Alabama News

Nate Smith has lost 55 pounds, and he isn’t done.

The country music star recently opened up about the weight loss and his health.

“I didn’t like the way I looked,” Smith told People. “I didn’t like the way I felt. I didn’t like how I was out of breath all the time and how I’d get dizzy just tying my shoes.

“I felt like I was slowly killing myself, and I didn’t know what to do about it.”

Even his parents were scared for the 39-year-old star, he said.

“My parents would come to shows and see me drunk and overeating and stuff, and they’d be scared of the way I was living,” Smith said. “They were worried I’d have a heart attack or a stroke.”

Depression, he said, resulted in drinking and excessive eating.

“I knew I was hurting myself, but I couldn’t stop,” he said. “It was like looking at this mountain and wondering, ‘How do I get up there?’ I didn’t even know where to start.”

Well, he started with cutting back on both eating and drinking and went from 280 pounds to 225 in four months. And, he added, he wants to lose 20 more pounds.

“I’m happier and more confident,” he said. “It’s changed the way I perform onstage. I have a lot more energy.

“I think that the physical stuff has really affected my mental health in a positive way. It’s a concept I heard a million times: ‘You gotta love yourself before you love someone else,’ but it’s kinda true. Because I’m not so insecure about myself, it’s helped me be more present. And it’s changed the way I can love people. I feel free.”

Beverly Gumm and her daughter, Star Rutherford, were cooking lunch in the basement of Richmond Road Baptist Church in Kentucky, in the fellowship hall, Sunday afternoon when a man came through the back door and asked for one of Rutherford’s sisters.

They told the man she wasn’t there. He responded: “Well, someone is gonna have to die, then,” and opened fire, Rutherford told the Herald-Leader.

Gumm, 72, ducked and avoided the first shot, but the second hit her in the chest, killing her.

The man then went outside and shot and killed another of Rutherford’s sisters — Christina Combs, 32 — and injured two others: Gumm’s husband and the longtime pastor of the church, Jerry Gumm, and Combs’ husband, Randy Combs.

Rutherford and two of her other sisters, Dasey “Patches” Rutherford and Rachel Barnes, recounted the chaotic scene in an interview Sunday night with the Herald-Leader.

Guy House was the man who opened fire, they said. The sister he was looking for was the mother of his three children.

The church shooting, in the 5800 block of Old Richmond Road, happened soon after police said House shot and injured a Kentucky State Police trooper who tried to pull him over. House shot the trooper outside Blue Grass Airport, fled, carjacked a vehicle, and then drove to the church, police said.

Police eventually shot and killed House at the church.

Police have not identified House. The sisters said they knew him because of their other sister, whom the Herald-Leader is not identifying.

Star Rutherford said she held her mother as she lay dying. Gumm had eight children, she said, and was a “faithful member of the church who loved God.”

Gumm’s “love language” was feeding people — “homeless people, drug addicts, strangers” — said Patches Rutherford.

Barnes added that her mother and sister were doing what they loved, “serving the Lord,” when they died.

Barnes said Combs was a mother of five who planned to graduate from nursing school in December. She had a 6-month-old baby.

“They were both fantastic moms,” Barnes said.

The sisters said they don’t know a possible motive for House opening fire on the church.

Jerry Gumm and Randy Combs were in critical condition but stable Sunday night at the University of Kentucky hospital, Barnes said.

The state trooper shot at Blue Grass Airport was also stable Sunday.

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©2025 Lexington Herald-Leader. Visit at kentucky.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market opens at 9 a.m., and by 9:30, the aisles are packed. It’s easy to see why: This is not your run-of-the-mill farmers’ market.

First, there’s the facility built by the city of Foley. High-roofed and open, it provides shade and allows any breeze to blow through, making it a relatively pleasant place to be on a hot summer morning. There are built-in restrooms and the adjacent lawns allow for a small sprawl of outside vendors. There’s abundant paved parking, shared with nearby volleyball and pickleball courts, and a grassy field for overflow.

An even bigger impression is made by the wares on offer. Local farmers present a glorious array of locally grown produce, from blueberries and watermelons to potatoes, peppers, carrots and greens. These are not the big-but-bland veggies favored in American supermarkets: They’ve got character, which promises flavor.

Others sell beef, eggs, jellies, honey, juices. The smell of fresh-baked rosemary parmesan sourdough loaves from Southern Preserved is enough to drive passersby mad, and they’re not the only purveyors of baked goods on hand. Shrimp on the Go! Seafood, an award-winning Baldwin County vendor, makes sure the market lives up to the “Fishermens” part of its name, with shrimp, snapper, salmon, grouper and other selections. There are a few arts & crafts vendors, too, with an emphasis on handmade work.

Small wonder it’s an award-winning venue. The market recently ranked as first runner-up nationally among farmers’ markets in Newsweek’s Readers’ Choice Awards, and it also has been ranked in the Top 10 in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.

The vibe is good. Maybe that’s because when you’ve got good products, a good facility and good traffic, it’s hard for the vibe to be bad. But maybe there’s something more to it.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that the CAFFM is managed on behalf of Foley by a third-generation Baldwin County farmer with a sense of mission. That’s Alescia Forland, whose grandparents emigrated from Norway in the early 1900s and founded a 100-acre farm in the Silverhill area. Forland Farms can now boast its fourth and fifth generations, and Alescia Forland has had experience running the Loxley Farm Market since 1995.

She’s not here to sell widgets.

“We try really hard to have unique vendors,” Forland says, explaining that there’s a waiting list for some categories of vendors but never for farmers.

“We want farmers because that’s the whole point of the farmers’ market,” she says. “We’ve been in the business of family farming for a while now, and you know, it’s difficult. Farming is getting more and more difficult each year. And Baldwin County unfortunately, is going from agriculture to more of row cropping houses, which is sad for me, growing up in the area, seeing all the generational farms going by the wayside. So the farmers’ market is a good way to help keep the smaller farms in business and connect them with the community.”

