All Out Blitz with Brett Pritchard

07/01/2022

06/17/2022

Recruiting update: Parker trio impresses, Elba RB gets Bama offer, more

By Dennis Victory

A trio of Parker players have picked up several college football recruiting offers during the offseason.

Jeremiah Beaman, Khalifa Keith and Roderick Campbell each has Division 1 offers.

Beaman has been hot during recent recruiting visits, announcing a Clemson offer on Monday.

The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Beaman is a 4-star recruit with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State and Tennessee in the SEC along with Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State, UAB and more.

The junior defensive lineman had 41 tackles last season, including eight tackles-for-loss and six sacks.

Keith also has several offers heading into his senior season, including Kentucky, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Memphis, UAB and more for the 6-2, 217-pound running back.

The 3-star Keith ran for 1,877 yards and 27 touchdowns last season and earned second team all-state and was also second team in the Birmingham Region.

Unrated Campbell, a 6-2, 295-pound defensive lineman, has offers from Arizona and Samford.

RELATED: Thompson DL sets commitment date

Thompson 4-star senior offensive lineman Stanton Ramil recently announced his top eight of 33 Division 1 offers.

The 6-7, 310-pound Ramil narrowed the list to Auburn, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Clemson, Penn State, Michigan State, North Carolina and Pittsburg.

Elba running back Alvin Henderson recently announced an offer from Alabama to go along with more than 40 others.

The 5-10, 190-pound sophomore also has offers from SEC schools Auburn, Arkansas, Georgia, Ole Miss, Tennessee and Texas A&M along with Penn State, Miami, Notre Dame, Texas and more.

Sophomore offensive lineman Jourdin Crawford of Jackson-Olin picked up an offer from LSU. The 6-2, 280-pound offensive lineman also has offers from Michigan, Oklahoma, Central Florida and Georgia Tech.

Julius Lane of Pike Road picked up an offer from Mississippi State. The 5-8, 140-pound sophomore also has an offer from West Virginia.

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06/17/2022

Eufaula High turns to hometown hero Jerrel Jernigan as its next head coach

By Ben Thomas | [email protected]
Eufaula hired hometown hero Jerrel Jernigan to be its next head football coach Tuesday night.

Jernigan replaces Ed Rigby, who left to take the Pike Road job.

“We’ve gone outside for our last couple of coaches,” Eufaula City Schools superintendent Joey Brannan said. “It was time to look internally and, luckily, we had a candidate we felt really good about.”

Jernigan, who turned 33 on Tuesday, has coached wide receivers at Eufaula since 2015. He starred as a quarterback for the Tigers, leading Eufaula to the 2006 Class 5A state title game. He also lettered in basketball and baseball before going on to an All-Sun Belt football career at Troy.

“This is really a dream come true,” said Jernigan, who is celebrating his birthday in Los Angeles this week. “I’m from Eufaula. I played quarterback there. I’ve been on the staff for six years. Being named head coach feels really good.”

Jernigan moved from quarterback to wide receiver at Troy and accumulated nearly 6,000 yards receiving from 2007-2010. He was inducted into the Troy Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Wiregrass Sports Hall of Fame in 2018.

He was drafted by the Giants in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft and played for New York from 2011-2014 before beginning his coaching career at his alma mater.

“We think Jerrel has the opportunity to do good things and bring our community and people together,” Brannan said. “He’s just a good fit. I understand that he is young, but we feel like he has the potential to get us where we want to go.”

Jernigan said one of his primary goals will be packing the stadium again on Friday nights in Eufaula.

“One of my biggest memories of high school was the crowd,” he said. “We’ve got to get back to where that stadium is packed every night. When I played, attendance was off the charts. It’s on me to get in the community and get the boys out there. Of course, we have to give them something to watch, get some excitement going.”

The fans had plenty to watch in Jernigan’s final two years at Eufaula.

The Tigers were 11-1 in 2005, only losing at Benjamin Russell in the second round of the 5A playoffs. In 2006, the team won its first 14 games before losing 10-7 to Athens in the championship game.

