Preseason Top 5: The Best 7A Football Teams in Alabama
Let’s break down my predictions for the best 7A football teams in Alabama for 2021.
No. 5 – Auburn
The 7A Runner-Up from a year ago, Auburn should come into this season at No. 5. The Tigers suffered a heart-breaking 29-28 loss to 7A champion Thompson in the state title game last season, and will see a lot of roster and coaching turnover from last season. Former head coach Adam Winegarden is replaced by head coach Keith Etheredge, formally head coach at Oxford, and the Tigers also lose a few notable players including OL Cort Bradley, QB Matthew Caldwell, DB Quay Nelms, WR Bryson Clague, ATH Amaury Hutchinson and more. The Tigers will however return talent, headlined by OLB and Auburn commit Powell Gordon who will lead the Auburn defense after making Class 7A First-Team All-State a year ago. Auburn might’ve lost a good bit of its talent from last season, but will return enough to still be a top five team.
No. 4 – Hoover
The Bucs suffered a disappointing end to their 2020 season as they fell 52-14 to 7A champion Thompson in the 7A Semifinals capping an 11-2 season with both losses coming to the Warriors. Hoover will lose a few notable players including RB Dylan Betts-Pauley, WR Malik Thomas, LB Marcus Williams, and QB Josh Lundy, but return talent headlined by rising junior and 7A First-Team All-State WR RJ Hamilton and DT Markus Clark. Hoover will once again re-load, and the Bucs will be one of the top teams in 7A next season.
No. 3 – Central-Phenix City
The Central Red Devils suffered a 35-17 loss in the 7A Semifinals last season to 7A Runner-Up Auburn that brought an end to year one under new head coach Patrick Nix. The Red Devils will have to replace notable players including 7A First-Team All-State RB Joseph McKay and WR Jackson Meeks, but return numerous talented younger players. Headlining this returning talent for Central is rising juniors DE Tomarrion Parker and WR Karmello English, incoming versatile DB JQ Hardaway, and year two with QB Caleb Nix. The Red Devils finished the 2020 season with an 8-5 record, but should be improved next season back competing for the 7A state title.
No. 2 – Hewitt-Trussville
Another team that fell to eventual 7A champ Thompson, Hewitt-Trussville suffered a 42-16 loss in the 7A Quarterfinals that ended its 2020 season. The Huskies will lose a few notable players headlined by arguably the state’s top RB a year ago Armoni Goodwin, as well as LB Landen Berguson, DB Trey Washington, and RB Sean Jackson. Hewitt will however return a wealth of talent headlined by DL Justice Finkley, OL Riley Quick, and ATH Omari Kelly. The Huskies will also return QB Cade Carruth to lead what should be a high-powered offense. Hewitt-Trussville will still need a few players to step up to replace lost production, but the Huskies have the talent to be one of the best teams in Alabama all season long.
No. 1 – Thompson
After a miraculous comeback to capture its second-consecutive 7A state title, Thompson will be the No. 1 team once again going into next season. Despite losing a wealth of talent including RB Jarrett Crocket, WRs JB Mitchell, Sam Reynolds, and Tre Roberson, as well as OL Connor Howard and Anthony Butler, the Warriors return arguably a bulk of last season’s title winning team. Headlining the returnees on offense is 7A Back of the Year QB Conner Harrell and WR Ryan Peppins, while on defense Thompson returns 7A Lineman of the Year in 5-star DE Jeremiah Alexander, as well as 5-star rising juniors DT Peter Woods and CB Tony Mitchell. It’s obvious why Thompson is the clear No. 1 team going into next season, and rightfully so, this might be the most talented the Warriors have been in years. We haven’t seen a three-peat as 7A state champions in the seven years of 7A football in Alabama, will Thompson be the first next season?
Written by: Matt Melton
