It’s never too-early to take a look ahead to the 2022 Alabama high school football season right? While these rankings will certainly change come late-August, here is a way-too-early look at the Top 25 overall teams in the state entering the 2022 season, as well as a small preview for each.
- Thompson
- Central-Phenix City
- Clay-Chalkville
- Hoover
- Hueytown
Three-time defending Alabama High School Football Class 7A state champion Thompson will once again enter the 2022 season ranked No. 1, but 7A runner-up Central-Phenix City is not far behind as the Red Devils return key pieces such as Tomarrion Parker and Karmello English, as well as having added five-star corner AJ Harris who spent the 2021 season at Glenwood.
Class 6A runner-up Hueytown returns the lone starting quarterback of the group in dual-threat star Earl Woods, while defending 6A state champion Clay-Chalkville will have to replace signal caller Khalib Johnson among others. Hoover enters year No. 1 under new head coach Wade Waldrop, but should still be one of the top overall teams in the state.
- Auburn
- Mountain Brook
- Hewitt-Trussville
- Pike Road
- Gardendale
Auburn is arguably the headliner of this group entering year No. 2 under head coach Keith Etheredge along with a talented roster featuring returning quarterback, Clyde Pittman and one of the state’s top lineman in Auburn commit, Bradyn Joiner. Defending class 5A state champion Pike Road will be a team to watch as the Patriots have reclassified to class 6A, and return one of the state’s most electric playmakers in rising sophomore Anthony Rogers.
Mountain Brook returns multiple pieces off one of the state’s top defenses a year ago, as well as quarterback John Colvin, while Hewitt-Trussville will be led by star defensive lineman Hunter Osborne. Don’t sleep on class 6A’s Gardendale either, as the Rockets return multiple key players from last season, including two of the state’s better defensive players in Kelby Collins and Dallas Young.
- Opelika
- Saraland
- Theodore
- Pinson Valley
- Briarwood Christian
Recently reclassified to class 7A, Opelika will be one of the most intriguing teams to watch in the state with returning running back Kaden Cooper, as well as Briarwood Christian returning the state’s top quarterback recruit in Christopher Vizzina.
Saraland, Pinson Valley, and recently reclassified Theodore will all three be prominent teams in class 6A, with each returning multiple key players, headlined by Pinson Valley’s TJ Metcalf.
- Vigor
- Montgomery Catholic
- Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa
- Pleasant Grove
- Enterprise
Class 3A’s Montgomery Catholic held the top spot in our Class 3A-1A Top 25 rankings for a majority of the 2021 season, and will likely feature a constant presence in the 7A-4A Top 25 next season now reclassified into 4A, led by the returning QB/RB duo of Caleb McCreary and Jeremiah Cobb.
Enterprise will be entering year No. 1 under new head coach Ben Blackmon, while Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa will be coming off an impressive playoff run a year ago. Pleasant Grove will once again be talented, while Alabama High School Football Class 4A defending state champion Vigor will have to replace quarterback Anthony Mix Jr after reclassifying to 5A.
- Oak Mountain
- Spanish Fort
- Prattville
- Autauga
- Piedmont
Spanish Fort will be entering year No. 1 under a new head coach, and will have to replace multiple key players including quarterback Brendon Byrd, who transferred to Gulf Shores. In addition to this, Oak Mountain will also have to replace one of the state’s better quarterbacks in dual-threat star Evan Smith.
Defending AISA 2A state champion Autauga finished the 2021 season as the No. 1 ranked team in our Class 3A-1A Top 25 rankings, while defending Class 3A state champion Piedmont was No. 2. Prattville could be a sleeper team in 2022 despite a 7-4 season last year, with all four losses coming to teams ranked within the Top 15 on this list (Auburn, Hoover, Central-Phenix City, Theodore).