The COVID-19 pandemic was a lesson in how important local resources can become when supply chains falter, she says. But those local resources have to be nurtured.

“My main goal is, I’m always trying to push young people to farm,” Forland says. “And they have to do small farms, so they need a place like the farmer’s market, because they can’t go out and buy land and start farming. It’s impossible. There’s no way they can go purchase 20, 30, 40 acres of land and farm. They will never pay it off [through] farming at the rate our property values in Baldwin County have increased. But they can, on an acre, two acres, a half-acre, do some sustainable farming.”

Serving as an outlet for small farms’ production isn’t the only role a farmers’ market can play, Forland says. It can be a small business incubator. On this Saturday, one of the vendors, Forget-Me-Knot Bakery,, has a sign up saying that it’s “coming soon” to a brick-and-mortar location in Robertsdale. It won’t be the first business that has made that jump, and Forland says she has seen other producers, such as Tony’s Tejas Salsa, grow to the point they can place their products in supermarkets.

“It’s been a good stepping stone,” she says. “It’s not just for Foley, it’s for the whole county.”

For some entrepreneurs, it lets them make the only step they needed. One of the more unusual booths on this Saturday is Maria’s Gourmet Delights, where Maria Mendez and her husband, Jesus, are selling her empanadas and some amazingly good Cuban sandwiches.

Mendez worked as the director of Latin American sales and trade development for the Alabama State Port Authority before retiring in 2020. “Not knowing what I was going to do, I sat down and looked at my strengths and weaknesses, and everything revolved around cooking, Cuba and traveling,” she says.

She had the idea to start serving empanadas. She had a major ace in the hole: Restaurateur Bob Baumhauer is a friend, she says, and he was willing to help her as she worked through the permitting process and the learning curve of commercial food preparation. Business boomed.

“I needed to do something that would satisfy me,” she says. “And when you’ve put in a life that has been satisfying professionally, how do you fit that into your retirement? So I said, okay, I like to travel, I like to cook, I like to share my culture. So basically, I work 3 months and travel a whole month.

“What the market gives me is the financial freedom not to touch my retirement savings,” she says. “And at the same time, have fun and not grow old. I’m 73 right now, but when you get to be my age, everything starts hurting, so if you’re active and moving, nothing hurts.”

She sees other vendors like herself, she says: Retirees who want something that will keep them busy and bring in a little money, without being so big that it takes all their time and energy.

It adds up to a sense of community, Mendez says. “All the vendors are united and we all help one another,” she says.

“We live in an age where prayer is not cool, but we get together at 8:30 every morning,” she says. “And we pray, we pray for the people that come in, those that are in need, to be able to identify them, someone that might be hurting or in pain. So the people that make the market, they have an energy about them.”

“If you’re looking for a unique experience, a unique present that you’re buying someone, you’ll find everything from artwork to jewelry, handmade,” says Mendez. “And not only that, for food, if you’re looking for organic foods, quality foods that are pesticide-free, grown in Alabama, it is the best place to find all that. It’s a gourmet’s paradise, I guess, because you find the freshest produce, ingredients, spices for that particular time frame, whether it’s fall, spring, summer, winter.”

“Our main goal is to feed the community,” says Forland. “We want to have a friendly family atmosphere. We want everybody to feel connected to each other. And we just want to promote that because when you’re supporting local vendors, that money stays in your community, you’re keeping small business alive, it just is a good overall process for the whole community.

“I know everybody has to shop big box chains sometimes,” she says. “But when you can, it’s best to support the local community. Because that’s where your home is, right?”

The Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermens Market is at 781 Farmers Market Lane in Foley. It is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday, year-round. For information visit www.coastalalabamamarket.com and for updates see www.facebook.com/CoastalAlabamaMarket.

Ask Miss Alabama 2025 to dish about her favorite restaurants, and her eyes light up immediately.

“I‘m so excited to talk about this,” said Emma Terry, 22, a Leeds native. “This Miss Alabama loves to eat. She’s not eating lettuce all the time.”

Advocating for a healthy lifestyle is part of her mission as this year’s titleholder, and Terry, a ballet dancer, is quick to emphasize the importance of exercise and nutrition. She enjoys being active — dancing, walking, taking yoga and doing Pilates — but that doesn’t mean Terry deprives herself of her favorite treats.

“I had chocolate and candy during Miss Alabama week, because I needed some extra oomph to get me through. And I do not feel guilty about that for one second,” Terry said in a recent interview with AL.com.

When one of the backstage volunteers at the pageant — women affectionately known as “dressing room moms” — offered her some homemade peach cobbler, Terry didn’t hesitate to indulge.

“Life happens, and if you have a surprise peach cobbler put in front of you, you eat it and you don’t feel bad about it,“ Terry said. ”If you don’t hit your exercise goal or your step goal for the day, that is OK. You don’t have to have a perfect algorithm or balance to health. As long as there is a balance, that’s all that matters.”

Here are five eateries in the Birmingham area that get an enthusiastic thumbs up from the new Miss Alabama.

Where: 2504 Crestwood Blvd., Irondale.

Menu includes: Barbecue plates (pork, chicken, brisket, ribs, turkey, sausage), sandwiches, burgers, loaded potatoes, brisket nachos, Brunswick stew, chili, banana pudding, pies. Sides include potato salad, slaw, fries, turnip greens, corn on the cob and fried okra.

Miss Alabama says: “That is my favorite restaurant, probably in the entire state. It’s the Golden Rule in Irondale, the original Golden Rule. My grandfather went there when he worked for Buffalo Rock. There is the sweetest man; his name is Michael (Booker). He’s been there for years. He is in the back and he’s the one that smokes and prepares the meat. I see him every time. He knows my family.

