the ball.” Focused on earning college offers during his senior season, Hogans has been working on improving his speed and press man coverage techniques this offseason.

Jordan Holmes, sr., Pike Road

Holmes is one of the most versatile players — and athletes — in Alabama. He earned all-state recognition in football and basketball as a junior. “Jordan came in and led us to the semifinals playing six different positions for us in one game,” Patriots coach Granger Shook said. The Kennesaw State commit was voted a first-team all-state athlete by the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Shook also mentioned senior Keontra Palmore and junior Brycen Perdue as standouts in the team’s secondary. “They will be excellent defensive backs for Pike Road this year,” Shook said.

Cornealius Hudson, sr., Woodlawn

A multi-position talent who can play quarterback, wide receiver and cornerback, Hudson has seven Division I offers. Colonels coach Clarence Williams expects Hudson to earn all-state accolades and a North-South All-Star Game nod this fall. He led the team in interceptions last season.

Ryker Ingle, sr., Fort Payne

Coming off a breakthrough junior season, Ingle has established himself as a hard-hitting safety for the Wildcats. Fort Payne senior quarterback Blake Griggs highlights Ingle’s intangibles. “His biggest strength in my mind is his mindset — he really has that ‘go-get-it’ mentality,” Griggs said. “If there were a brick wall between us and winning, he would run through it for our team.” Griggs added that Ingle’s leadership and communication skills are elite. “He’s the type of player you want on your team,” Griggs said.

Ethan Isbell, sr., Pell City

The defensive leader for the Panthers at safety, Isbell combines speed, athleticism and ball skills while contributing on both sides of the ball. “Ethan is the leader of the defense — very speedy, athletic and has sticky hands,” Pell City junior quarterback Brody Gossett said. Isbell has set ambitious personal goals for his senior season, targeting at least five interceptions, three forced fumbles, 70 tackles and three kick-return touchdowns. His self-assessment highlights his football IQ: “My strengths are I’m smart and a leader and a good tackler, and my coverage is pretty good, too.”

Josh Ivy, jr., Clay-Chalkville

Ivy is a safety who combines excellent coverage skills with a high football IQ, which helped him lead the Cougars in interceptions last season. “Josh is a very good man defender but is also really smart in zone, which is why he led us in picks last year,” Clay-Chalkville senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. “He has a big personality, and his motor is always on 10 no matter what we do. He is the one with a lot of energy, and he’s a good leader — people listen to him.”

Alijah Johnson, sr., Benjamin Russell

Wildcats coach Kirk Johnson refers to Alijah Johnson as the team’s Swiss Army knife. “He has the unique ability to impact the game from several different positions,” the coach said. He played quarterback as a junior and completed 142 of 240 pass attempts for 2,124 yards and 25 touchdowns, and he added 179 yards and four scores on the ground. He’ll play primarily safety this season. “He’s a great athlete. He can play any skill position on the field and do great at it,” Benjamin Russell sophomore quarterback Kingston Preyear said. “He’s a small guy with a big impact in the game.”

Kejiaun “KJ” Johnson, sr., Woodlawn

One of the most heavily recruited players in the state, Johnson has garnered more than 20 Division I offers, including five from Power Four conferences (four from the SEC). He announced his commitment to South Carolina after a standout junior campaign. Colonels coach Clarence Williams projects Johnson to be an all-state honoree and an Alabama/Mississippi All-Star Game selection in 2025.

KeShaun Johnson, sr., Parker

A key defensive anchor for the reigning 6A state champion Thundering Herd, Johnson brings intensity and leadership to Parker’s secondary. His hard-hitting style and vocal presence make him a defensive cornerstone at free safety. “KeShaun is a for-real hard-hat player who goes hard every single play,” Parker senior running back Chancellor Sparks said. “He will absolutely lay the wood and is very vocal on the field.”

Clarence Jones, sr., Athens

Golden Eagles coach Cody Gross calls Jones “an unbelievable person” and “one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached.” The two-year starter at cornerback will transition to safety this season, bringing his physical style to the back end of the Athens defense. “He loves the game and his teammates and his coaches,” Gross said.

Lawardrick Jones, sr., Saraland

An instinctive and physical cornerback with significant big-game experience for the reigning 6A runners-up Spartans, Jones particularly excels against the pass. “He has great ball skills and does a great job playing the ball in the air,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said. Jones might also contribute on offense this season as a running back.