Jernigan still remembers a 28-6 win over UMS-Wright at home in the state semifinals.

“I had three touchdowns in that game,” he said. “I think the first play in the second half I went about 65 yards and that kind of put us in control of the game. We also had a goal line stand at the end of the first half, which was big.”

Eufaula has been to the playoffs every year since 1997. However, the team hasn’t advanced past the second round since Jernigan’s senior year. The Tigers were 5-6 in 2021, losing at eventual 6A state runner-up Hueytown in the first round.

They have talent returning this fall, including Alabama commit Yhonzae Pierre on the defensive line and top recruit Patrick Screws on the offensive line.

“We’ve got some players, but it’s about putting the right pieces in the puzzle,” Jernigan said. “It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be a grind.”

Jernigan said first on his agenda will be putting his staff together. He said players have been texting him, excited about the news.

However, he had a cautionary note for them.

“The thing they don’t understand is we are about to get to work when I get back,” he said. “We are going to play a physical, smashmouth, spread-the-field type football. On defense, we are going to get the physical back. We are going to fly around and knock the heck out of people.”

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06/17/2022

5-star DL Peter Woods sets commitment date

By Nick Alvarez | [email protected]

A longtime Alabama target and expected 2023 signee has announced a commitment date. Peter Woods, one of Thompson’s 5-star defenders, will reveal his choice on July 8th at 6:45 P.M.

After previously releasing his top-four in March, Woods appears to have swapped out Oklahoma for Jackson State. The Deion Sanders-led program joins Florida, Clemson and Alabama as Woods’ finalists. Woods, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound wrecking ball, had 92 tackles, including 11 sacks, in Thompson’s third-straight AHSAA championship season.

247Sports composite lists Woods as the nation’s 23rd-ranked player and fourth-best in Alabama. Woods and his teammate, No. 2 cornerback Toni Mitchell, are both predicted to choose the Crimson Tide via the site’s Crystal Ball predictions.

Woods took an official visit to Billy Napier’s burgeoning program in Gainesville last weekend. Earlier this month, Woods went to Clemson. He’s said in the past due to his popularity with Alabama and its campus, Woods would unlikely take an official visit before his commitment.

Woods spent his birthday at Tuscaloosa this past spring and has multiple teammates currently with the Crimson Tide: Jeremiah Alexander and Trequon Fegans, to name the 2022 recruits. Alabama currently has four commits, two of which are in-state talents: five-star defensive back Jahlil Hurley and four-star defensive end Yhonzae Pierre. The 2023 list rounds out with four-star safety Elliot Washington and eighth-ranked quarterback Eli Holstein.

06/17/2022

06/17/2022

Former Baker softball star will replace legendary coach Tony Scarbrough

By Ben Thomas | [email protected]

Meghan Trehern has her dream job.

But there is one big challenge: following in the footsteps of a legend.

Trehern was introduced Monday afternoon as the new Baker High softball coach. She follows her high school coach, Hall of Famer Tony Scarbrough, in the position.

“I don’t think you can ever step into those shoes and fill them,” Trehern said. “What he has done for the game of softball in the area and the state, especially fast pitch … I don’t know how anyone can attempt to do that. What I can do is try my best to continue to represent what he stood for here. If I can be half the coach he is, I think I’ll be doing a great job.”

The 72-year-old Scarbrough announced he was stepping down last month after 1,694 wins, seven state titles and 36 years leading the Honeybees. He has yet to announce his next step.

Trehern, then Meghan Wallace, played for Scarbrough at Baker from 2003-2007. The Honeybees won three state titles during that time.

“I’m just super excited,” she told AL.com. “I played at Baker, graduated from here, played for Coach. To try to continue this tradition of excellence is a dream come true. This is a dream job, and I’m excited to tackle it head on.”

After playing for Baker, Trehern was a member and captain of the Faulkner State softball team. Her first softball head coaching job came at Class 7A, Area 1 rival Alma Bryant from 2013-2019.