“Michael prepares the meat, the pork, so perfectly, it melts in my mouth every time. And it has to be with their sauce. It is so, so good. I get the same thing every time. I get a plate, chopped, with beans and fries. Sometimes if I’m extra hungry, I get a side of mac and cheese, and it’s delicious. I’m a Golden Rule gal.”

RELATED: What is Alabama’s oldest restaurant — Bright Star or Golden Rule?

Where: 2901 2nd Ave. South, Suite 110, Birmingham.

Menu includes: Seared duck breast, grilled red snapper, wood-fired hanger steak, seared lamb rack, crab cake, pork tamale, okra basket, Hot and Hot tomato salad, peach cobbler, chocolate soufflé, plum tart.

Miss Alabama says: “I had the duck with risotto. Oh, it’s so good. And of course, they’re known for their tomato salad. I’m not a tomato girl, but I did enjoy that. I ate every bite.”

RELATED: This iconic Alabama dish is back in season

Where: 2220 Highland Ave. South, Birmingham.

Menu includes: Lobster ravioli, maple glazed salmon, bone-in pork shank, shrimp and grits, scallops piccata, short rib pot pie, veal osso bucco, pimento cheese fritters, braised pork belly, fried green tomatoes, Greek spinach salad, bourbon pecan bread pudding, banana pudding, creme brulee.

Miss Alabama says: “I was part of an accounting honor society, and they took us there for our end-of-the-year celebration. It was the best pork chop I’ve ever eaten in my life. And the best sweet potatoes. They were pureed sweet potatoes, so good. Then I ate my weight in bread pudding.”

RELATED: Take a look inside Galley and Garden restaurant

Where: 2824 Fifth Ave. South, Birmingham.

Menu includes: Marinated crab claws, farm arugula salad, octopus a la plancha, crispy fish collar, cornmeal fried oysters, seared New England scallops, shrimp fried rice, blackened Mahi, smoked fish dip, crispy green beans, chocolate sponge cake, Key lime pie.

Miss Alabama says: “The scallops are delicious.”

RELATED: For Alabama chef Adam Evans, James Beard Award is ‘a dream come true’

Where: Fast-food chain has many locations in Alabama, including the Birmingham area.

Menu includes: Burgers, chicken sandwiches, breakfast biscuits, salads, chicken fingers, slaw, fries, corn dogs, fried pies, milkshakes.

Miss Alabama says: “I do love a cheeseburger from Jack’s. I love a cheeseburger with bacon on it. It’s so good. That’s my go-to order. I think Jack’s is very unique to the South. And it’s such a good cheeseburger.

“If I really want to treat myself and I go to Jack’s, I’m going to get a big bacon cheeseburger with fries, a sweet tea, and a cookies and cream milkshake. I will not eat it all in one sitting. I will have a little bit of the milkshake, and probably put it in the freezer for later. Then after you take it out of the freezer and let it sit for a while, it’s so good. I also noticed they have a peanut butter and cookies milkshake and I haven’t tried it yet. I want to try that because I love peanut butter and I love cookies.”

RELATED: 12 things you might not know about Jack’s

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, and our second list focused on the best defensive linemen in 6A. Our third list focuses on the best wide receivers 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 WIDE RECEIVERS, ALABAMA 6A

Marcus Arnold, jr., Pelham

Arnold is a standout on the basketball court as a point guard and in the classroom with a 4.08 GPA. On the football field? “Marcus is a smooth receiver,” Panthers senior linebacker Joe Hampton said. “Great hands and speed. Really shifty and can take the top off your defense.” Pelham coach Ross Newton expects Arnold to have a true breakthrough season in 2025. “Marcus has the size and speed required to be a guy who cannot be single covered by a defense,” Newton said.

Corey Barber, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Barber was an Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team all-state selection as a junior, when he caught 74 passes for 1,429 yards and 17 touchdowns for Spain Park. He’s headed to Clay-Chalkville for his senior year and then to the University of Mississippi. The state’s No. 14 class of 2026 recruit in the 247Sports composite rankings chose the Rebels over the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Oregon. “Corey is a playmaker, to say the least,” Cougars senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. “Really fast, twitchy route-runner, and he’s smart. He knows football. He’s good at identifying man/zone and finding the holes in defenses.” And about that Ole Miss commitment? “He never brags about it or puts anybody down,” Frye said. “He’s just a chill, funny person, and that helps the team chemistry a lot.”

BJ Bedgood, sr., Benjamin Russell

The Wildcats already had 5-star Alabama commit Cederian Morgan; Bedgood’s transfer from 5A Montgomery Catholic gives the team two superstar receivers. “BJ is as explosive as they come,” Benjamin Russell coach Kirk Johnson said. “He is a big play waiting to happen.” As a junior, Bedgood had 57 catches for 1,020 yards and 13 touchdowns (plus two special-teams scores) and received first-team all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association. He has more than 15 college offers, including from Auburn, Arkansas and Purdue. He’s coming off a state-title season with the Knights, and Wildcats quarterback Kingston Preyear is hoping that championship pedigree will rub off on his new teammates. “He knows what it takes to win,” Preyear said.

Jamari Burnett, sr., Russell County

Warriors coach Dillon Griggs said Burnett has been the team’s most consistent pass-catcher the past couple years. Burnett’s senior season likely will be his best. “He always finds a way to make clutch catches when our offense needs it,” Griggs said. “He has had a great offseason thus far and is ready to truly shine in his senior year.” Burnett has offers from Austin Peay and Kennesaw State, among others.

Keyshawn Curry, sr., Gadsden City

Entering his third season as a starter, Curry is likely to be the No. 1 option in the Titans’ passing attack. “Keyshawn is going to be the top target this year,” Gadsden City senior quarterback Kai Franklin said. “He’s very quick, shifty; he can make something out of nothing.”

