Who’s No. 1? A look at Alabama’s best overall recruits
Who are the best overall current recruits in the state of Alabama?
That’s the question AL.com sought to answer with the help of several recruiting experts from different publications or websites.
Ben Thomas and Nick Alvarez of AL.com along with Randy Kennedy of Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile, Andrew Bone of On3 and Christian Clemente of 247Sports all ranked their top 25 current recruits in the state of Alabama in classes 2023-2025.
The scores were averaged together to develop a list of the state’s best 25 recruits.
Here is the countdown of those players with class, total points, highest ranking and college status or interest.
AL.com also asked the same five experts for their opinions on the recruit with the highest ceiling, the player most ready to contribute in college and the most underrated recruit. That appears in a separate post.
Here are the top 25 recruits in the state of Alabama regardless of class:
25. (TIE) Ronnie Royal, DB, Gulf Shores
Class: Junior
Total points: 19
Highest survey ranking: 16
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Arkansas, Florida State, Mississippi State, South Alabama, South Carolina, UAB.
25. (TIE) Micah Debose, OL, Vigor
Class: Sophomore
Total points: 19
Highest survey ranking: 10
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Ole Miss, Penn State, Texas A&M.
24. Mario Craver, WR, Clay-Chalkville
Class: Junior
Total points: 21
Highest survey ranking: 15
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Auburn, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Cincinnati, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Penn State.
23. K.J. Lacey, QB, Saraland
Class: Sophomore
Total points: 22
Highest survey ranking: 5
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Arkansas State, Georgia Southern, Louisville, Nicholls State, Troy.
21. (TIE) J’Marion Burnette, RB, Andalusia
Class: Junior
Total points: 31
Highest survey ranking: 14
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Troy, UAB.
21. (TIE) Sterling Dixon, LB/EDGE, Mobile Christian
Class: Junior
Total points: 31
Highest survey ranking: 12
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Plans to commit on Dec. 1. Offers include Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon.
19. (TIE) Demarcus Riddick, LB, Chilton County
Class: Junior
Total points: 36
Highest survey ranking: 10
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, LSU, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M.
19. (TIE) Jeremiah Cobb, RB, Montgomery Catholic
Class: Senior
Total points: 36
Highest survey ranking: 9
Recruiting status: Committed to Auburn.
18. Wilkin Formby, OL, Northridge
Class: Senior
Total points: 44
Highest survey ranking: 10
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama.
17. Perry Thompson, WR, Foley
Class: Junior
Total points: 45
Highest survey ranking: 7
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama.
16. Anthony Rogers, RB, Pike Road
Class: Sophomore
Total points: 48
Highest survey ranking: 7
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisville, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCF.
13. (TIE) Tomarrion Parker, DL, Central-Phenix City
Class: Senior
Total points: 50
Highest survey ranking: 5
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. One-time Penn State commit. Offers include Clemson, Tennessee, Florida, Texas A&M, Penn State, Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia.
13. (TIE) Kelby Collins, DL, Gardendale
Class: Senior
Total points: 50
Highest survey ranking: 8
Recruiting status: Committed to Florida.
13. (TIE) Anquon Fegans, DB, Thompson
Class: Sophomore
Total points: 50
Highest survey ranking: 9
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas A&M, UCF.
11. (TIE) Yhonzae Pierre, EDGE, Eufaula
Class: Senior
Total points: 55
Highest survey ranking: 3
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama.
11. (TIE) Zion Grady, EDGE, Charles Henderson
Class: Sophomore
Total points: 55
Highest survey ranking: 2
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Offers include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida State, Penn State, Tennessee, Troy, Washington State.
THE TOP 10
Hewitt-Trussville’s Hunter Osborne defends Central-Phenix City’s Ameir Bellamy during an AHSAA football game Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett for AL.com)Julie Bennett for AL.com
10. Hunter Osborne, DL, Hewitt-Trussville
Class: Senior
Total points: 58
Highest survey ranking: 11
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama.
Saraland WR Ryan Williams gets around the Spanish Fort defense. (Helen Joyce | contributed)
9. Ryan Williams, WR, Saraland
Class: Sophomore
Total points: 67
Highest survey ranking: 3
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama.