Elijah Malone, jr., Gulf Shores

As a sophomore, Malone recorded 36 tackles, eight pass breakups and one interception. Describing his strengths, Malone points to “my ball skills, athleticism, coverage in man and zone, tackling ability.” He said he’s added 10 pounds of muscle and has been focused on improving his speed during the offseason. Malone has set ambitious goals for himself: “to be an all-state corner and get offers from Power Four schools.”

Kameron May, sr., Pelham

May brings versatility to the Panthers’ defense with his ability to play cornerback and safety. Pelham senior linebacker Joe Hampton describes May as “a true 4.4 speed guy on the back end who is confident he can make every play,” adding that May has “great ball skills and is a really good tackler in the secondary.” Fellow senior linebacker Benji Augsburger said May is a “very hard worker, competitive and a great teammate.”

Jerrin McCain, sr., Calera

Eagles coach Scott Rials said McCain has excellent speed and coverage skills. As a junior, he tallied 63 tackles (21 solo), three forced fumbles and 12 pass breakups. “One of my strengths as a corner is staying disciplined in coverage and trusting my technique,” McCain said. “I try to be smart with how I play the game, studying film, understanding tendencies and always being where I’m supposed to be.” McCain said he’s spent the offseason trying to improve his conditioning and footwork. “I’m always working to get better each rep,” he said.

Lamarien Miller, sr., McGill-Toolen

Miller, a safety, earned second-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a junior. “What makes Lamarien a good player is his ability to get downhill to make a play. He is also great in space,” Yellowjackets junior defensive lineman Avrian Pauley said. “I am projecting him to have another all-state worthy season. What I appreciate the most about Lamarien is his work ethic and his attitude toward making sure everyone is giving their all.”

Johnny Moody, sr., Parker

The only returning starter in the secondary, Moody brings valuable experience to the defending 6A state champion Thundering Herd. The cornerback is a former wide receiver who transitioned to the defensive backfield during his sophomore year. A Memphis commit who garnered more than 15 Division I offers, Moody’s athleticism extends beyond football to the track, where he excels in the high jump. “Johnny is an athlete. He is very versatile,” Parker senior running back Chancellor Sparks said. “He’s got crazy bounce. Memphis is getting a good athlete.”

Ka’Mauri Moore, sr., Gadsden City

Moore’s versatility allows him to excel at both safety and cornerback positions in the Titans’ secondary. His speed and agility make him a perfect complement to seniors Zyan Gibson and Kerrell Yow in Gadsden City’s talented defensive backfield. “He completes our DB corps with him, Kerrell, Zyan — they’re all like that same type speed, they’re all fast, quick, can go around, fly around, make plays,” Titans senior quarterback Kai Franklin said. “He’s very fast, very quick and agile.” Moore also is expected to contribute on offense this season at wide receiver.

Joel Olive, jr., Gardendale

Although this will be his first season starting for the Rockets, Olive already has caught the attention of college programs — he has an offer from West Alabama. He joins senior Ian Coleman and junior Ca’maree Gooden in a secondary that will be counted on heavily as Gardendale coach Eric Firestone works to rebuild after significant graduation losses.

Sam Parrish, sr., Chelsea

The four-year starter at safety recorded 53 tackles and three interceptions last season. Hornets coach Todd Cassity calls Parrish “our quarterback on the defensive side of the football” and credits him with “the ability to get us in position to win games.” Chelsea senior running back Chase Malone describes Parrish as “a ball hawk and the leader of the secondary,” adding that “along with his playmaking abilities and leadership skills, he has a great mentality and keeps the defense hyped up.”

Christian Pritchard, jr., Muscle Shoals

One of the most versatile players in the state, Pritchard earned second-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association after a stellar sophomore season in which he recorded 69 tackles, three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 10 pass breakups, three interceptions and five touchdowns as a cornerback and wide receiver. “Christian is an outstanding athlete; he’s explosive on both sides of the ball,” Trojans senior quarterback Kade Clemmons said. “Defensively, he has the speed and awareness to stick with wide receivers in one-on-one coverage and plays the ball very well.” Muscle Shoals coach Scott Basden, who has been coaching for 18 years, calls Pritchard the “most versatile player I have ever coached.”