Lejames Daniels, sr., Baldwin County

Daniels entered the starting lineup as a sophomore and has steadily improved. “Lejames is the most explosive player on our team,” Tigers coach Andrew Davis said. “He will be our go-to receiver this year.” Daniels had 750 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns last season. “One of Lejames’ greatest skills is his contested catch ability,” Baldwin County senior quarterback Hayden Coley said. “If I see him 1-on-1, I don’t second guess where the ball is going.”

Tristan Darden, jr., Pelham

Darden earned plenty of playing time as a sophomore, and Panthers coach Ross Newton expects him to take a step forward this year. “He has a big frame and has speed to separate from defenses,” Newton said. Darden also earned the respect of his older teammates. “I love Tristen’s toughness,” Pelham senior linebacker Joe Hampton said. “Great hands and will go across the middle to make the catch. He brings a lot of passion and energy to the wide receiver room.”

Mayson Dates, sr., Pell City

Panthers junior quarterback Brody Gossett predicts a big season for Dates — and for some college offers to come his way. “Mayson is a pure athletic kid that runs very smooth routes, has very sticky hands and leads his wide receivers,” Gossett said. “He is a big factor in our offense.” He’s also a 4.0 student.

Carter Davis, jr., Gulf Shores

Davis is a versatile and fast-rising prospect in the state’s class of 2027. He plays offense and defense and in the past two weeks has received offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU and West Virginia. As a sophomore, he caught 10 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns and rushed for 108 yards. “He made a lot of big plays for us last year,” Dolphins coach Mark Hudspeth said. “We need to get him the ball more this year. He’s a big-play guy.” Davis received honorable mention on the Press-Register’s all-Coastal team.

Kentrell Davis, sr., Parker

Davis finished his junior season with 39 catches for 536 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Thundering Herd win their first state championship. He committed to Georgia Tech last month. “Kentrell is a gym rat who has been my teammate since we were 5,” Parker senior running back Chancellor Sparks said. “In addition to having great ball skills, he is and always has been a great blocker.” Sparks pointed out that the team has several other strong receivers besides Davis, including seniors Kejuan Gregg, Nickolas Johnson, Lazayveon Lowe, Charles McCloud and Jacoby Quates Jr. “We have a loaded receiver room that we like to call 7-Eleven because we feel like they’re always open,” Sparks said.

Dontae Deas, so., Russell County

The Warriors are deep and experienced at receiver, but Deas still is managing to make his mark. “Dontae constantly finds a way to stand out in the group,” Russell County coach Dillon Griggs said. “He has had a great offseason.” Deas received an offer from Jacksonville State last month.

Hakim Dunnigan, sr., Columbia

Dunnigan is a two-way star who received honorable mention all-region from the Huntsville Times after his junior season. “On offense, I like touching the ball to make something happen then and there,” he said. The Eagles give him plenty of opportunities in the running game and the passing game. Dunnigan said he’s put on some bulk and has been working to improve his speed, flexibility, footwork and stretch during the offseason. That should help him in all his sports — he also plays basketball and competes in track and field. “I like football the best, though,” he said.

Carter Feagin, jr., McAdory

Feagin, an honorable mention all-state pick by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after his sophomore season, is one of the best class of 2027 receivers in the state — and likely one of the smartest. “I would say one of my biggest strengths is my mind,” he said. “I always feel like I’m the smartest player on the field at all times because I understand coverages and everything that’s going on around me.” He takes pride in catching every 50-50 ball that’s in the air — making them more like 100-0 balls if they’re anywhere close to his hands. He’s spent the offseason working on improving his routes. “Just wanting to perfect the route tree and not be a one-trick pony,” he said. “I want to be at the point where no matter the route or how close the DB is playing me, I’ll get open regardless.” He topped 1,000 yards receiving for the Yellowjackets last year and holds several offers, including from Maryland, Memphis, Mississippi State, Southern Mississippi, Troy and UAB.

Tomon Felton, sr., Homewood

The Patriots need to replace the production of the graduated Kylen Newell, a second-team all-state pick by the Alabama Sports Writers Association who racked up 1,352 all-purpose yards in 2024. That means more opportunities for Felton, a 6-foot-2 track and field star who “can stretch the field vertically,” Homewood coach Ben Berguson said. Felton finished his junior season with 18 catches for 354 yards and five touchdowns. He won a long jump state title in February.

Ezra Fowler, sr., Muscle Shoals

Fowler’s play often leaves his quarterback speechless. “I don’t even have the words,” Trojans senior quarterback Kade Clemmons said. “He can do it all.” Fowler made 30 catches for 442 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. “Whether it’s running deep routes, blocking players twice his size or giving 100 percent effort on every snap, he shows no hesitation,” Clemmons said. “He’s one of the hardest hitters on the team, no question. And his hands are outstanding — he can catch anything thrown his way.”

Jacob Gibbs, jr., Pelham

A third Panther on the list? “You have to pick your poison with our receiving corps,” said Pelham senior linebacker Joe Hampton, who describes Gibbs as one of the most “shifty” and “elusive” players in the state. “He can turn a 5-yard catch into an 80-yard TD,” Hampton said.

Quaylen Hampton, jr., Decatur

The Red Raiders could be a much-improved team the next two seasons with two standout junior running backs in Isaiah Allen and Devin Haley and another junior at wideout in Hampton. “He adds a deep threat to our offense on the edge,” Decatur coach John Ritter said. Hampton also plays defensive back, where as a sophomore he earned honorable mention all-region from the Huntsville Times.

