Texas QB commit K.J. Lacey opens 2024 season with dominant first quarter

After coming up just short of a 7A state title in 2023, Saraland (Ala.) High is coming back with a vengeance this fall.

The Spartans are beginning their season on Friday night, taking on in-state Jackson. Star Saraland quarterback and Texas commitment K.J. Lacey is making his presence felt early.

Through just one quarter, Lacey has already thrown for 212 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went for 60-plus yards.

Texas 4-Star QB commit KJ Lacey @kjlacey7 drops a 65-yard 💣bomb after escaping pressure.

The Saraland offense is still explosive.

pic.twitter.com/OLaPEsFA0T

— Touchdown Alabama Recruiting (@TDARecruiting) August 24, 2024

Lacey’s junior season was extraordinary. The 5-foot-10.5, 181-pounder hurled for 3,448 yards and 42 touchdowns while throwing eight interceptions. Across three seasons and 33 games, Lacey has thrown for 6,841 yards and 83 TDs entering Friday.

Committed to Texas since June 3, 2023, Lacey is now the No. 12 QB and No. 11 player in Alabama in the 2025 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He checks in at No. 148 overall.

Lacey recently competed at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles this summer. His performance drew praise from On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power:

“K.J. Lacey showed some of the quickest and coordinated feet at the Elite 11 Finals,” Power wrote. “The Texas commit was able to get good depth on his drops in addition to moving well in scenarios that asked for the quarterbacks to get outside of the pocket. While not an overwhelming rush threat, Lacey backs up the movement skills we saw at the Elite 11 Finals on Friday nights as an improvisational player behind the line of scrimmage.”

Lacey is one of the longest-tenured QB commits in the 2025 cycle. This summer, he updated his status at the On3 Elite Series in Nashville:

“I feel like I have a really strong commitment to Texas right now,” Lacey said. “My commitment is still as strong as it can be, I think I’m in a really good spot with Texas.”

“That’s the main goal, honestly, making it to the league. That’s the biggest stage you’re going to play on. Going out there and performing in college first, then going to the NFL, that’s the biggest goal.”

Saraland begins the season as the No. 3 team in Alabama and is a top-150 program nationally, according to the On3 Massey Ratings. The On3 Massey Ratings — which were officially used during the BCS era and have generated college high school sports team rankings since 1995 — rank sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule and margin of victory.