Last season, Alabama high school football’s Class 6A saw a new state champion for the third consecutive year when Clay-Chalkville defeated Hueytown in a high-scoring title game. As the Cougars now seek to become the first repeat 6A state champion since Pinson Valley back in 2017-18, which teams could stand in their way? Here’s our preview of the 2022 Alabama high school football Class 6A season, including teams and players to watch for and other predictions.
The Favorite: Clay-Chalkville
Similar to Thompson in 7A, defending state champion Clay-Chalkville holds the label of favorite in Class 6A, though the gap between the Cougars and the field might be slimmer than you think. Tasked with replacing two significant pieces of their offense in Khalib Johnson and Edward Osley, the Cougars return two of the state’s top juniors in Jaylen Mbakwe and Mario Craver. New to the team is quarterback Kamari McClellan, who transferred from Oxford.
Biggest Threat to Favorite: Hueytown
There are multiple teams to pick from here, but 2021 6A runner-up Hueytown is the choice based on previous history. While the Golden Gophers did lose twice to the Cougars last season (their only two losses), they scored at least 40 in each game, and they return multiple prominent names including quarterback Earl Woods and running back Jakhael Rowser.
Teams to Watch For: Gardendale, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa, Mountain Brook, Pike Road, Pinson Valley, Theodore
When looking for which additional teams to watch for in Alabama Class 6A, any of these six teams could easily make a deep run toward a state championship. Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa and Mountain Brook reached the 6A semifinals a year ago, while Pike Road won the 5A state title.
Top Offensive Names Returning
- QB Christopher Vizzina – Briarwood Christian
- OT Wilkin Formby – Northridge
- WR Amare Thomas – Pinson Valley
- OT Vysen Lang – Pike Road
- RB Drew Pickett – Russell County
- QB Ethan Crawford – Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
- WR Mario Craver – Clay-Chalkville
- QB Kamari McClellan – Clay-Chalkville
- QB Earl Woods – Hueytown
- RB Anthony Rogers – Pike Road
Alabama Class 6A returns four of the state’s top quarterbacks in 2022, a group headlined by Hueytown’s Earl Woods and Briarwood Christian’s Christopher Vizzina. Two of the state’s top offensive linemen, Wilkin Formby and Vysen Lang, also return, as well as Pike Road’s fast-rising sophomore running back Anthony Rogers, who rushed for 1,150 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Top Defensive Names Returning
- DL James Smith – Carver-Montgomery
- EDGE Jaquavious Russaw – Carver-Montgomery
- DL Kelby Collins – Gardendale
- CB Dallas Young – Gardendale
- S TJ Metcalf – Pinson Valley
- DL Connor Knight – Pinson Valley
- CB Jaylen Mbakwe – Clay-Chalkville
- DL Jeremiah Beaman – Parker
- DB Will James – Theodore
- LB DJ Barber – Clay-Chalkville
Carver-Montgomery will undoubtedly have the top pass rushing duo in Alabama when Jaquavious Russaw returns alongside James Smith, the state’s top 2023 recruit who transferred from Florida’s IMG Academy this offseason. Among the other notables, highly rated four-star Kelby Collins returns for Gardendale after collecting 12 sacks a year ago, while the state’s top 2024 recruit, Jaylen Mbakwe, headlines a talented Clay-Chalkville secondary.
Notable New Teams: Pike Road, St. Paul’s Episcopal, Theodore
Among the new teams to enter Class 6A this upcoming season, Theodore may be the most notable as the Bobcats move down from 7A, where they reached the quarterfinals the last two years. Defending 5A state champion Pike Road also moves up, as does St. Paul’s Episcopal, which fell to the Patriots in the second round a year ago.
Final Four Prediction: Clay-Chalkville, Mountain Brook, Pike Road, Theodore
It seems likely that Clay-Chalkville and Mountain Brook will be back among the final four teams this season. While the other two teams in the top four last season (Hueytown and Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) could make the final four once again, I’ll say that two of 6A’s new teams, Pike Road and Theodore, reach the semifinals.
2022 Class 6A State Champion Prediction: Clay-Chalkville
While there hasn’t been a repeat state champion in Class 6A since 2018, the Cougars have an excellent shot to break that streak this season. Led by the junior trio of Mbakwe, Craver, and McClellan, Clay-Chalkville has all the pieces needed to be the final team standing in Alabama Class 6A, including what should be another elite offense.
