Who is Alabamaâs next Mr. Football? 20 contenders in 2023
This is the third in a three-part Mr. Football series.
The Alabama Sports Writers Association will crown its 42nd Mr. Football in January.
Saraland’s Ryan Williams has a chance to become the first repeat winner in the history of the award and will start his season with the highest profile game possible – a nationally televised matchup against Tennessee power Lipscomb Academy.
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But there are other contenders as well, some of which are on Williams’ own team. Others will emerge as the season progresses. In fact, last year’s preseason AL.com list of Mr. Football contenders didn’t include one particular name – Williams himself.
Still, here are 20 players – in alphabetical order — expected to be Mr. Football contenders when the 2023 season begins on Aug. 24.
Ramsay’s Ashton Ashford tries to get past Charles Henderson’s Jywon Boyd during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 5A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Ashton Ashford, RB, Ramsay (senior)
Last year’s Class 5A championship game MVP ran for 1,881 yards and 26 TDs on 253 carries in leading the Rams to a 13-2 record and the Region 5 title on the way to the state championship. He was a Class 5A Back of the Year finalist.
Oneonta’s Fluff Bothwell (24) during a game at Tarrant High school in Tarrant, Ala., Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Fluff Bothwell, RB, Oneonta (senior)
The reigning Class 4A Back of the Year as a junior led the Redskins to an 11-2 season and an appearance in the Class 4A semifinals. He finished the season with 3,112 yards rushing and 41 touchdowns on 256 carries. He also caught 22 passes for 314 yards and 2 scores and returned a punt for a touchdown. On defense, Bothwell made 66 tackles, including 19 for a loss, and had 5 sacks.
Andalusia’s J’marion Burnette scores a touchdown during the Faith Academy vs Andalusia football game, Friday, August 20, 2021, in Mobile, Ala. (Scott Donaldson | al.com)Scott Donaldson/al.com
J’Marion Burnette, RB, Andalusia (senior)
As a junior, he rushed for 1,473 yards and 17 TDs on 187 carries in just 11 games. He missed Andalusia’s state semifinal and state championship game after suffering a concussion in the quarterfinals. A healthy Burnette should pile up huge rushing statistics again.
Cherokee County’s Jacob Cornejo carries the ball against Andalusia during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 4A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
Jacob Cornejo, RB, Cherokee County (senior)
Cornejo was a finalist for Class 4A Back of the Year in 2022 when he powered Cherokee County all the way to the championship game. He finished the season with 2,580 yards and 33 touchdowns on 287 carries. He rushed for 87 yards and a TD on 18 carries in the title game loss to Andalusia.
Thompson’s Anquon Fegans looks for the defensive call during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 7A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Anquon Fegans, DB, Thompson (junior)
Fegans had a region-best 9 interceptions a year ago, including 3 for TDs. He also had 11 pass breakups and was a Class 7A Back of the Year finalists. If a defender were to break through and win Mr. Football this year, Fegans might be the leading contender.
Ri Fletcher scores a touchdown for Hartselle against Buckhorn. (Eric Schultz/[email protected])AL.com
Ri Fletcher, RB, Hartselle (senior)
Fletcher ran for 1,306 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior. He averaged 100.5 yards per game and 8.4 yards per carry. He also averaged 21.5 yards per catch and had three TD receptions. Fletcher returned two punts and one kickoff for scores. He was a Class 6A first-team All-State at athlete.
Hewitt-Trussville’s Peyton Floyd (7) looks to hand the ball off during the second round of the AHSAA 7a football playoffs at the Hoover Met in Hoover, Ala., Friday, Nov. 11, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
Peyton Floyd, QB, Hewitt-Trussville (senior)
The dual-threat QB was named Class 7A Back of the Year as a junior. He completed 195-of-278 passes for 2,413 yards and 25 TDs with 8 interceptions and ran 190 times for 726 yards and 16 more TDs. He accounted for 3,139 yards total and 41 total TDs.
Mountain Brook’s Cole Gamble breaks free against Saraland during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 6A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
Cole Gamble, RB, Mountain Brook (senior)
Gamble ran 268 times for 2,222 yards with 39 TDs and caught 10 passes for 123 yards in helping the Spartans to a 12-2 record and Class 6A championship game. He was a Class 6A Back of the Year finalist as a junior.
Alvin Henderson should make Elba a contender again this year. (Jay Hare | Dothan Eagle)
Alvin Henderson, RB, Elba (junior)
Henderson rushed for 2,636 yards and 49 touchdowns on 195 carries in 2022. He also completed 4-of-6 passes for 154 yards and a TD. He averaged 220 yards rushing per game.
St. James quarterback KJ Jackson looks to hand off to St. James’ Cosner Harrison during the AHSAA Super 7 Class 3A championship at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Thursday, Dec. 1, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
KJ Jackson, QB, St. James (senior)
Jackson threw five touchdown passes in the second half of St. James’ state championship win over Piedmont in December, completing 10-of-15 passes for 351 yards. He finished the season with 2,389 passing yards and 36 touchdowns.
