North Birmingham Spotlight – Gardendale High School
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Featuring: Gardendale High School Rockets This week I would like to put the spotlight on the Gardendale High School rockets. The Gardendale High School football team is going through a really good season right now as it heads into the…
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Continue ReadingFeaturing: Gardendale High School Rockets
This week I would like to put the spotlight on the Gardendale High School rockets. The Gardendale High School football team is going through a really good season right now as it heads into the second round of the Alabama high school athletic association football playoffs. Gardendale High School is filled with some unbelievable talent on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively, on the field of play. Gardendale High School will take on Decatur High School in the second round of the playoffs. Gardendale High School is on track to make it to the Super 7 football state championship in Auburn, Alabama, and scouting this team reveals that the entire state is aware of how dangerous this football team is. So let’s focus on some of their high quality players as they get ready to take on the Decatur High School Red Raiders.
So let’s dive into some Alabama football!
Kelby Collins Kelby Collins 6’5″ | 250 lbs | DL Gardendale | 2023 State AL can control games, dominate offensive lines, and make a pivotal play at any time. He is super quick off the ball, with extremely quick reflexes, and takes an explosive first stride to get a jump on his blocks. His agility allows him to go quickly inside, where he can slip past interior blockers and close up on the quarterback in a second. Collin’s quickness, along with his sharp awareness and vision, allow him to weave between defenders on inside plays as well as those that are run on the outside. Understanding Collins’ strength is incredible. He has developed so much muscle mass in the past few years, and it shows on the playing field. Collins is on a mission to win a state championship, and I think he has a really good chance to lead his team to that stage this season.
— Kelby Collins (@kelby_collins) November 5, 2022
Kyle Norris
Kyle Norris
Want to talk about a phenomenal kicker in the state of Alabama? Then let’s talk about Kyle Norris. Kyle is a kicker for the Gardendale High School Rockets, and he has a super strong leg that allows him to give points to the Rockets when needed. Kyle is an excellent kicker at every level on the field. Kyle is a kicker who understands the game very well when it comes to alignment and adjusting on the fly. This kid also makes plays by tackling and honking down anyone with the ball on kickoff. Kyle currently has an offer from Culver-Stockton College, and with his ability to kick touchbacks on kickoff and 40+ yard field goals for his team, I believe he will receive many more.rn
Gardendale 10, Minor 6 | :00 2Q | Kyle Norris with the 34-yard FG as time expired in the 1st half.@GdaleHSFootball pic.twitter.com/mZVZYjETOy
— Alabama6AFootball (@AL6AFootball) October 8, 2022
Tyler Nelson Tyler Nelson 6’2″ | 165 lbs | QB Calera | 2023 State AL is a skilled athlete with an effortless style who’s really quick on his feet. Tyler He has a powerful arm and can lob a ball fairly far and with a tight spiral. By placing the ball where his teammates may turn and run, he displays precision in the short and middle areas. He frequently has excellent ball placement accuracy, directing his receivers to make catches and hitting them while running to result in significant yards after the catch. For his wideouts, Tyler typically throws a ball that is very easy to catch, which helps to create mutual respect and knowledge of each player’s style of play. This kid was such a sleeper in the state, but he has risen to the top this season with his ability to be a great quarterback. All of these factors contribute to Tyler’s current success, and I can’t wait to see where this rocket takes off in the future.
QB Tyler Nelson (Gardendale) getting those reps for the Rockets on Senior Night.@tyler_n3lson @GdaleHSFootball pic.twitter.com/PuTMpMxXXJ
— Alabama6AFootball (@AL6AFootball) October 27, 2022
J’Dyn Arrington
J’Dyn Arrington
J’Dyn’s exceptional game IQ is the first thing that sticks out about him. To break up passes, he possesses excellent feel, route awareness, anticipation, and reaction skills. J’Dyn is fast, athletic, and agile enough to run the route and prevent separation. While he is not a big defensive back, he is a powerful tackler. J’Dyn might be effective in off-man or zone coverage, and he could even line up in the slot. J’Dyn’s toughness is noticeable in run defense, as he will explode across the field and make some powerful tackles on ball carriers. For a corner who is slightly undersized, his ability to get downhill in zone coverage and deliver a big hit is impressive. This kid is a player to keep an eye on every week, and he deserves to be recognized for what he does best.
Midseason Highlights for 2023 DB J’Dyn Arrington!@JDynArrington_5
5’11” 175 lbs
23 Tackles
1 Sack#RecruitTheDale @RecruitTheDale @HSFBamerica pic.twitter.com/aJeCdNIpNh— Gardendale Football (@GdaleHSFootball) September 28, 2022
Lawson Hughes
Lawson Hughes
As an inside offensive lineman, Lawson Hughes has a lot to offer. Lawson offers excellent pass protection; he is a perfectionist with outstanding hand placement, knee bend, and leverage. Lawson has the size to go one-on-one with defensive tackles and can maintain his ground against bull rushes. He is incredibly strong, which allows him to shut down any leakage on his offensive line. Lawson is a physical player who can gain movement on the ground. He’s a nasty run blocker who will strike opponents with fast hits. Lawson appears to be powerful at the point of attack and can use his strength to drive opponents out of their gaps to create open A-gap plays. He also has a lot of patience when it comes to going up to the secondary to take on much-needed blockers in order to open up an even bigger lane for whoever is running the ball. This kid is just an all around lineman, and he is one of the top offensive linemen in my books.
— Lawson Hughes (@LawsonHughes1) August 25, 2022