“I learned how to truly run a program there,” she said. “Coach (Scarbrough) taught me as a player how to have a detailed practice and not waste any time. At Bryant, I learned how to balance the administration side as well.”

Trehern left Alma Bryant when her husband took a job in Louisiana. They returned to Mobile in January, and Trehern began work at Baker as a teacher.

“We decided on Meghan because she checked all the boxes of what we were looking for in our next head coach,” Baker athletic director Daniel Kertis said. “She has head coaching experience and was very successful while doing so. She is familiar with the Baker community. As an alumni and former player, she knows what it takes to win here and how to connect with our parents and students.

“Meghan played for coach Scarbrough. She understands what his legacy to this place is. She will do a tremendous job honoring that legacy and continuing the traditions that have come to define Baker Honeybee softball. The administration could not be happier to welcome Ccoach Trehern, her husband Austin and son Bennett back to Baker. We are very excited to see what the future of Honeybee Softball holds.”

Trehern said the key to sustaining Baker’s winning tradition is continuing to create a culture of positive player development.

“It’s about the person, not just the player, and developing them as a future member of society,” she said. “That is something coach Scarbrough definitely did. We need to get people ready for the real world when they step outside the lines.”

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06/17/2022

Hartselle senior named Gatorade state softball Player of the Year

By AL.com Reports

Hartselle’s Larissa Preuitt was announced today as the 2022 Gatorade Alabama softball Player of the Year.

Preuitt is Hartselle’s first Gatorade state softball Player of the Year.

The award recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.

The 5-foot-7 senior helped the Class 6A Tigers (51-9-1) to the North Regional playoffs.

Alabama signee Preuitt batted .552 with 13 triples, 7 home runs, 60 RBI, 103 runs scored and 86 stolen bases. A three-time All-State selection, she’s ranked as the nation’s No. 14 prospect in the Class of 2022 by Extra Inning Softball.

“Larissa Preuitt is a stud,” said Sparkman coach Lindsay Vanover, “She is legit on all sides of her game—offense, defense, speed and knowledge of the game.”

Preuitt has maintained a 3.80 GPA in the classroom and participated on a service-mission trip to Guatemala, served as a bible studies instructor and has volunteered locally on behalf of the Night to Shine organization.

The Hartselle center fielder is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Softball Player of the Year award to be announced later in June,

Preuitt has the opportunity to award a $1,000 grant to a local or national organization of their choosing that helps young athletes realize the benefits of playing sports. She’s also eligible to submit a short video explaining why the organization they chose is deserving of one of twelve $10,000 spotlight grants,

Recent Gatorade state Players of the Year include Spain Park’s Annabelle Widra (2021), Pickens Academy’s Shelby Lowe (2020), Holtville’s Kaylyn Dismukes (2019) and Brantley’s Leanna Johnson (2018).

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06/17/2022

Dale Pruitt is back – again – as head football coach at Plainview

By Mike Perrin | [email protected]

You can go home again – and again – at least, if you’re veteran football coach Dale Pruitt.

For the third time, Pruitt has taken the reins as the head coach at Plainview High in Rainsville. The 65-year-old was hired on June 3. He is a Plainview graduate who coached the Bears from 1984-2000 and from 2006-2014.

In 26 years as the Plainview boss, Pruitt compiled a 214-94 record. In 38 years as a head coach, he is 307-152. The Jacksonville State graduate also had two coaching stops at Marion County (Tenn.) High, where he was 9-2 in 2021, and was head coach at Pisgah, Fort Payne, Albertville and Dade County, Ga.

Pruitt is re-taking the Plainview job that was held by one of his former inside linebackers at his alma mater, Nick Ledbetter, who has moved into an administrative post.

“Somebody asked me, ‘How did Rainsville treat you the two times you were there?’ I said, ‘I’ve been able to coach both of my sons and one grandson and all three played quarterback and they didn’t fire me.’ I know people who coached their sons who played quarterback and got fired,” Pruitt said.