Anthony Howard, jr., Theodore

Bobcats junior running back Kendrick Able Jr. calls “Antman” a “one-of-a-kind” receiver. “Has excellent speed — will fly past any DB. Has a focused mind — even when fatigued,” Able said. “He has great ball skills. Has a lot of moves in his arsenal. A weapon.” Able said the team is incredibly deep at the position. Sophomore Christopher Cunningham? “He’s about to have a breakout year,” Able said. “His routes are so smooth. He does well even in big moments and under pressure.” Senior Crishawn Sharp? “Shifty receiver with great ball skills. He is truly the captain of the receiver room, making sure everything is perfect in practice so that we have no issues in games.” Senior Raheem Vasser? “He runs his routes and will make you miss and look at the back of his jersey.”

Aidan Lovell, jr., Athens

Lovell is a college prospect on the basketball court. On the football field, he’s an intelligent player and a versatile weapon who gives Golden Eagles coach Cody Gross numerous options. “He understands the game and our offense,” Gross said. “Can play inside or outside as well as H-back. Physical blocker in the box and has great ball skills. Competes at a high level.”

Mason McClure, jr., Spain Park

Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team all-state honoree and Mississippi commit Corey Barber transferred to Clay-Chalkville, creating a major opportunity for McClure in the Jaguars offense. He played a good bit as a sophomore but will take on a much larger role as a junior — and he’ll do a variety of things. “He will touch the ball in different ways,” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said. The coach also mentioned sophomore Barrett Price as an up-and-comer in the receivers group. “Barrett has a chance to be very productive as a young guy,” Vakakes said.

Cederian Morgan, sr., Benjamin Russell

“Generational type player,” Wildcats coach Kirk Johnson summarized. What more needs to be said? Morgan is the consensus top-ranked player in the state’s class of 2026 and the No. 2 wide receiver in the country according to 247Sports. He had his pick of big-time college football programs and settled on Alabama last week. “His 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame makes him almost unstoppable for defenders,” Johnson said. Morgan finished his junior season with 70 catches for 1,162 yards and 14 touchdowns. Benjamin Russell quarterback Kingston Preyear loves how Morgan “catches everything that comes his way.” What does Preyear appreciate even more about Morgan? “He’s a great teammate and an even better person off the field,” Preyear said.

Christian Pritchard, jr., Muscle Shoals

Pritchard does a little of everything for the Trojans. “Most versatile player I have ever coached,” said Muscle Shoals coach Scott Basden, who has been at the helm for 18 years. On offense, Pritchard teams with Ezra Fowler to provide another standout receiver for senior quarterback Kade Clemmons. “He runs smooth routes and knows how to find open space to make himself an easy target,” Clemmons said. “His football IQ and athleticism make him a critical part of our team.”

Kena Rego, sr., Spain Park

The Jaguars lost Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team all-state pick and Mississippi commit Corey Barber to Clay-Chalkville, but it’s nearly a wash as they added another all-state receiver in Rego, a first-team honoree for 2A Tuscaloosa Academy. “He has a chance to be very productive with (quarterback) Brock (Bradley, a Clemson commit),” Spain Park coach Tim Vakakes said. Rego is committed to Arkansas State.

Keilan Smith, sr., Gadsden City

Keyshawn Curry and Smith are 1A and 1B in the Titans’ dynamic aerial attack. Senior quarterback Kai Franklin expects plenty of his touchdown passes to be caught by Smith. “He’s a big, physical receiver,” Franklin said. “Goal line, once we get down there, going to him will be very key for us. He’s a big target; wide catch radius. He’s going to be very good for us.”

DeShawn Spencer, sr., Saraland

Spencer celebrated Independence Day by committing to play for Duke. He’s a former running back who moved to receiver and helped the Spartans reach the 6A state championship game in 2024. “DeShawn is tough, explosive and extremely competitive,” Saraland coach Jeff Kelly said. “He has the ability to take over a game in a dominant fashion. He can beat you catching and running it.” The coach added that Spencer also is a great teammate and leader.

Jaylin Taylor, sr., Oxford

Taylor was named a first-team all-state receiver by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after a junior season in which he caught 81 passes for 1,441 yards and 14 touchdowns and helped lead the Yellow Jackets to the 6A semifinals. “A real playmaker,” Oxford coach Sam Adams said. “We feel like he is one of the best wide receivers in the state.” Taylor is committed to Marshall.

Caaleb Thomas, fr., Chelsea

Remember this name. “Might be the fastest player on the team,” Hornets coach Todd Cassity said. “He has a chance to be very special.” He’ll get his opportunity immediately as Chelsea looks to replace CJ Durbin, who received honorable mention all-region by the Birmingham News.

Christian Thomas, sr., Pinson Valley

What they say about Thomas at Pinson Valley: “If the ball is in his area code, he’s coming down with it.” Thomas received honorable mention all-region from the Birmingham News in 2024. He said he’s been working on increasing his strength and explosiveness this offseason and has set some lofty goals for his final high school campaign: 1,000 yards, 15 touchdowns, multiple Power Four offers. “I would say my biggest strengths are my releases, ball skills and route-running,” Thomas said. “I would say I’m a deep threat as well as a red-zone threat.”

Endymion Tyus, sr., Athens

The Golden Eagles have several versatile players, and Tyus is one of them. He started at wide receiver and safety last season. He’ll play receiver and cornerback this year. “Fierce competitor that has a high football IQ,” Athens coach Cody Gross said. Tyus also stars for the school’s boys basketball team.

Jaxon Unger, sr., Athens

As a junior, Unger was a state champion in wrestling and helped lead the Golden Eagles to the team title. He’ll do a little of everything on the football field this season, including start at safety and play some quarterback as well as return kicks and punts. “As versatile as they come,” Athens coach Cody Gross said. “Dynamic player that is a fierce competitor.”

Dj Wade, fr., Pell City

Here’s another name to file for the future. Wade is expected to make an immediate impact in the Panthers’ receiving corps and defensive backfield. “He is smooth, has very good hands and is hungry for the ball,” Pell City junior quarterback Brody Gossett said.

Dominic White, sr., Minor

White is ranked by 247Sports as a top 50 recruit in a loaded Alabama class of 2026. He had offers from more than 10 colleges before settling on South Alabama in April.

