We continue our Alabama high school 2023 preseason series this week by taking a look at pass catchers, one of the state’s most talented position groups. Our list combines both wide receivers and tight ends, with recruiting rankings according to 247Sports Composite.
10. Dillon Alfred (Saraland)
We begin our list of top Alabama pass catchers with a new addition to the state’s high school ranks. Alfred is a transfer from Gautier (MS) and the first of two Saraland players featured here. He enters his junior season after recording 57 receptions for 1,196 yards and 15 touchdowns for the 5A semifinalists in Mississippi a year ago.
9. Mario Craver (Clay-Chalkville)
Clay-Chalkville, one of the top preseason teams in Class 6A, also lands a pair of players on this list, the first of whom is Craver at No. 9. A four-star prospect in the 2024 class, Craver amassed 32 receptions for 525 yards and 9 touchdowns a year ago for the Cougars.
8. Derick Smith (Southside-Selma)
The first of several two-way players to make our list of top Alabama high school pass catchers, Smith enters the 2023 season as a four-star prospect in the 2025 class. He had 57 receptions for 1,391 yards and 10 touchdowns for Class 3A’s Southside-Selma last year, as well as 51 carries for 966 yards and 8 more scores. He also posted 98 tackles, 14 TFL, 4 sacks, and 8 interceptions on defense.
7. Ean Nation (Auburn)
The first of multiple names from Class 7A to make this list is Nation at No. 7. He returns for his senior season this fall after helping lead the Tigers to the 7A state championship game a year ago.
6. Jywon Boyd (Charles Henderson)
One of the biggest names returning for Class 5A runner-up Charles Henderson is Boyd, a three-star Troy commit. He’s coming off an impressive junior season in which he played both ways for the Trojans, compiling 60 receptions for 1,218 yards and 20 touchdowns, 53 carries for 342 yards and 2 more scores, and 71 tackles and 6 interceptions.
5. Jaylen Mbakwe (Clay-Chalkville)
One of the state’s premier two-way players is Mbakwe, the first of multiple Alabama commitments on our list. The five-star prospect posted 16 receptions for 393 yards and 5 touchdowns for Clay-Chalkville as a junior last season.
4. James Bolton (Mary G. Montgomery)
Bolton, who forms one of the state’s top QB/WR duos alongside quarterback Jared Hollins, is coming off a junior season in which he had 62 receptions for 1,304 yards and 13 touchdowns for Class 7A’s Mary G. Montgomery.
3. Cameron Coleman (Central-Phenix City)
Coming in at No. 3 is Coleman, who enters his senior season as one of the biggest names on a talented Central-Phenix City team that reached the Class 7A state semifinals a year ago. Coleman, a five-star Texas A&M commit, had 31 receptions for 542 yards and 6 touchdowns in 2022.
2. Perry Thompson (Foley)
Thompson, a five-star Alabama commit, is the top name returning for Class 7A’s Foley. He’s coming off a junior campaign in which he had 87 receptions for 1,059 yards and 9 touchdowns, while seeing time on defense as well.
1. Ryan Williams (Saraland)
Holding the No. 1 spot among Alabama high school pass catchers entering the 2023 season is Williams, who’s back for his junior year at defending Class 6A state champion Saraland. Returning alongside others such as quarterback KJ Lacey, Williams, a five-star Alabama commit, became the first sophomore to ever win Alabama Mr. Football a year ago, amassing 1,641 yards and 24 touchdowns on 88 receptions, while also rushing for 700 yards and 15 scores on 57 attempts.
Honorable Mention
- JaCorey Whitted (McAdory)
- Wyatt Bailey (Sipsey Valley)
- Ty Goodwill (Faith Academy)
- Bryce Cain (Baker)
- Jabari Murphy (Elmore County)
- Ky’Dric Fisher (Jacksonville)
- Ty Doughty (James Clemens)
- Albert Haywood (McGill-Toolen)
- Ziggy Holloway (Tallassee)
- Erick Smith (Southside-Selma)
