With the 2022 Alabama high school football season having recently come to an end, we take a look ahead to the 2023 campaign and offer our way-too-early list of the Top-25 teams statewide.
25. Saint James (3A)
24. Prattville (7A)
23. Enterprise (7A)
22. Charles Henderson (5A)
21. Dothan (7A)
Dothan (8-4), Enterprise (8-4), and Prattville (6-4) each should be strong again in Class 7A, while Charles Henderson (12-2) should be one of the top preseason teams in 5A. Saint James (13-2) is a potential repeat state champion in Class 3A as the Trojans return starting quarterback KJ Jackson.
20. Anniston (4A)
19. UMS-Wright (5A)
18. Pinson Valley (6A)
17. Montgomery Catholic (4A)
16. Andalusia (4A)
Defending Class 4A state champion Andalusia (14-1) returns one of the state’s top running backs next season in J’Marion Burnette, while Montgomery Catholic (13-1) brings back one of the best quarterbacks, Caleb McCreary. Pinson Valley (6-4) should again be strong in Class 6A, and UMS-Wright (12-1) and Anniston (11-1) likely will be among the top teams in their respective classifications.
15. Muscle Shoals (6A)
14. Hartselle (6A)
13. Pleasant Grove (5A)
12. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa (6A)
11. Vestavia Hills (7A)
Vestavia Hills (7-5) returns a roster headlined by one of the state’s top edge rushers, Jordan Ross. Pleasant Grove (11-2) will be one of 5A’s best again in 2023, and the same could be said for both Hartselle (12-1) and Muscle Shoals (11-2) in Class 6A.
10. Ramsay (5A)
The Top 10 begins with Ramsay (13-2), which finished the 2022 Alabama high school football season as the Class 5A state champions. The 2023 Rams will return multiple from that team, most notably Ashton Ashford, Kameron Keenan, QB Reese, and Demarcus Wynn.
9. Mountain Brook (6A)
2022 Class 6A runner-up Mountain Brook (12-3) will return a roster headlined by Cole Gamble, who should be one of the top running backs in the classification again next season.
8. Theodore (6A)
Theodore (13-1) fell just short of the Class 6A title game this season, falling in the state semifinals to eventual state champion Saraland 21-6. The Bobcats will return quarterback Cameron Rigby in 2023, as well as their top two tacklers, Navontay Richardson and Cameron Pruitt.
7. Hewitt-Trussville (7A)
Hewitt-Trussville (8-4) made another Class 7A quarterfinal appearance this season and is likely to do so again in 2023. The Huskies will have one of the classification’s most experienced offenses back, including quarterback Peyton Floyd.
6. Auburn (7A)
Auburn (12-2) falls just short of the top 5 after finishing as the Class 7A state runner-up, and the Tigers should be among Alabama’s elite again. Headlining the returning names will be one of 7A’s top wideouts, Ean Nation, as well as quarterback Davis Harsin.
5. Hoover (7A)
Hoover (11-2) is coming off another Class 7A state semifinal appearance this season and could do the same in 2023. Headlining the Buccaneers’ roster will be one of the state’s top linebackers, Bradley Shaw, as well as others including Jordan Woolen and Noah Schuback.
4. Central-Phenix City (7A)
The Red Devils (10-3) come in at No. 4 after a season in which they reached the Class 7A state semifinals. Central-Phenix City will return a few notable names on offense, including Cameron Coleman and Zack Simmons, along with Jayden Coleman and Rydarrius Morgan on defense.
3. Clay-Chalkville (6A)
Yes, the Cougars (8-2) were shockingly upset in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs, but when looking at their returning talent alone, it’s easy to see why Clay-Chalkville is in the No. 3 spot. Headlining an experienced 2023 team will be the top Alabama high school football prospect for 2024, Jaylen Mbakwe, with numerous others returning alongside the five-star including JacQawn McRoy, Mario Craver, Kamari McClellan, Rodreckus Johnson, and D’Angelo Barber.
2. Saraland (6A)
Saraland (14-1), the 2022 Class 6A state champions, was one of the state’s best from start to finish in 2022, thanks in part to an electric offense that averaged 42.9 PPG. The Spartans will return all three of the biggest names in that group – Ryan Williams, KJ Lacey, and Santae McWilliams – as well as multiple others on both sides of the ball.
1. Thompson (7A)
Thompson (11-3) claimed its fourth consecutive Class 7A state title this season and will again be among the best in Alabama high school football in 2023. Headlining the Warriors’ 2023 roster will be Anquon Fegans and Kaleb Harris on defense, while the Thompson offense returns both quarterbacks, Zach Sims and Trent Seaborn, as well as running back AJ Green.