TJ Sanders, so., Pell City

Sanders brings exceptional length and athleticism to the Panthers’ defense, with the versatility to contribute on both sides of the ball. Pell City junior quarterback Brody Gossett praises the cornerback’s physical attributes. “TJ is a very lengthy, athletic and versatile player,” Gossett said. “He has very good vision, hips and control over his body.”

Tamidrae Sewer, sr., Saraland

A versatile athlete who excels at the free and strong safety positions, Sewer brings intelligence and savvy to the Spartans’ secondary. His range and coverage skills make him a defensive anchor for the reigning 6A state runners-up. “He is a great example to our younger players about how to approach practice and games,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said, highlighting Sewer’s leadership qualities that extend beyond his on-field performance.

Ty Sims, sr., Gadsden City

The hard-hitting safety brings leadership and physicality to the Titans’ secondary. Playing primarily in a strong safety/nickel role, Sims has established himself as one of Gadsden City’s defensive anchors. “He’s one of the leaders on our defense,” Titans senior quarterback Kai Franklin said. “He’s probably one of the hardest hitters on our team. He’s a real hard worker, got great work ethic. He’s one of the leaders on our team.”

Cameron Smith, jr., Calera

Eagles coach Scott Rials describes Smith as someone who “really flies around” and calls him a “big-time player.” Calera senior cornerback Jerrin McCain also offers high praise. “Cameron is one of those guys you can always count on; his awareness and range at safety are big-time,” McCain said. “He’s smart, communicates well and helps get everyone lined up.” McCain said he particularly values Smith’s quick play recognition and selfless attitude. “He leads by example and genuinely wants to see everyone eat,” McCain said. “Playing next to him gives me confidence because I know he’s got my back every snap. Probably one of the best safeties I’ve shared a snap with.”

Xavier Starks, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Starks brings intelligence and physicality to the Cougars’ secondary. The safety received honorable mention all-state recognition from the Alabama Sports Writers Association as a junior and committed to Cincinnati in February after receiving more than 15 Division I offers. “He will come down and hit; a smart player in coverage as well,” Clay-Chalkville senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. “He is a funny person but also knows when to lock in, and he gets the defenses’ heads right every day.”

Caaleb Thomas, fr., Chelsea

Although only a freshman, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound cornerback and wide receiver already has made an impression. Hornets coach Todd Cassity notes that Thomas “might be the fastest player on the team” and said he “has a chance to be very special.”

Tykwon “Trelan” Thomas, sr., Spanish Fort

The senior cornerback returns as a starter in 2025. According to Toros sophomore safety Tyler Buchanan, Thomas’ greatest strengths lie in his instincts and physicality at the position. “He reads routes well and he’s not afraid to get up and press at the line,” Buchanan said, adding that Thomas brings confidence and energy to Spanish Fort’s defense, playing with an edge that elevates the entire secondary. “He competes every snap, whether it’s practice or a game,” Buchanan said.

Nevyn Threadgill, sr., Baldwin County

Returning as the Tigers’ field corner, Threadgill earned the nickname “silent assassin” from his teammates for his quiet demeanor but impactful play. “He is pound for pound the strongest player on our team,” Baldwin County coach Andrew Davis said. Threadgill will be tasked with man-to-man coverage responsibilities throughout the season. “Nevyn is a technician at his craft,” Tigers senior quarterback Hayden Coley said. “He uses his hands very well, and it allows him to lock down any receiver.”

Endymion Tyus, sr., Athens

At 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Tyus brings excellent size to the cornerback position after starting at wide receiver and safety last season. His ball skills and coverage ability stand out, complemented by what Golden Eagles coach Cody Gross calls “a high football IQ.” Tyus will continue his two-way role, also lining up at receiver on offense. “A fierce competitor,” Gross said.

Jaxon Unger, sr., Athens

At 5-foot-9 and 150 pounds, Unger epitomizes versatility. A state champion wrestler who helped the Golden Eagles claim the 6A wrestling team title, Unger will start at safety this season and will get time at wide receiver and quarterback and as a returner. As a junior, Unger was a scoring machine on defense and special teams, taking two interceptions back for touchdowns, adding a fumble recovery for a score and finding the end zone on a punt return. Athens coach Cody Gross describes Unger as a “dynamic player that is a fierce competitor.”

