Following the Future: Handful of Alabama commits set to begin 2023 seasons

High school football is back.

After a year filled with camps, 7-on-7 tournaments, and other events, prep prospects across the country are set to return to the gridiron for meaningful games in pads this week. Nearly a dozen future Alabama Crimson Tide players will begin their 2023 seasons over the next couple of days. That group includes Five-Star Plus+ quarterback commitment Julian Sayin.

In the story below, BamaOnLine provides a preview of which Alabama commits are playing this week. Not included on this list are jamborees or kickoff classics; each of these games listed below count toward their respective team’s 2023 standings. Also, unless it is noted otherwise, the games listed below will take place on Friday.

Five-Star Plus+ QB Julian Sayin, Carlsbad (Calif.) High School: The Lancers travel to Inglewood (Calif.) High School for their season opener. Sayin is looking to build on a season in which he threw for 2,708 yards and 27 touchdowns. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time/9:00 p.m. Central.

TE Caleb Odom and OL Zykie Helton (2026), Carrollton (Ga.) High School: In one of the most anticipated games of the season in the state of Georgia, the Trojans play host to Langston Hughes High School. In addition to Helton and Odom, Carrollton’s roster features elite 2026 quarterback and Alabama target Julian Lewis.

Langston Hughes also has a handful of future Power Five players on their roster, including Alabama 2025 offensive lineman commitment Dontrell Glover. This game will be available to watch on ESPN2 at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.

BamaOnLine’s Joseph Hastings will be in attendance for this game and is going to provide live updates on the BOL Round Table.

DB Zabien Brown, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei: The Monarchs open up their season with a road game at Corona Centennial, with kickoff set for 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time/9:00 p.m. Central. Brown registered 32 tackles, three interceptions and five pass break-ups during his junior year.

DB Peyton Woodyard, Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco: St. John Bosco starts their 2023 season with a home game against Liberty High School out of Nevada. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time/9:00 p.m. Central. Woodyard, who flipped from Georgia to Alabama on Aug. 8, recorded 53 tackles, seven pass deflections, and one interception last season.

Must Read: Top 100 S Peyton Woodyard follows heart to Alabama (On3+)

WR Amari Jefferson, Chattanooga (Tenn.) Baylor School: The Red Raiders are gearing up to start their season with a home matchup versus Rabun Gap-Nacoochee. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. Central. In his junior season, Jefferson hauled in 72 catches for 1,370 yards (19 yards per reception) and 17 touchdowns.

LB Cayden Jones, Arden (N.C.) Christ School: The Christ School Greenies head to Valdosta (Ga.) for a road game against Lowndes High School on Saturday. That game will begin at 3:00 p.m. Central Time. Per On3’s 2024 rankings, Cayden Jones is the No. 12 linebacker in this recruiting cycle.

LB Justin Okoronkwo, Nürnberg Rams (Germany): Nürnberg will face off against the Münchern Rangers at home this upcoming Sunday. They are set to play at 3:00 p.m. local time/8:00 a.m. Central Time. Last week, Okoronkwo recorded five touchdowns on eight touches and a two-point conversion.

2025 Alabama commitments

RB Anthony Rogers, IMG Academy in Bradenton (Fla.): The Ascenders travel to Tennessee for a road matchup with Lipscomb Academy. This game will feature Alabama running back commit Anthony Rogers, who is in his first season with IMG. Rogers, an Alabama native, previously played for Pike Road High School in Montgomery. Another notable participant in this contest is priority offensive lineman target Jordan Seaton.

6:00 p.m. Central is kickoff time.

OL Mason Short, Evans (Ga.) High School: The Knights travel to North Augusta High School for their season opener, with kickoff being 6:30 p.m. Central. Short, a 6-foot-5.5, 300-pound prospect, committed to Alabama back on April 2.

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