Saarland quarterback KJ Lacey competes in a 7-on-7 event at Saraland High School on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Saraland, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
KJ Lacey, QB, Saraland (junior)
Ryan Williams earned much of the spotlight in Saraland’s state championship run a year ago, but Lacey was the first-team 6A all-state quarterback. He completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,177 yards and 40 touchdowns. He was intercepted just 5 times.
UMS-Wright’s Joe Lott heads in for a TD against Headland in the first half of a prep football playoff game Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Joe Lott, ATH, UMS-Wright (senior)
Lott finished with 74 total tackles and 5 interceptions for the Bulldogs as a junior. He also rushed for 255 yards and 7 TDs, completed 4-of-6 passes for 47 yards and 2 TDs and caught a touchdown pass. He was a first team Class 5A All-State selection. Lott also specializes in blocked kids and is expected to get the load of snaps at quarterback for UMS this year.
Clay-Chalkville’s Jaylen Mbakwe directs his team from the quarterback position during an OTA at Spain Park High School in Hoover, Ala., on Monday, July 24, 2023. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Jaylen Mbakwe, QB/ATH, Clay-Chalkville (senior)
One of the state’s top senior prospects moves to quarterback for Drew Gilmer this season. A year ago, he caught 41 passes for 615 yards and 9 TDs, ran for 118 yards and 2 TDs, returned 9 kickoffs for 145 yards and 2 TDs and also played DB.
Montgomery Catholic’s Caleb Mccreary throws the ball during the Andalusia at Montgomery Catholic high school football 4A playoff semifinal game at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Friday, Nov. 25, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
Caleb McCreary, QB, Montgomery Catholic (senior)
McCreary completed 120-of-192 pass attempts in 2022 for 2,570 yards and 41 TDs. He also rushed for 769 yards and 10 TDs on 74 carries. He has led Catholic to a 26-2 record over the last two seasons.
Brandon Musch’s name already is in the AHSAA record books in several spots as he enters his senior year. (Eric Schultz/[email protected])AL.com
Brandon Musch, QB, Westminster Christian (senior)
Musch heads into his senior year with 10,031 yards and 131 touchdowns accounted for. Entering his final year, he has 2,949 yards rushing and 50 touchdowns and 7,081 yards passing and 81 TDs. His 323 yards per game average is No. 2 in Alabama history, according to the AHSAA record books.
Hoover’s Kaleb Jackson, left, Bradley Shaw, Garian Denson and DJ Estes gang tackle Tuscaloosa County’s Kevin Riley during a game at the Met in Hoover, Ala., Friday, Oct. 7, 2022. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
Kevin Riley, RB, Tuscaloosa County (senior)
As a junior, Riley rushed for 1,306 yards and 11 touchdowns on 203 carries in a brutal region that includes four-time reigning state champ Thompson, perennial power Hoover and Hewitt-Trussville. He also caught 18 passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns.
Gulf Shores WR/DB Ronnie Royal makes a TD catch during a 7-on-7 event at the Sports Tourism Complex on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Foley, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Ronnie Royal III, ATH/DB, Gulf Shores (senior)
Royal already is a three-time first-team all-state selection, and he barely comes off the field for the Dolphins. A year ago, had 34 tackles and 2 interceptions on defense and amassed 2,120 all-purpose yards on offense and accounted for 30 touchdowns.
Thompson quarterback Trent Seaborn participates in a 7-on-7 event at Saraland High School on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in Saraland, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Trent Seaborn, QB, Thompson (freshman)
Seaborn was the MVP of the Class 7A state title game as an eighth grader. He was 12-of-14 for 207 yards and 5 TDs against Auburn with one interception. He didn’t start at QB until the playoffs. Though he’s young, he is certainly skilled, and the Thompson QB under Mark Freeman — whoever it is — is almost always in the Mr. Football race.
Foley’s Perry Thompson competes during a 7-on-7 event at the Sports Tourism Complex on Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Foley, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Perry Thompson, WR, Foley (senior)
A first-team Class 7A All-State receiver as a junior a year ago, Thompson caught 87 passes for 1,059 yards and 9 TDs for the Region 1 champions. He also had a pair of interceptions on defense and could play more on that side of the ball as a senior.
Saraland wide receiver Ryan Williams fields questions during Day 1 of Mobile County Media Days on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at iHeart Radio in Mobile, Ala. (Mike Kittrell | [email protected])
Ryan Williams, WR/ATH, Saraland (junior)
A year ago, Williams became the first sophomore and just the second non-senior to win the award. He also was the Class 6A Back of the Year. He caught 88 passes for 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns during Saraland’s 14-1 season. Williams also rushed 57 times for 700 yards and 15 TDs, threw a touchdown pass and scored on a pair of punt returns for a total of 42 TDs. He scored 4 first-half TDs in Saraland’s state title win over Mountain Brook and was named the game’s MVP.