Justin Vines, sr., Spanish Fort

Another returning starter at cornerback for the Toros, Vines has established himself as a defensive tone-setter. Spanish Fort sophomore safety Tyler Buchanan describes Vines as bringing “relentless energy and focus every single day.” Vines’ game revolves around speed, instincts and positioning, according to Buchanan, with an exceptional ability to read plays and close space quickly. “What I’ve learned most from Justin is the value of preparation,” Buchanan said. “He studies film, knows the details and holds himself to a high standard that rubs off on everyone around him.”

Theon Williams, jr., Pell City

A dual-threat player for the Panthers, Williams brings intelligence and ball-reading ability to the secondary. Pell City junior quarterback Brody Gossett emphasized Williams’ mental approach to the game. “Very smart, versatile and reads the ball very, very well,” Gossett said. “I think he is looking forward to having a great year.” Williams will contribute on offense as a running back.

Deitric Young, sr., Woodlawn

With four Division I offers already in hand, Young enters his senior season on pace to become the Colonels’ all-time leading tackler. Woodlawn coach Clarence Williams anticipates all-region honors for the hard-hitting safety this season.

Kerrell Yow, sr., Gadsden City

This versatile cornerback might be the most complete athlete on the Titans’ roster. Yow is entering his third year as a starter after gaining valuable experience his freshman season. “He’s probably the best athlete on our team,” Gadsden City senior quarterback Kai Franklin said. “He does kick return, punt return, he plays receiver, he can go in the backfield and play running back, he can play almost everywhere on the defensive side. He’s high energy, super competitive, hard-nosed … plus, his cover skills are wonderful.”

Leland Brown-Foster, sr., and Westley Patton, jr., Brookwood

Brown-Foster and Patton pull double duty for the Panthers as key players on offense and defense. Brown-Foster will be one of the team’s lead ball-carriers and will play plenty of cornerback. “He can do it all,” Brookwood coach Chris Foster said. Patton plays safety, quarterback and wide receiver. “He will be the player that ensures everyone is lining up and gets the right calls in the secondary,” Foster said.

Chris Hutson and Carson Jett, srs., Hartselle

Tigers coach Bert Newton feels good having these two anchors in his defensive backfield. The coach said Jett was “a lockdown cornerback” for the team last season. Hutson? “He is a safety who is extremely physical and has great ball skills,” Newton 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.

Lauren Alaina, former “American Idol” star, is mourning the death of her cousin, Holly Witherow.

The country music singer’s cousin died from cancer.

“If you followed my ‘American Idol’ journey, then you know Holly,” Alaina posted on social media. “Wherever Holly went I was always close behind. She is the sister I never had and my favorite person on this planet.

“Thank you so much for all the love and prayers. It truly means the world. Please keep my aunt and uncle in your continued prayers. As a new mother, I cannot even fathom the pain of losing a child. I love you forever, Holly. Give my daddy a hug for me.”

Witherow has battled cancer for the past 20 years. According to Taste of Country, Witherow even battled brain cancer, which has at times left her unable to speak.

The death of Alaina’s cousin comes nearly one year since her father, J.J. Suddeth, died. She also lost her stepfather, Sam Ranker, in 2018 to cancer.

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

This is an opinion column.

Perhaps we’ve had enough talking this month.

A third week of conference media days has pushed our concept of reality beyond healthy levels.

The BS meter was dancing Tuesday.

Now, we scoffed at Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark two weeks ago, claiming his league is the deepest in the nation. Whatever, he’s singing to his congregation. If that gets the choir going, bless their hearts.

Now, there’s SMU coach Rhett Lashlee in Charlotte applying clown makeup at the ACC’s media days.

Apparently with a straight face, the former Auburn offensive coordinator strongly insinuated the ACC is deeper than the SEC.

Like the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Yeah.

He brought a list of facts to support this.

They had four teams win 10 games last year. Two playoff teams. Thirteen played in bowl games. All that.

“There’s just not a lot of easy wins on the schedule,” Lashlee said at the league’s media days.

He took it a step further to — being serious here — look down upon the SEC.

“And there’s other leagues that claim depth,” he said. “But like, the SEC has had the same six schools win the championship since 1964. The same six. Not a single one has been different since 1964. That’s top-heavy to me. That’s not depth.”

Not a lie.

But it’s all about how you frame the truth and how you can use it to gaslight.

Here’s another.

“In the last 15 years, we’re tied for the second most championships with three with the Big Ten,” Lashlee said. “I don’t why that’s not talked about more.”

