Top 5 ATH of 2022

The athlete position is always the most difficult to project. There are some high school players that are just ballers everywhere they play - why would you want to only put them on one side of the ball?! In the college game though, these type of players have to hone in on a position they can play full time. This year’s athlete class is loaded in Alabama. Let’s dive into the top 5 athletes of 2022 in Alabama. [player_tooltip player_id="126083" first="Omari" last="Kelly"] | Hewitt-Trussville Some see him as a WR or RB, others see him as a DB. [player_tooltip player_id="126083" first="Omari" last="Kelly"] is a flat out ball player. At 6’2" 180, Kelly has a long and wiry frame with athleticism to do it all for a team. On offense, Kelly has good speed and is a fluid route runner. He can cut smoothly and catches the ball well away from his body. Kelly is a playmaker after the catch as well. His leaping ability is there too. Kelly high points the ball and come down almost every 50/50 ball. On the defensive side, Kelly is a rangy defensive back with good coverage skills. Currently listing offers from 10/14 SEC programs as well as Miami, Oklahoma, and Michigan, Kelly will have to make a big decision by the end of his senior year. Expecting this guy to be an absolute playmaker on Saturdays on either offense or defense. [player_tooltip player_id="125514" first="Antonio" last="Kite"] | Anniston A basketball player with basketball offers from UAB, Alabama, and Mississippi State, [player_tooltip player_id="125514" first="Antonio" last="Kite"] is an incredibly gifted athlete. In the football world, Kite came onto the scene last November. Since then, he has blown up and holds football offers from Alabama, Penn State, and Georgia among others. On the gridiron, Kite plays DB and WR with his future most likely being at DB. He is a long athlete with good hips and speed. Kite has good football IQ and can break on routes before the ball is even thrown. He covers a lot of ground very quickly and is a strong tackler as well. A complete football prospect, Kite will have plenty of suitors before signing day. They may even let him play basketball as well! [player_tooltip player_id="125515" first="BJ" last="Diakite"] | Pinson Valley Already committed to Vanderbilt, [player_tooltip player_id="125515" first="BJ" last="Diakite"] is an incredibly interesting prospect in Alabama. Diakite played WR and EDGE last season, a combo that doesn’t come around very often. At 6’3" 210, Diakite has the frame to add weight and play defensive line, or keep his current build and play outside linebacker. His athleticism is evident on both sides of the ball. On offense, Diakite makes multiple leaping catches over defenders and produces after the catch. On defense, he runs well and shows burst off the ball. Diakite is a violent pass rusher who can play against the run well too. This guy is set up to have a big time senior year. Vanderbilt is getting a very versatile difference maker on the defensive side of the ball early in the 2022 cycle. [player_tooltip player_id="125513" first="Caden" last="Story"] | Lanet [player_tooltip player_id="125513" first="Caden" last="Story"] was a guy that was projected to play <em>quarterback </em>as a sophomore. Last year, he was a 18 sack defensive lineman. At 6’4" 235, Story is an enormous body on the field. Story has good burst off the ball and can bend around the edge. He has tremendous strength and can bull rush tackles with ease. As a pass rusher, Story thrives. He is a sack artist and also disruptive in passing lanes. He even had a INT last year! Only reason I keep him as an athlete is because there is totally potential for him to play some tight end or something else in college. It has been amazing to watch Story grow over the years from a vertical passer to a big time defensive lineman. He lists offers from Georgia Tech, Auburn, and Florida State among many. [player_tooltip player_id="126084" first="Evan" last="Smith"] | Oak Mountain Rushing for 1,719 yard and 24 TDs while passing for 712 yards and 6 TDs, [player_tooltip player_id="126084" first="Evan" last="Smith"] was putting up video game numbers last season. This guy does it all for Oak Mountain. Playing in a triple option offense, Smith completely takes over games as the field general. As a runner, Smith is a quick twitched playmaker with the ability to make people miss in space. Smith has great speed in the open field and can kick it into another gear when he needs to score. As a passer, Smith can make accurate throws with good anticipation and touch downfield. He currently lists offers from Army, Navy, Duke, and other Group of Five schools. He will have to decide if he wants to continue playing QB or switch over to WR in the future.