Chenyis Wilson-Fuller, so., Bessemer City

Wilson-Fuller started for the Tigers as a freshman and gained some attention from college scouts. “He’s a young kid, but he plays older and bigger than what he is,” Bessemer City coach Antonio Nelson said. Nelson used Wilson-Fuller at different positions last season, including running back. Asked to describe Wilson-Fuller’s strengths, the coach kept it simple: “His biggest strength is he’s a playmaker. He’s a true playmaker.”

Dejay Jackson, so., and Eric Young, jr., Benjamin Russell

Here are two more talented receivers in the Wildcats’ explosive offense — they’re the team’s future at the position after senior superstars BJ Bedgood and Cederian Morgan graduate. Benjamin Russell quarterback Kingston Preyear on Jackson: “He’s a small guy with the best feet on the field. Despite his size, he plays with grit and toughness. His route-running and ability to get open is off the charts.” Preyear on Young: “He’s an explosive wide receiver with great speed and even better route-running. Eric will surprise a lot of people this year.”

Revelation Clark, so., and Aiden McGee, jr., Brookwood

Panthers coach Chris Foster expects both receivers to break through in 2025. Clark earned some varsity snaps as a freshman and will be an every-down player this season. McGee also will be “a big part of the offense,” Foster said.

Elijah Bates, sr., and Jaylon Moore, jr., Calera

The Eagles boast two dynamic receivers in Bates and Moore. The former is a track star who is “quick with a great overall skill set,” Calera coach Scott Rials said. The latter is “fast with great hands” and is a weapon as a punt returner.

Kaleb Amerson, so., and Jacari “Red” Johnson, sr., Clay-Chalkville

Corey Barber is the headliner, but the Mississippi commit is far from the only explosive player in the Cougars’ passing attack. Amerson will be the team’s starting X receiver. “Lengthy guy with really strong hands,” Clay-Chalkville senior quarterback Aaron Frye said. The quarterback has been playing with Johnson since they were 6 years old. “Red is a route-runner who also knows how to find the hole in defenses,” Frye said.

Jayden Jackson and Ryker Shankles, srs., Fort Payne

Here are two players who will help replace the production of the graduated Brannon Oliver, who received honorable mention all-state by the Alabama Sports Writers Association after helping the Wildcats reach the 6A quarterfinals last season. Shankles (40 catches in 2024) is moving from the slot to the outside. Jackson is making a much more unusual move … from left tackle to slot receiver! There’s no doubt he can run — he’s a star outfielder for the Fort Payne baseball team.

Elias Holtzclaw, jr.; Gavin Rivers, sr.; Omari Smith, sr., Pike Road

The Patriots reached the 6A semifinals last season and return a deep and versatile receiving corps in 2025. Smith has multiple college offers; Holtzclaw recently picked up an offer from Georgia State. Pike Road coach Granger Shook mentioned Rivers as one of the team’s best leaders.

Mason Edwards, jr., and Damien Tate, sr., Spanish Fort

Edwards and Tate are returning starters, and Toros coach Chase Smith said they both have “great potential” for the 2025 season. Justin Bonner, who played receiver as a junior but is moving to running back this year, is expecting big things from both players. “Mason is an athlete; one of the best route-runners I know,” Bonner said. As for Tate? “He knows what is expected of him, and he will do exactly what Coach asks him to do,” Bonner said, and he would know — Bonner and Tate are cousins.

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 ABBY: As a young mother, I endured a difficult marriage filled with domestic abuse. In the midst of that turmoil, I struggled to be the parent my children needed. They are adults now, and I find myself distanced from them. It pains me deeply to know they want nothing to do with me. I can’t help but feel I ruined their lives, and the weight of that thought is unbearable.

I miss them dearly and long for the chance to reconnect and heal our relationship. I’m at a crossroads and unsure of how to move forward and mend the bonds that have been strained. I deeply regret my past mistakes and want to make things right, but I’m uncertain where to start. Thank you for your guidance. — LOST AND OVERWHELMED IN CANADA

DEAR LOST: I know of no perfect parents. Everyone makes mistakes. I wish you had mentioned why you think you “ruined your children’s lives.” Were you physically or emotionally abusive?

Did you abandon them? If that’s what happened, reach out. Apologize and offer to join them in family counseling if they are willing. It might be a healthy first step toward reconciliation.

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.

Rarely has an Alabama football victory been more unlikely than on Oct. 20, 1990.

On that day at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., the Crimson Tide scored a 9-6 win over previously unbeaten Tennessee behind Philip Doyle’s 47-yard field goal as time expired. Alabama entered the game at 2-3 under first-year coach Gene Stallings, and had lost several of its top offensive weapons to injury early in the season.

“The only ones who thought we had a chance to win that football game were in our locker room,” Stallings told reporters afterward, and he was probably close to correct.

Alabama began the season with consecutive losses to Southern Miss, Florida and Georgia by a combined eight points. During the course of those defeats, star running back Siran Stacy and starting wide receivers Craig Sanderson and Prince Wimbley were lost for the season with injuries.

The Crimson Tide rebounded with decisive wins over Vanderbilt (59-28) and Southwestern Louisiana (25-6), but didn’t appear to have the offensive firepower to hang with the third-ranked Volunteers. Johnny Majors’ team was 4-0-2 and riding a 12-game unbeaten streak — with ties vs. national power Colorado and SEC rival Auburn — and had bludgeoned Florida 45-3 the previous week.

But neither team’s offense could do much on the Third Saturday in October, combining for five turnovers and less than 400 yards of total offense. The score stood 6-6 entering the final two minutes, with Doyle and Tennessee’s Greg Burke each having connected on a pair of field goals.