Maybe because the SEC won nine of those last 15 national championships with four different schools.

Three of those teams won national championships the same year it failed to win the conference crown (Alabama in 2011 and 2017 and Georgia in 2021).

Since 1990, four current members of the ACC have claimed national titles.

The number for the SEC? Eight.

Or we could look at last season, specifically.

The ACC only had two playoff teams because previously undefeated SMU lost in the league championship game to Clemson.

The Dabo Tigers won that ACC ring a week after losing to the sixth-highest-ranked team in the SEC, South Carolina.

The SEC was 11-3 against ACC teams last year.

Lean over and honk Lashlee’s red nose.

The champs of this ocean trench deep conference were No. 16 in the final CFP committee rankings. It was a power league whose automatic qualifier didn’t get a first-round bye. Boise State and Arizona State did.

The SEC had seven of the top 19 teams in the final CFP rankings — three of the top seven. Lashley’s Mustangs were the highest ranked at No. 10. Miami (13), Clemson (16) and Syracuse (21) were also in there.

Using ESPN’s strength of record ranking, SMU had the most impressive rating in the league last year.

It was 18th.

The SEC had seven teams ranked higher than that.

That’s top-heavy when you consider the ACC’s center of gravity.

Sit on that whoopee cushion, Rhett.

The ACC went 3-3 against Big 12 teams last year and 4-5 against the Big Ten.

Add it up and they were 10-19 against the other power conference schools. If the ACC is so deep, it wasn’t evident when the conference membership ventured outside of league play.

It’s had a losing record against the other power leagues every season since 2016.

We could make another clown joke but you get the point.

Nobody’s telling Lashlee he needs to kiss the SEC ring but to go out of his way to insult the intelligence of the college football community.

Suggesting the ACC’s depth is anywhere comparable to the SEC is foolish business.

Lashlee used a fact but ended up looking like a bozo.

We’ve all had enough talking this July.

Some clowns are better off as mimes.

Michael Casagrande is a reporter for the Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @ByCasagrande or on Facebook.

Dear Eric: My husband and I have been married for 21 years. When we met, we both had children from previous relationships. His son, Pete, was 12 at the time, and my daughter was 8. We did our best to blend our families, though it wasn’t always easy.

Pete had a difficult childhood. His mother struggled with alcoholism and often left him and his half-sister alone at a very young age. My husband stepped in and raised him on his own. We even put Pete in counseling to help him work through the trauma, though he told us later he never took it seriously and just laughed at the counselor.

My ex was never involved in my daughter’s life, and my husband raised her as his own. They have a close and loving relationship to this day.

Pete is now 35 and a father of two. However, even when we lived only 20 minutes away, we rarely saw him or the kids unless we made the effort to reach out. Now that we live in another state, we try to connect when we visit, but they often say they’re busy or have other plans. It’s hard not to feel like they’re making excuses.

I know this hurts my husband, though he rarely talks about it. He devoted himself to raising Pete and gave him everything he could. I wish I knew how to make this better, but I’m not sure what more we can do.

– Want a Healed Family

Dear Family: It is very likely Pete has unfinished work to do around healing from the trauma he experienced as a child. There may be part of him that, despite your husband’s efforts, blames your husband for this. While you and your husband can support Pete from afar, he has to be the one to do the work.

Relationships are ecosystems and one person’s actions impact every other part. This can have negative ramifications, but it can also have positive ones. To that end, encourage your husband to work with a trained family therapist to process his relationship with Pete. There are hurts in the present and the past through which he can work. Additionally, by tending to his emotional and mental well-being now, he sets himself up better to build a relationship with Pete in the future.

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.

Joseph Holt, a licensed home builder and youth nonprofit leader, is running for the District 4 Birmingham city council seat.

Holt’s campaign focuses on neighborhood revitalization, restoring the neighborhood watch, investments in opportunities for youth and transparency between local government and residents.

Holt said he plans to use his experience to create safer and more vibrant neighborhoods.

“I want people to not feel like they’re obsolete, like they have no voice, like now. I think bringing transparency and lots of community engagement will help the community and the government become one,” Holt said.

Growing up in Birmingham’s Kingston neighborhood, Holt said he hoped to see his community transform and thrive. Decades later, he said, the neighborhood is still plagued by poverty, drugs and violence.

Holt said he hopes to change that.

