By Rubin E. Grant By the time the 2018 season ends, Hoover senior George Pickens could be the No. 1 receiving recruit in the nation. The 6-foot-4-inch, 190-pound Pickens already has garnered a five-star rating from Rivals.com. “Pickens’ size, speed, play-making ability and relentless competitiveness remind me of the best wide receivers I’ve seen since I’ve been doing this … [Read more...]
‘We Could Have an Outstanding Team’: Briarwood Faces a Tough Schedule but Aims for the Top With Position Switches
By Blake Ells It’s tough to find room for improvement when you’re coming off of a 14-1 season. Briarwood Christian School fell in last season’s state championship game to St. Paul’s Episcopal 17-14 when the Saints scored on a fourth down with 1:54 remaining in the game. After its third title in four years, St. Paul’s now moves to 6A because of the AHSAA’s new competitive … [Read more...]
‘The Expectations for Us Are Really High’: Homewood Has Experience in the Right Positions
By Rubin E. Grant The Homewood Patriots enter the 2018 football season with designs on making a run at the Class 6A title. In 2017, Homewood came within a minute of finishing the regular season unbeaten. Then after a thrilling comeback first-round playoff win against Fort Payne, the Patriots were eliminated in the second round by Clay-Chalkville to finish the year … [Read more...]
‘It’s All About Competing’: Bucs Staying on the Prowl for Another State Championship
By Rubin E. Grant After winning two consecutive Class 7A football championships and five state titles in the past six years, the Hoover Bucs could be excused for allowing complacency to set in. Except head coach Josh Niblett is not about to let that happen. “The key for us is to continue to be the hunter and not the hunted,” Niblett said. “It’s all about competing.” The … [Read more...]
‘We’re Excited About the Move’: Young Cavaliers Hope to Be More Competitive Moving Down to Class 5A
By Rubin E. Grant Entering his third season as John Carroll Catholic’s head football coach, Logan Colafrancesco is hoping a step down will be a step up. The Cavaliers are moving down to Class 5A after going 4-36 in four years in Class 6A, including 3-7 in 2017. John Carroll will compete in Class 5A, Area 4 along with Briarwood Christian, Fairfield, Parker, Pleasant Grove, … [Read more...]