The Volunteers had the ball on Alabama’s 33-yard line, and sent Burke on to attempt a 50-yarder to take the lead with 1:35 to play. He’d made a 51-yarder earlier in the fourth quarter, but this time Crimson Tide safety Stacy Harrison burst through and blocked it with his facemask.

The ball rolled some 23 yards before Alabama recovered at the Tennessee 37. Now it was the Crimson Tide’s turn to try and get in position for a game-winning field goal.

Three plays netted seven yards and put the ball on the Vols’ 30. That brought on Doyle, who drilled the ball through the uprights to give Alabama its improbable victory.

Doyle — a unanimous All-American in 1990 — and Crimson Tide holder Jeff Wall wound up at the bottom of a pile, which would have resulted in a roughing the kicker penalty had the field goal failed. Consequently, Doyle said he never saw the full flight of his kick.

“We got hit pretty hard, so I didn’t see the ball go through,” Doyle said. “But I saw our people jumping around, and I went crazy. I went running around the field jumping and screaming.”

Harrison said he never had a concern over whether or not Doyle would make the kick.

“When the ball was blocked, when I saw it rolling past the 50-yard line, I knew it was a victory all the way,” Harrison said. “We have one of, if not the best, kicker in the nation. The whole team has a lot of confidence in him.”

Here are video highlights of the 1990 Alabama-Tennessee game. The blocked field goal/winning field goal sequence begins at about the 17-minute mark:

Alabama lost the following week to Penn State 9-0, but then reeled off four straight wins to finish the regular season at 7-4. The final victory was 16-7 over Auburn, the Crimson Tide’s first in the Iron Bowl since 1985.

Alabama lost 34-7 to Louisville in the Fiesta Bowl to finish 7-5, but the championship seeds had been planted by Stallings and his coaching staff. The Crimson Tide went 11-1 in 1991, then 13-0 with its first national championship in 13 years in 1992.

Doyle and Harrison were the biggest heroes of Alabama’s victory over Tennessee in 1990, but the game’s most-enduring legacy might be a post-game quote from Roger Shultz, the Crimson Tide’s All-SEC center. After hearing and reading all week in the media about how Alabama had no chance against the Volunteers — ESPN’s Lee Corso had referred to the Crimson as a “glorified high school team” at one point — Shultz fired off an all-timer of a dig to reporters after his team recorded its third straight victory in Knoxville, and fifth overall in the series.

“We ought to pay property tax on Neyland Stadium,” he said, “because we own it.”

Years later, Shultz — one of the more quotable players in Alabama football history — said the famous quip wasn’t at all pre-meditated.

“It just came off the top of my head,” Shultz said in 2016. “I’m not that smart. I didn’t even know if it made sense, but after I checked it out, it did make sense. I didn’t even know what property tax was at the time. I know about it now.

“It was just one of those spontaneous things that came out.”

Alabama’s winning streak over Tennessee would go on another three years before being broken in a 17-17 tie in 1993. The Crimson Tide didn’t lose again in Knoxville until 1996.

Coming Tuesday: Our countdown to kickoff continues with No. 46, when an Alabama running back carried the load in the Iron Bowl.

There was a time in the long and storied history of SEC Football Media Days, which began at the dawn of Bo Jackson’s senior year, when you couldn’t turn around without bumping into a national championship coach. Back in the summer of 2008, five of them roamed the halls at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover.

LSU’s Les Miles was the reigning champ. Florida’s Urban Meyer was about to embark on a second championship season in three years. South Carolina’s Steve Spurrier carried that distinction from 1996 at Florida.

Alabama’s Nick Saban, who had yet to grab the big ring at Alabama, belonged to the club thanks to his 2003 LSU team. Tennessee’s Phillip Fulmer, the boss of the title-winning Vols a decade earlier, didn’t know it at the time, but 2008 would be his last appearance as a head coach at Media Days, in person or by speaker phone.

Imagine. The SEC had only 12 football programs at the time, but five of them were coached by a man who’d taken a team from base camp to summit.

It wasn’t all that lonely at the top then. It is now. Your search for reasons behind the conference’s two-year national championship drought starts there.

At SEC Media Days 2025, a four-day, made-for-TV extravaganza that starts today in Atlanta, you will not run across a currently employed national championship head coach. Nor will you bump into a current coach who’s led his team to victory in the SEC Championship Game. That is, unless you show up Tuesday to see Georgia coach Kirby Smart.

In each case, it’s Smart, party of one. Entering his 10th season in Athens, Smart is the only SEC coach with a natty. He has two. He’s the only SEC coach with an SEC title. He has three. Along with Dabo Swinney and Ryan Day, Smart is one of only three coaches in the country at the moment with a national title.

To make the point even more pointed, only two of the SEC’s other 15 head coaches have ever led a team to the SEC Championship Game. Brian Kelly and LSU lost to Smart and Georgia in 2022. Steve Sarkisian and Texas lost to Smart and Georgia last year.

Mark Stoops and Hugh Freeze top the list of coaches with the longest service in the conference without working a sideline in Atlanta on the first Saturday in December. Stoops stands at the dawn of Year 13 at Kentucky. Freeze is set to begin his eighth season as an SEC head coach, his third at Auburn after an earlier five-year run at Ole Miss.

It might be a sign of the apocalypse upon us if either coach reaches this season’s SEC Championship Game.

While Smart is a competitor in search of a peer within the conference at the moment, he still has some distance to travel to reach the level of his elite predecessors. He’s third in all-time SEC Championship Game appearances with seven and victories with three, but that translates to a 3-4 record. While one more trip will equal Spurrier’s eight appearances, Smart needs two more wins to match Spurrier’s five.

Saban’s 11-1 record in the SEC Championship Game – highlighted by his 9-1 mark at Alabama – seems a bridge too far for Smart or anyone else to cross between now and Armageddon. But what’s happening now? Is anyone out there man enough to slow down Smart’s pursuit of more banners? Kelly? Sarkisian? Anyone?