Pruitt said he and his wife, Melissa, had remained in Rainsville while he coached at Marion the past two seasons. “I’ve been driving an hour one-way,” he said, “and with the price of gasoline and at my age, I just thought this was a chance to stay home. I’m excited.

“To be totally truthful, I know less about Plainview football now than I’ve known in 40 years. I never thought, even though I live in Rainsville, that I’d be back this time.”

Pruitt said he told his former players at Marion County on Friday before meeting with his Plainview squad Friday night. “We worked out on Monday,” he said. “We’ve hit the ground running.”

Pruitt said in four of the past five places he has coached, a member of his staff was hired to replace him. “I felt like I was accomplishing something if I was able to help others,” he said.

The two sons he coached at Plainview – Jeremy and Luke – have also had their success as coaches. Jeremy worked at Hoover and was defensive coordinator for Nick Saban at the University of Alabama before being hired as head coach at Tennessee. Most recently, he was on the New York Giants staff. Luke is head coach at Pisgah, where he has led the Eagles to three playoff berths in four seasons. Pisgah is also where Dale started his head-coaching career.

“Luke was my defensive coordinator at one time and my offensive coordinator at one time,” Pruitt said.

His daughter, Leah Traylor, teaches elementary school.

“My wife, Melissa, and I have been married for a little short of 50 years,” he said. “She’s had to raise the kids and do all that kind of stuff. She’s hung in there pretty good.

“Football has been a whole lot better to us than we have been to football,” Pruitt said. “We’ve been able to go places and watch things that not a lot of people from the state of Alabama can see. We were able to go to the Rose Bowl twice and my son (Jeremy) was part of a group that won the national championship. I was able to stand in the middle of that field with him. It was the same thing at Atlanta and at the Sugar Bowl.

“We’ve had a great run. My kids love the sport. That’s pretty much what we do.”

Other coaching moves

In other coaching news, Albertville defensive coordinator Josh Reeves will be a defensive line coach at Hoover with new coach Wade Waldrop, according to the Sand Mountain Reporter.

The paper also reported that Crossville head football coach Josh Taylor resigned for an assistant’s post at Spain Park.

Albertville also lost an assistant basketball coach as Bryant O’Donnell took over at Ardmore as head coach.

Two Birmingham metro soccer coaches have retired – Chelsea girls coach Jonathan Hammett and Hoover boys coach Kris Keplinger. Hammett won two state championships at Chelsea. Keplinger won three titles at Shades Valley and one at Hoover.

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06/17/2022

AHSAA Team Basketball Camp Set for Finley Center June 16-18

MONTGOMERY – The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA), and the Alabama Association of Basketball Coaches are excited to announce its upcoming NCAA Certified Recruiting Team Camp in conjunction with the NFHS and NCAA.
The camp is scheduled for June 16-18 at the Finley Center in Hoover. Girls’ teams will play on June 16-17 and boys’ teams will play on June 17-18. Each registered team is guaranteed a minimum two (2) games. Deadline for registration was May 1.
AHSAA Assistant Director Devin Booth reports 101 boys’ high school varsity teams and 65 girls’ varsity teams have registered – including several schools that won AHSAA state championships in 2022. Among the defending state champions are: (Boys) Cullman (6A) and Plainview (3A); (Girls) Hoover (7A), Hazel Green (6A), Guntersville (5A), Prattville Christian (3A) and Pisgah (2A). Prattville Christian will be moving to Class 4A next season. All AHSAA member schools were eligible to participate in this NCAA event.
In conjunction with the team camp, the AABC will host a series of girls’ and boys’ all-star games during the event. AHSAA is also conducting an officials’ camp during the showcase with more than 200 contest officials expected to attend.
“We are very excited about the interest our schools are showing for this event,” said Booth. “This is a great learning opportunity for our coaches, teams, and officials. Plus, it will provide great exposure for our student-athletes.”
NCAA Division I men’s coaches can attend the event beginning Friday June 17, she said. Other Divisions can attend the entire event. The NCAA Division I women’s coaches are in a dead period. All other divisions as well as NAIA and junior college coaches, are eligible to attend.
The team game schedule will be posted at www.ahsaa.com by June 14. The event is open to the public. Advance tickets are $12.00 and are available for purchase through GOFAN beginning June 10 through midnight, June 15. Beginning June 16, tickets must be purchased at the door of the Finley Center. The Finley Center will accept cash, card, or your prepaid GOFAN ticket.
For more information, contact Booth at [email protected].

