In the recent history of high school football in Alabama, few teams have seen the level of talent and success the 2020 Thompson Warriors had. Led by head coach Mark Freeman, the Warriors won their second straight Class 7A state championship that year, securing a perfect 14-0 season with a 29-28 comeback win over Auburn in the state title game.
That outcome was the lone one-possession contest for Thompson; the Warriors outscored opponents 604-222 in 2020, which translated to an average of 43.1 PPG offensively and only 15.9 PPG allowed on defense.
The 2020 Thompson Warriors had numerous players rated as three-, four-, and five-star recruits according to 247Sports. Here’s a look at some of the biggest names from that memorable team, including what each is doing today.
QB Conner Harrell
Harrell, a three-star prospect in the 2022 class, was one of the state’s top players as a junior, and he was named the Class 7A Back of the Year. He completed 73.4% of his passes for 3,568 yards and a 42:3 TD:INT ratio, and he rushed for 319 yards and 5 touchdowns on 61 attempts. Harrell is a redshirt freshman at North Carolina, where he has seen limited action this season.
EDGE Jeremiah Alexander
The state’s No. 1 overall player in the 2022 class, Alexander was also one of Alabama’s top high school players as a junior, earning Class 7A Lineman of the Year honors that season. Alexander, a five-star edge rusher, led by the Warriors defense by amassing 116 tackles, including 31 TFL and 9 sacks, plus 3 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. Alexander is in his redshirt freshman season at Alabama, where he has seen limited action with the Crimson Tide.
S Tony Mitchell
A four-star prospect in the 2023 class and a multi-year starter in the Warriors secondary, Mitchell had an impressive sophomore season at Thompson in 2020, when he recorded 82 tackles, 8 TFL, and 4 INTs. Mitchell is a freshman at Alabama, where he has seen limited action.
WR J.B. Mitchell III
By a slim margin, Mitchell led the 2020 Thompson Warriors in receiving yards. A three-star prospect in the 2021 class, he had 74 receptions for 1,232 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior. Mitchell is in his junior season at Eastern Michigan, and he is currently enjoying a breakout campaign with the Eagles.
WR Ryan Peppins
Peppins is likely remembered most by a stellar senior season that won him Mr. Football honors, but his junior campaign was certainly strong as well. A three-star prospect in the 2022 class, he had 74 receptions for 1,138 yards – just 94 behind Mitchell – and 14 touchdowns, and he rushed for 50 yards on 4 attempts. Having also played at Utah and Grambling State, Peppins is currently in his redshirt freshman season at UAB.
DL Peter Woods
One of the biggest names on that 2020 Thompson team was Woods, a five-star defensive lineman in the 2023 class. He missed some time due to injury, but he still managed to compile 30 tackles, including 8 TFL and 3.5 sacks. Woods is a freshman at Clemson, where he has 8 tackles and a TFL in his first six career games.
LB Jax Van Zandt
As a junior, Van Zandt ranked second for the Warriors in tackles with 102. A three-star prospect in the 2022 class, he also had 10.5 TFL and 0.5 sacks in 2020. Van Zandt is a redshirt freshman at North Texas.
Other prominent names from that 2020 Thompson Warriors team are ATH Sam Reynolds, WR Tre Roberson, CB Gavin Shipman, RB Jarrett Crockett, RB Ahmari Bolden, LB Jake Ivie.