Put Sarkisian on the short list of real contenders. In Texas’ first season in the conference, he drove the Longhorns to the SEC Championship Game, where they pushed Georgia to overtime before falling 22-19. Texas also has reached the playoffs the last two years.

The other best bet is Kalen DeBoer. His first season at Alabama earned mixed reviews, but he has two data points in his favor. He took Washington to the national championship game two years ago, and he’s undefeated against Smart and Sarkisian. The bad news: DeBoer is under water against Clark Lea and Brent Venables.

After Alabama’s thrilling 41-34 win over Georgia last season, the pressure will be on Smart and the Bulldogs when the Crimson Tide rolls into Sanford Stadium on Sept. 27. It took Saban two years to get Alabama to the SEC Championship Game. DeBoer can do the same under more difficult circumstances since the game now pits the league’s top two teams rather than division winners.

Smart is clearly the SEC’s top dog, but the contenders to be the league’s best coach aren’t what they used to be. If not Sarkisian or DeBoer, who? If not now, when? It’s a talking point as the Super Bowl of talking season kicks off.

Jelly Roll didn’t take too kindly to Logan Paul’s comments during the WWE SmackDown over the weekend.

Paul jumped onstage while the country music star was performing “Liar,” cutting the equipment and interrupting the song.

“Everyone is here to see real WWE superstars,” Paul said at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Friday. “Certainly not to listen to music made for people who have tattoos of their children but don’t have custody of them.

“You know what I’m disgusted by? Celebrities, personalities, influencers, whatever you wanna classify this as, coming into our industry, leeching off of our success, on a platform that we have built, brother.”

Randy Orton came out to defend Jelly Roll. Paul appeared to handle Orton before Jelly Roll got into the mix.

“I got your back,” Jelly said.

“I know you do. Love you brother,” Orton shot back.

According to the Tennessean, Jelly Roll and Orton are set to appear together in a tag-team match during WWE’s SummerSlam, which will take place in early August in New Jersey.

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 ethereal Pisces moon asks: What if there’s more to you — more range, more shadow, more magic, more volatility, more desire? The self is ongoing and expansive. This version of you is only one chapter. No one is fully defined by who they used to be, no matter how loved or accepted that version was. The full story is still unfolding.

ARIES (March 21-April 19). There is no benefit to giving too much, especially if you’re giving it to the wrong people. Give to those who need the offering. Give the amount they need. That’s how your energy becomes a gift, not a drain, and the exchange leaves everyone stronger.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). What you had to do to manage people in your life who are not so easy to manage has given you a set of emotional skills and a special level of intelligence that helps you in other areas of life. It’s a part of your competitive edge today.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ve always known what people aren’t saying, but you don’t always listen to it because it’s so much work and it really doesn’t matter all the time. It certainly doesn’t matter today. You’re clear. You’re purposeful. They’ll work out their own thoughts; you stay on track with yours.

CANCER (June 22-July 22). What makes love real? It is, after all, just a feeling. But it’s a feeling that can alter your chemical design in the moment. It’s detectable in its effect. What about how it lifts you, feeds you, brings light in a place that hasn’t had enough of it? Revel in moments of real joy.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Life isn’t a new jigsaw puzzle you have to put together. It’s an old jigsaw puzzle in a recycled coffee can because the box is lost, and you’re not even sure all the pieces are all there, but you go at it anyway, and the picture is coming together.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your job isn’t to keep everyone around you in a constant state of approval — it’s to model strength, discernment and the truth that you are not an on-demand service. You’re a human. A spectacular, devoted, busy and wildly creative human.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). No matter how a thing seems on paper, life doesn’t happen there, books do. Put all theories aside and pay attention to how things feel for you in real time. A task that’s meaningful, whether work or play, will bring you joy.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). In a sense everyone is some kind of “middleman,” and there’s no shame in it. You are connected to people who have and also to people who need. To bridge the two while also getting what you need out of the situation is the holy work of the day.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Empathy sharpens your vision. You read the room before the words start flying. You catch the glance, the shift, the tension. It’s not time to react yet. You may not even need to react at all. Your steadiness will set a tone. Just wait.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ve been someone’s example — for better or worse. It’s fun to be the hero. It’s not so fun to be an example of what not to do, but at least you know you’re in the game, brave, influential, part of how we all move forward.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll be free of dangerous tunnel vision because you ask for feedback. A friend who plays devil’s advocate will be crucial to the success of a plan, allowing you to see what your audience will, and especially the doubters. You’ll find the full range, the right scale and more.

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). The way you think about yourself is far more critical than how others see you. They’re not picking you apart. In fact, most are far more accepting than you imagine. Every little bit of perfectionism you let go of makes room for more joy.

TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 14). It’s a year of contributing to something bigger than yourself and feeling your significance and belonging inside it. You’ll lead with a style so natural, people won’t realize they’re following — they’ll just want to be near you. More highlights: What you design gets used, shared and remembered. You’ll master a financial rhythm akin to freedom. You’ll take an unforgettable trip to meet inspiring people. Pisces and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 4, 40, 7, 13 and 21.

CELEBRITY PROFILES: From Sue Sylvester on “Glee” to well over 200 more roles in her impressive filmography, Jane Lynch brings fierce emotional intelligence to comedy, grounding outrageous characters with heart and humanity. Lynch’s advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and her role as host of “Weakest Link” reflect her Cancerian nurturing command. Sun, Mercury and Venus in Cancer indicate the highly sensitive nature that many comedians share. Cancer crabs learn to protect themselves with the hard shell and pincers of humor.

Holiday Mathis’ debut novel, “How To Fail Epically in Hollywood,” is out now! This fast-paced romp about achieving Hollywood stardom is available as a paperback and e-book. Visit creatorspublishing.com for more information. Write Holiday Mathis at HolidayMathis.com.