“Why does our neighborhood still look like they’re in poverty? After all the money, all the budgets, Kingston, Collegeville, Inglenook, East Birmingham, still look poverty ridden,” Holt said. “And that’s why I wanted to get in there, to see if I can make a change, because Kingston is where I grew up.”

Holt said he remembers participating on the neighborhood watch and listening to the elders and councilmen of his neighborhood talk about the importance of community.

“That’s what makes me qualified, because I grew up seeing what values used to be. I grew up seeing what our neighborhood used to look like, clean streets, nice grass, pretty houses and the elderly sitting on the front porch with that newspaper and they weren’t scared,” Holt said.

“Growing up seeing that, that’s what makes me qualified, because now I can restore that when I get into that seat.”

After attending Woodlawn High School, Holt earned his GED from Jefferson State Community College. He went on to study at Lawson State Community College where he earned his certification in heating, ventilation and air conditioning before becoming a licensed home builder.

Over the years, Holt said, he renovated more than 50 homes throughout Birmingham, primarily in the Kingston and Woodlawn neighborhoods through his company H Plus H.

“I started buying a lot of the drug houses, completely gutting them and renovating them, to bring back families, bring back renters with children that can go to school, because I want to see kids on swings and riding bikes in the neighborhood again, like I grew up seeing,” Holt said.

To better help the young people in his neighborhood, Holt launched a nonprofit in 2024.

The Holt Foundation for Change trains local youth in carpentry, plumbing and electrical work, equipping them with trade skills that can set them on a better path. Holt has helped young adults secure internships, jobs and scholarships.

As a councilman, Holt said he wants to ensure children and teens have more workforce training opportunities to reduce crime.

“I want to give those kids opportunities,” Holt said. “They need to know that they can put the guns down and they can go gain a paycheck.”

Holt is the father of an A.H. Parker High School student and member of Rock City Church and First Baptist Kingston.

“I’m a part of the fabric of District 4,” Holt said. “I always invested in District 4 and that’s what I’m about. I love my community, I love my district, and I just want to change it and make it look the way that I always imagined it could look.”

In May 2022, Holt was arrested for working with an expired contractor’s license. The charges were dropped after renewing his license that same year.

Holt will be running against District 4 incumbent J.T. Moore, Darryl Williams and Brian Gunn.

The city of Birmingham will hold the election for mayor and city council on Aug. 26.

The mayor of a small Alabama town and one of his most vocal critics normally square off at city council meetings where each recites a litany of complaints about the other.

While Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton and activists Chuck Winborn for years have used the public space for their political brawl, they have never sat down at the same table.

That might change soon. While not the Camp David Peace Accords or the Yalta Conference, talk of a ‘lunch summit’ between the Tarrant political rivals raised eyebrows when it was proposed during the council meeting this week.

“I’ve been talking to people all over the city. They keep asking me about you. ‘What is it about you and Chuck,’” Newton said after Winborn completed his familiar complaints about the mayor. “’He’s never particularly cared for me, and I don’t particularly care for him,’”’

Winborn interjected.

“I agree.”

But instead of the usual retort, Newton then invited Winborn to lunch, albeit not a totally private gathering.

“The only thing that I ask is that it’s live streamed,” Newton said. “That way you can’t say one thing and I can’t say something (else).”

The mayor frequently calls Winborn a racist while Winborn describes the mayor as disrespectful and vindictive.

“The mayor wants to make statements about my heritage and that I’ve done my genealogy. I’m not ashamed of that,” he said. I’m not ashamed of anything that I’ve said.”

Winborn was even arrested in April after posting police footage on his social media page. The criminal charge of defamation was soon dropped. Winborn called it an attempt to silence his activism.

That incident was one in a series of political battles that have resulted in arrests, civil and criminal cases involving citizens and elected leaders.

The town of 6,000 is bitterly divided politically and the mayor and council spar regularly. Citizens voice their disapproval during council meetings. Tarrant is just northeast of Birmingham.

Winborn is a member of the city’s crime commission and is supporter of police chief Wendell Major, another nemesis of the mayor. He also supports Councilwoman Traci Threadford, who is running against Newton. Both Major and Threadford are black while Winborn is white.

“I don’t care what the mayor’s supporters think about me, Winborn said. “It makes no difference to me.”

Winborn continued to press his issues against the mayor Monday evening.