Helena’s Eli Ray shakes hands with Briarwood’s Christopher Vizzina after the Helena at Briarwood Christian school football game in Birmingham, Ala., Friday, Sept. 16, 2022. (Vasha Hunt | preps.al.com)Vasha Hunt
8. Christopher Vizzina, QB, Briarwood Christian
Class: Senior
Total points: 68
Highest survey ranking: 2
Recruiting status: Committed to Clemson
Florence Jahlil Hurley (3) carries the ball against Huntsville during the first half of a football game Friday, Oct. 15, 2021 in Huntsville, Ala. (AL.Com Photo/Butch Dill)AL.COM
7. Jahlil Hurley, DB, Florence
Class: Senior
Total points: 85
Highest survey ranking: 6 (twice)
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama
Central-Phenix City’s Aj Harris tackles Hewitt-Trussville’s Brett Moseley during an AHSAA football game Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Phenix City, Alabama. (Julie Bennett for AL.com)Julie Bennett for AL.com
6. AJ Harris, DB, Central-Phenix City
Class: Senior
Total points: 87
Highest survey ranking: 3
Recruiting status: Committed to Georgia
Thompson’s Tony Mitchell breaks on the ball during football workouts at Thompson High School in Alabaster, Ala., Monday, June 14, 2021. (Dennis Victory | [email protected])
5. Tony Mitchell, DB, Thompson
Class: Senior
Total points: 97
Highest survey ranking: 2
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama
Clay-Chalkville’s Jaylen Mbakwe cuts away from Briarwood’s Jake Scott and runs for a first-quarter touchdown in Clay, Ala., Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (Mark Almond | [email protected])
4. Jaylen Mbakwe, WR, Clay-Chalkville (1)
Class: Junior
Total points: 105
Highest survey ranking: 1
Recruiting status: Committed to Alabama
Thompson’s Peter Woods (11) returns the ball for a touchdown against Vestavia at Thompson Reynolds Stadium in Vestavia, Ala., Thursday, Oct. 1, 2021. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
3. Peter Woods, DL, Thompson (1)
Class: Senior
Total points: 111
Highest survey ranking: 1
Recruiting status: Committed to Clemson
Carver defensive lineman James Smith (3) during the game at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday August 25, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
2. James Smith, DL, Carver-Montgomery (2)
Class: Senior
Total points: 113
Highest survey ranking: 1 (twice)
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Released a top six of Florida, Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and nearby Alabama State.
Carver defensive lineman Jaquavious Russaw (1) reaches for Daphne Baylor Beard (18) during the game at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala., Thursday August 25, 2022. (Marvin Gentry | [email protected])
1. Qua Russaw, EDGE, Carver-Montgomery (1)
Class: Senior
Total points: 115
Highest survey ranking: 1
Recruiting status: Uncommitted. Released a top six of Florida, Ohio State, Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and nearby Alabama State.
BREAKING IT DOWN
Classes
Sophomores: 6
Juniors: 7
Seniors: 13
Positions:
Defensive Backs: 5
Offensive line: 2
Wide receivers: 4
Quarterbacks: 2
Running backs: 3
Edge: 4
Linebackers: 1
Defensive linemen: 5
College status:
Uncommitted: 13
Alabama: 8
Clemson: 2
Auburn, Florida, Georgia: 1
Also receiving votes: Derrick Smith, WR, Selma 16; Karmello English, WR, Central-Phenix City 16; Keldric Faulk, DL, Highland Home 14; A’mon Lane, DB, Moody 11; Kavion Henderson, DL, Leeds 11; Jared Smith, EDGE, Spain Park 10; Jeremiah Beaman, DL, Parker 6; RyQueze McElderry, OL, Anniston 5; Jayden Lewis, DB, Anniston 2; Cameron Coleman, WR, Central-Phenix City 2; Josh Flowers, QB, Baker 1; Jaeden Jackson, DL, Andalusia 1.
FOLLOW
Nick Alvarez on Twitter at @nick_a_alvarez or read him on AL.com
Ben Thomas on Twitter at @benthomaspreps or read him on AL.com
Randy Kennedy on Twitter at @kennedy_randy or listen to him at Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile or the free IHeart Radio App.
Christian Clemente on Twitter at @CClemente247 or read him on AuburnUndercover.com
Andrew Bone on Twitter at @AndrewJBone or ready him at BamaInsider.com.