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06/17/2022

Dean, who served for 22 years, was first elected to the Commission in 2000 and was re-elected five straight times.

06/11/2022

Caleb Brooks is joined by Kaden Heatherly from the Chelsea High School Baseball team who was a key part in helping them reach the 3rd round of the 6A Playoff...

06/10/2022

Satsuma football coach Ray Nelson steps down after 4 seasons

By Ben Thomas | [email protected]

Ray Nelson has stepped down as head football coach at Satsuma High School.

The former Theodore High and Samford University quarterback told AL.com on Tuesday it was time to hit the “reset button.”

“It was a tough decision, no doubt,” Nelson said. “I talked myself in and out of it several times, but I can’t have any regrets. I’m thankful for the time I had there, and we will see what is next.”

Nelson went 15-25 in four seasons with the Gators. Satsuma went 6-4 in 2019, then made the Class 5A playoffs for just the fifth time in school history in 2020 with a 4-6 record. The Gators slumped to 1-9 a year ago.

“This job has been a blessing to me,” Nelson said. “I’m forever grateful that I was given this chance to be a head coach. We had some good times, made it to the playoffs. Obviously, last year was a rough season with 22 seniors having graduated and 6-7 players who could have helped moving on. But this decision had nothing to do with the players or the community. It was about me personally, my health mentally and physically and the ability to take another step. I felt like, in my heart, it was time for everyone to hit the reset button.”

Nelson said he would like to be a head coach again, though he didn’t expect that to happen this fall. He does expect to coach somewhere in 2022.

“I love football, love coaching, love investing in young people,” he said. “I will coach again whether it is a head coach or offensive coordinator or whatever. I am going to step back and evaluate things I’ve done as a head coach. Sometimes, you have to take one step back to take two forward. I look forward to seeing what is next.”

Satsuma promoted Nelson from defensive coordinator to head coach in 2018 following Justin Thomas’ resignation.

Nelson was Class 6A Back of the Year as a senior at Theodore when he led Joe Downey’s Bobcats to an 11-1 record in 2000. He also played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.

He moved on to Samford where he played quarterback for four years and was captain of the team. He was the school’s all-time leader in passing yards until Devlin Hodges passed him four years ago. Nelson played briefly in the Arena Football League before returning to Mobile to begin his coaching career.

He spent four years at his alma mater as an assistant and two at Vigor before joining Thomas at Satsuma.

“We were a little surprised, but obviously he’s been doing it a number of years,” Satsuma athletic director Steve Cochran said. “In coach Nelson’s comments to me, this is something he had prayed about and done some soul searching. He just didn’t feel like it was a good fit at Satsuma right now.”

Since January, Satsuma City Schools has a new superintendent, principal and chief financial officer. Cochran said Nelson’s job has been posted, and Satsuma hopes to move quickly to find a replacement.

“It’s a tough situation for our kids,” Cochran said. “He loved the kids, and they loved him. I have a lot of respect for coach Nelson and wish him the best whatever he decides to do.”

Cochran said Satsuma has a weight lifting plan through June, and two assistants will run the program. He said the school hopes to move quickly enough in hiring a new coach that an interim coach does not have to be named.

There are currently four football head coaching positions currently open in Mobile County. In addition to Satsuma, MCPSS schools Murphy, Williamson and Vigor are also in coaching transition. Markus Cook as been the interim coach at Vigor.

The Mobile County Board of School Commissioners will hold a special-called meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday to consider personnel items. It is unknown whether the Vigor, Murphy or Williamson positions will be on that agenda.

