A number of former prep stars from Alabama will make an impact in college football in this 2022 season. Here are 10 players to keep an eye on in particular.
Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama
McKinstry, a five-star prospect from Pinson Valley who was Alabama high school football’s top player in the 2021 class, emerged as a starter at cornerback for the Crimson Tide late last season. He should play a similar role in 2022.
Mohamoud Diabate – Utah
A four-star prospect from Auburn High School in 2019, Diabate is expected to be one of the top linebackers in the Pac-12 this season after transferring to Utah from Florida.
Bo Nix – Oregon
Nix, who was a five-star out of Pinson Valley in 2019, is the new starting quarterback at Oregon. He transferred from Auburn, where he was a three-year starter.
Taulia Tagovailoa – Maryland
Also among the state’s top quarterbacks in the 2019 class, Tagovailoa, a former four-star prospect from Thompson High School, returns as the starter at Maryland this season.
Will Reichard – Alabama
Reichard, the nation’s No. 1 kicker in the 2019 class out of Hoover, could be one of the top kickers in college football this season for Alabama.
Javion Cohen – Alabama
One of Alabama high school football’s top offensive lineman in the 2020 class out of Central-Phenix City, Cohen is a returning starter for the Crimson Tide at left guard who could play a similar role in 2022.
Riley Leonard – Duke
A three-star prospect out of Fairhope in the 2021 class, Leonard is another of the top college football players from Alabama and another starting quarterback to watch for in 2022. He began the season as the starter at Duke.
Kobe Prentice – Alabama
Having played for Calera just last season, Prentice is one of the freshman who could make a significant impact for Alabama at wide receiver. He started against Utah State in Week 1.
Kamari Lassiter – Georgia
The former American Christian cornerback in the 2021 class earned a starting role for Georgia against Oregon in Week 1, and he could remain a starter going forward for the Bulldogs.
EJ Williams – Clemson
Another former Central-Phenix City product, Williams is a name to watch for at Clemson as the former four-star could be among the Tigers’ leading wide receivers this season.
In addition to those 10, here are a few other college football players from Alabama to watch for this season:
- Squirrel White – Tennessee
- Roydell Williams – Alabama
- Malachi Moore – Alabama
- Jayson Jones – Auburn
- DJ Dale – Alabama
- Ja’Varrius Johnson – Auburn
- Nehemiah Pritchett – Auburn
- Shedrick Jackson – Auburn
- Kavosiey Smoke – Kentucky
