Top 25 high school football players in Alabama

Each year, more and more elite talent seems to come out of the state of Alabama.

The 2025 and 2026 cycles in the Yellowhammer State appear to be stacked once again, with multiple top-100 prospects getting to begin their high school football seasons in Alabama.

Below are the top 25 football players in the state of Alabama, based on the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

1. CB Na’eem Offord — 98.44

School: Parker

As a junior at Birmingham Parker, Na’eem Offord — an Ohio State commit — accounted for five interceptions and four pass breakups for the Thundering Herd. Offord also combined for over 500 rushing and receiving yards on offense, scoring 10 touchdowns. Offord is a Five-Star Plus+ prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, ranked No. 9 overall in America.

2. (2026) EDGE Anthony Jones — 96.47

School: St. Paul’s Episcopal

One of the most coveted recruits in the junior class, five-star EDGE Anthony Jones ranks No. 7 overall in the 2026 On3 Industry Ranking. The Saints fell to Hillcrest in the first round of the playoffs last season, finishing with a 7-4 record.

3. EDGE Jared Smith — 94.91

School: Thompson

Jared Smith committed to Auburn earlier this month ahead of his first full season at Thompson. He transferred from Spain Park to play for the Warriors midseason in 2023. As a basketball player, Smith made the Alabama state Final Four as both a freshman and sophomore. He is a four-star prospect and the No. 43 recruit in the senior class.

4. ATH Derick Smith — 94.42

School: Southside

Derick Smith excelled on both sides of the ball for the Southside Panthers last season. On offense, he ran the ball for over 1,000 yards and racked up another 1,487 through the air. He combined for 23 touchdowns. On defense, Smith accounted for 74 total tackles and 11 sacks. Smith is the No. 45 player in the 2025 On300 and an Auburn commit.

5. (2026) EDGE Hezekiah Harris — 94.34

School: Jemison

Junior Auburn EDGE pledge Hezekiah Harris is a top-20 prospect in the 2026 On300, but is also a talented athlete on the basketball court. As a sophomore, Harris averaged 8.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game for the Jaguars.

6. S Anquon Fegans — 94.11

School: Thompson

A teammate of Jared Smith at Thompson, Fegans is also planning to join Smith at the next level. He committed to Auburn ahead of his senior season back on July 29. Fifty-nine tackles, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles and 11 pass breakups defined a stellar season for Fegans, en route to an 11-2 season for the Warriors.

7. S Eric Winters — 93.92

School: Enterprise

Auburn keeps the theme going with another top-10 commitment in the state of Alabama. Winters combined for over 1,000 yards passing and rushing on offense with 14 touchdowns, while accounting for 19 tackles, and interception and a forced fumble on defense. The Wildcats finished 9-3, dropping their playoff game to Mary G. Montgomery.

8. DL Malik Autry — 93.65

School: Opelika

An Auburn commit for over a year and a half, Malik Autry has been a force on defense for Opelika. As a junior last season, Autry record 56 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks as an Opelika-Auburn News All-Area football selection. Autry ranks No. 75 overall in the On3 Industry Ranking and seventh among defensive linemen.

9. EDGE Zion Grady — 92.91

School: Enterprise

A rare non-Auburn commit from the state of Alabama, Zion Grady pledged to Ohio State in late June. Eric Winters had the defensive secondary covered for the Wildcats last season, and now Grady should provide plenty of pressure up front in 2024. At Charles Henderson last year, Grady accounted for 82 tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 10 sacks and an interception. Grady was the 5A Lineman of the Year in his sophomore season and a finalist for the same award as a junior.

10. LB Jakaleb Faulk — 92.85

School: Highland Home

Another Auburn commit? Yes. Jakelb Faulk joined the Tigers’ class last August as one of the earliest members of the group. He then went on to accumulate 58 tackles as a junior along with 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles.

11. (2026) CB Zyan Gibson — 92.77 (Gadsden City)
12. (2026) LB Shadarius Toodle — 92.54 (Cottage Hill Christian Academy)
13. RB Anthony Rogers — 92.53 (Carver)
14. (2026) DL Vodney Cleveland — 92.50 (Parker)
15. DL Antonio Coleman — 92.46 (Saraland)

16. (2026) WR Cederian Morgan — 92.38 (Benjamin Russell)
17. QB K.J. Lacey — 92.15 (Saraland)
18. IOL Micah DeBose — 92.10 (Theodore)
19. RB Alvin Henderson — 92.09 (Elba)
20. (2026) LB Jaquez Wilkes — 91.73 (Wadley)

21. (2026) LB JaMichael Garrett — 91.48 (Gulf Shores)
22. (2026) QB Landon Duckworth — 91.36 (Jackson)
23. DL Jourdin Crawford — 91.15 (Parker)
24. OT Carde Smith — 90.43 (Williamson)
25. EDGE C.J. May — 89.85 (Highland Home)