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06/10/2022

Saraland 2025 WR Ryan Williams could be ‘as good as anyone in the country’

By Ben Thomas | [email protected]

Saraland wide receiver Ryan Williams has three years left in high school.

However, coach Jeff Kelly already knows his potential is unlimited.

“I think when it’s said and done in a couple of years, he will be as good as anyone in the country,” Kelly said on Sports Talk 99.5 FM in Mobile recently. “If he keeps his head down and works hard, he has a lot of good ball in front of him.”

As a freshman a year ago, Williams caught 36 passes for 373 yards and 4 TDs. He was second on the team in receptions behind only West Virginia signee Jarel Williams.

“They are different types of players,” Kelly said in comparing the two. “Jarel had a little more height and had great body control. Jarel was a guy who could surprise you. He might have looked like he wasn’t running fast but could run by you.

“Ryan is a little quicker off the ball, getting separation from the snap. He’s able to do a lot of different things. We put him at quarterback last year in some shotgun situations. You can do a lot of different things with him. He is kind of a cross between (former Saraland stars) Velus (Jones) and Cordale (Flott). But, again, I think when he is finished, we will be looking back and comparing others to Ryan.”

The 6-foot-2, 165-pound Williams, who already has committed to the 2025 Under Armour All-American Game, also rushed 11 times for 159 yards and 3 TDs in 2021.

He has received a lot of college attention this spring. His offers already include Louisville, Arkansas, South Florida, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, UAB, Arkansas State, Michigan and Tennessee.

He plans to visit Ole Miss this weekend.

“Ryan is just a young guy,” Kelly said. “He has a year under his belt with us, and it was really his first year playing receiver. He’s so electric. He’s fun to watch with the ball in his hands. I think he has just scratched the surface on how good he can be. He’s an outstanding young man and a great student on top of being athletically gifted obviously.”

Saraland opens the 2022 season at Daphne on Aug. 19.

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06/10/2022

Veteran coach Hugh Fountain changes mind, will not take Pike Liberal job

By Ben Thomas | [email protected]

Veteran coach Hugh Fountain will not lead the Pike Liberal Arts football team after all.

Fountain was announced as the school’s new coach and athletic director just last week.

However, in a statement, PLA head of school Eric Burkett said Fountain “had chosen not to fulfill his contract” and “is no longer athletic director or head football coach.”

The Troy Messenger was the first to report the news.

Burkett said Fountain called him over the weekend to inform him of the decision. He said Rush Hixon, who led the football team to a state title on an interim basis late last fall, and the rest of the staff would continue workouts as scheduled.

Fountain did not immediately return a phone call or text message from AL.com. Burkett said Fountain told him he would not return due to another opportunity closer to his family. He said Fountain had signed a five-year contract with the school.

Pike Liberal is transitioning from the Alabama Independent School Association to the Alabama High School Athletic Association this fall, though the football team will not be eligible for the playoffs for two seasons.

Fountain spent the last 10 years at Escambia Academy. He went 94-31 at the school, winning AISA titles in 2014 and 2017 and making the last six state title games. The Cougars were 11-2 in 2021, losing to Autauga Academy in the AA title game.

Fountain has a 253-133 record in 35 years as a head coach. He spent one year at Evergreen, seven years at W.S. Neal and 16 years at Charles Henderson. He won 106 games at Charles Henderson and led the team to the playoffs 10 times.

“Pike Liberal Arts will continue to pursue excellence in all areas with academics being our largest priority and athletics being an important cornerstone of our Christian-based educational experience,” Burkett said in his statement.

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06/10/2022

On Episode 15 of the AHSAA Podcast Caleb Brooks is joined by Gulf Shores High School Head Baseball Coach Chris Jacks as they discuss how he has brought Gulf ...

06/08/2022

Congratulations to Anthony Eager from McGILL-TOOLEN CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL for being named the AHSAA Athlete of the Week! Sponsored by Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center