It’s no secret that Alabama high school football has some of the nation’s top players at their respective positions in the 2024-26 classes. Here’s a look at how 11 of those five-star recruits have performed so far during the 2023 season. (Recruiting rankings according to 247Sports Composite.)
ATH Jaylen Mbakwe (Clay-Chalkville)
One of the nation’s top high school athletes in the 2024 class, Mbakwe has helped lead Clay-Chalkville to an impressive 6-0 start in Class 6A. The five-star Alabama commit has played both ways for the Cougars, and he has posted multiple performances similar to that of his showing against Thompson two weeks ago on national TV.
WR Ryan Williams (Saraland)
One of the nation’s top players, as well as the top wide receiver, in the 2025 class, Williams is well on his way to contending for another Mr. Football title this year. In helping lead Saraland to an undefeated record, the five-star Alabama commit has 24 receptions for 471 yards and 7 touchdowns through six games, and he’s rushed for 52 yards and 3 scores on 9 attempts.
WR Cameron Coleman (Central-Phenix City)
Coleman, a five-star wide receiver in the 2024 class, is shining for a Central-Phenix City High School team that is undefeated in Alabama Class 7A. Across five games, the Texas A&M commit has 23 receptions for 461 yards and 9 touchdowns.
WR Perry Thompson (Foley)
The third five-star wide receiver in Alabama high school football is Thompson, who has helped lead Foley to a 3-3 record in Class 7A. In six games, the Auburn commit has 33 receptions for 467 yards and 4 touchdowns, along with 2 other scores offensively.
OT Micah DeBose (Vigor)
The five-star Georgia commit in the 2025 class has helped lead Class 5A’s Vigor to a 5-1 start as one of the state’s top offensive linemen.
EDGE Zion Grady (Charles Henderson)
Arguably the No. 1 edge rusher in the 2025 class, Grady has helped lead Charles Henderson to a solid start in Class 5A sitting at 4-3. Across five games, Grady has a combined 42 tackles, 14 TFL, and seven sacks.
EDGE Jordan Ross (Vestavia Hills)
A five-star edge rusher in the 2024 class, Ross has helped lead Vestavia Hills to a 5-1 record in Class 7A. The Tennessee commit has 34 tackles, 12 TFL, and 6 sacks in five games.
EDGE Hezekiah Harris (Mae Jemison)
Arguably the top edge rusher in the 2026 class, Harris and Mae Jemison are off to a 2-5 start in Class 6A.
LB Demarcus Riddick (Chilton County)
The five-star Auburn commit has seen time on both sides of the ball for a Chilton County team that is 3-4 in Class 6A. Defensively, Riddick has 56 tackles and 6 TFL, and he’s rushed for 32 yards on 5 attempts through five games.
LB Anthony Jones (St. Paul’s Episcopal)
Perhaps the nation’s top linebacker in the 2026 class, Jones has helped lead St. Paul’s Episcopal to a 4-2 start in Class 6A. The Saints defense is also allowing only 18.3 PPG.
CB Na’eem Offord (Parker)
The final Alabama five-star recruit on this list is Offord, one of the nation’s top corners in the 2025 class. Playing both ways for a Parker program that is 6-1, Offord has accounted for 4 touchdowns offensively, as well as 10 tackles and 4 INTs through six games.