“Everything that I’ve said at that podium concerning you can be backed up by these people right here or on video,” he said.

Newton said issues between the two men could be talked about during their summit.

“You just let me know the day and the time that works for me and it’s lunch on me,” he said.

Winborn agreed and then offered his own terms. He will meet but only with a third-party witness.

“You can bring one of your friends,” Newton said. “You pick a date and time, and I will pay for your lunch. I’m not paying for their lunch.”

Dear Eric: One of our neighbors has acquired backyard chickens, and a rooster. His chicken coop is not far from our bedroom window. Now that it’s getting warmer, we like to sleep with the windows open to cool off the house at night. The rooster wakes up at 5:20 a.m., so now we do as well.

We are retired, so most days we can go back to sleep after the rooster has quieted down, but sometimes that is not possible. Our neighbor is relatively new to the neighborhood, and we are friendly with him, so we are reluctant to complain. He brought us eggs when he first got the chickens – probably a peace offering.

We want to be good neighbors, but we think that we should not have to close our windows in order to get a good night’s sleep. Moving the coop to another part of the yard would not solve the problem. What would you do?

– Crying Fowl

Dear Fowl: Though the gift of eggs was nice, with that early a daily wake-up call, I hope your new neighbor is prepping a full breakfast spread for you. I know that speaking up about the rooster seems like complaining but try thinking of the conversation as part of the basis of good neighborly communication. It’s possible he’s grown so accustomed to the crowing that it doesn’t even wake him.

Start with a question: “this is what we’re experiencing; do you know of any ways that you can get the rooster to crow a little later in the day?” Chances are he might have some ideas or, in the spirit of being a good neighbor, he might go off in search of some solutions.

For instance, if your neighbor makes the rooster’s coop completely lightproof and lets the rooster out a little later in the morning, it could have the desired result. However, roosters can crow at all hours of the day, to establish dominance, when they sense danger, or, sometimes, for no reason at all. There’s also something called a rooster collar that can discourage crowing when worn, but after speaking with a variety of backyard chicken owners, I’ve found opinions are mixed about the humaneness of this device.

All this and more can come out in conversation with your neighbor. You’re not drawing a hard line or giving him an ultimatum. But a question may prompt him to think more about you, and he and the chickens and the rooster can all coexist happily.

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 ABBY: When my daughter, “Trish,” and her husband separated, I reached out to each of them for occasional check-ins. Trish left him after confessing to infidelity via email.

He messaged me with a copy of what she’d written, which included some damning things about me — that she was “like” me and that I am “not a good person.” She never forgave me for crossing the line with a longtime friend decades ago. My husband owned his part in the situation, and we’ve moved past it. Apparently, she has not.

Although Trish and her husband reconciled briefly, she’s moved out again and plans to divorce him. I’ve offered to go to counseling with her if that would help, but I don’t know if she knows I know what she said about me. My son-in-law apologized when he realized what that revelation must’ve felt like. He shouldn’t have shared her email without permission, but it can’t be undone now.

My daughter is cordial but guarded when we occasionally speak. She lives far away. Should I tell her I know what she said about me, and hope she sees it as an opportunity to get to the bottom of issues between us? Do I continue to reach out in love and compassion, not knowing if she’s still holding this grudge, showing her that I love and forgive her, regardless of our mistakes in the past? — IMPERFECT MOM IN FLORIDA

DEAR MOM: Amid the turmoil in her marriage, your daughter attempted to blame her infidelity on the example you set for her during her impressionable years.

Her husband may have shared what she had written in an attempt to damage her relationship with you, which would be not only unkind, but also manipulative. I don’t know what other issues you have with your daughter, but I see nothing to be gained at this point by telling her you know what she said. Bide your time.

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.

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.

One of the drawbacks of SEC expansion and resulting schedule rotation is that Alabama very rarely plays at Georgia.

The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs have met three times in the SEC championship game, twice in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game and twice in Tuscaloosa since the last time they played “Between the Hedges” at Sanford Stadium in Athens, in 2015. That was so long ago, Kirby Smart — who is entering his 10th season as Georgia’s head coach — was still Alabama’s defensive coordinator at the time.

Kalen DeBoer was offensive coordinator at Eastern Michigan back then; he’s had five jobs since. Alabama superstar Ryan Williams — entering his sophomore season — was eight years old.

Since the SEC first expanded in 1992, Alabama has played at Sanford Stadium just four times — in 1995, 2003, 2008 and 2015. The Crimson Tide has won three of those games, all of them convincingly.

That trip to Athens on Oct. 3, 2015, was certainly a memorable one for the Crimson Tide and a forgettable one for the Bulldogs. Nick Saban and Alabama hammered Georgia 38-10 on a rain-soaked afternoon in Athens, sparking a national championship run and sending Bulldogs head coach Mark Richt down the road to being fired at season’s end.

Georgia came in at 4-0 and ranked No. 8 nationally. Alabama was 3-1 and ranked No. 13, having lost at home to Ole Miss two weeks prior.

The Bulldogs were a slight betting favorite by the kickoff, making the Crimson Tide a rare underdog. It was the only time between 2009 and 2021 that Alabama was not the oddsmakers’ pick to win.

As with the 2009 and 2021 SEC championship games, Vegas got this one wrong as well. Alabama jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead, and was up by 35 points five minutes into the second half.

“I told (Alabama’s players) before the game that the plan we had for them, ordinary men couldn’t go out there and get it done,” Saban said. “We needed them to be extraordinary.”

After a slow start, they certainly were.

The game was tied 3-3 heading toward the midway point of the second quarter before Alabama made a series of big plays on offense, defense and special teams. First was a 30-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry, which put the Crimson Tide up 10-3 with 8:26 to play before halftime.

Georgia lined up to punt from its own 16 with 4:48 left in the half, but Alabama freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick burst through the line and blocked the kick, then scooped it up at the 1-yard and bounded into the end zone for a 17-3 lead. After the Bulldogs went three-and-out and punted again, the Crimson Tide scored on the next play — a 45-yard pass from Jake Coker to Calvin Ridley, which made it 24-3.

The game was essentially over at that point, but Alabama wasn’t done scoring. On Georgia’s first series of the second half, Crimson Tide safety Eddie Jackson picked off a Brice Ramsey pass and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown.

The next Georgia possession resulted in a punt, which gave Alabama the ball on the Bulldogs’ 38 after a personal foul penalty. Coker threw 23 yards to ArDarius Stewart on first down, and scored on a 2-yard keeper three plays later to make it 38-3.

Georgia finally got into the end zone on the last play of the third quarter, with Nick Chubb breaking away for an 83-yard touchdown run against mostly Alabama reserves. The fourth quarter was scoreless, a 15-minute countdown to finish off yet another beatdown of the Bulldogs in Athens by the Crimson Tide.

It was a thorough pounding reminiscent of the one seven years earlier in Athens, when Georgia used a “blackout” promotion for a Saturday night game vs. Alabama and found itself down 31-0 at halftime on the way to a 41-30 loss. That victory helped usher in the Saban era for the Crimson Tide, but the 2015 rout — the “black and blue” game? — only continued the greatest run of sustained excellence in modern college football history.

The win over Georgia was the second of 12 consecutive victories for Alabama to end the 2015 season. Alabama scored double-digit wins over Auburn to end the regular season and Florida in the SEC championship game, then throttled Michigan State in the Cotton Bowl CFP semifinal before outlasting Clemson 45-40 to win the fourth of six national championships under Saban.

Thankfully, Alabama finally plays at Georgia again this season. The Crimson Tide and Bulldogs face off on Sept. 27 at Sanford Stadium, in a night game to be televised by ABC.

It should be a phenomenal atmosphere, and possibly a great game. It should just happen more often.

Coming Thursday: Our countdown to kickoff continues with No. 37, arguably the greatest SEC football player of the pre-World War II era.

A man was found fatally shot inside a vehicle that crashed into the front yard of a Birmingham home.

Just after 3 a.m. Wednesday, a West Precinct officer was flagged down by two people who told the officer their friend had been shot.

Police responded to the 4100 block of Avenue L where they found the wrecked sedan.

The victim, still in the driver’s seat, was pronounced dead by Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service.

Sgt. LaQuitta Wade said the victim and his passengers were at a different location when someone opened fire on their car.

The victim drove away. It wasn’t immediately clear how far he drove before he wrecked.

After the wreck, the victim’s two passengers got out of the car and went for help.

No arrests have been made.

The deadly shooting is the second in Birmingham in less than 24 hours, and the 44th so far for the year.

Anyone with information is asked to call homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.