Rising Stars- Prospects Heating up on the Recruiting Trail!

Our state is filled with exciting talent year after year, today, we are checking out some of the prospects whose recruitments have seriously opened up recently!    [player_tooltip player_id='1337985' first='Dylan' last='Purter'] is a really talented defensive back out of Booker T. Washington that has quickly become one of the top DBs in the state's 2026 class. Standing at 6'2 175, Purter has great size at the position that allows him to play with a ton of physicality. Purter plays some seriously tough-to-beat coverage at every level of the field- he uses his size, speed, and hands to frequently blanket over receivers, bait quarterbacks, and break up passes. In addition to his abilities out in coverage, Purter has the ability to make some plays against the run as well. He does a great job tracking the ball carrier and utilizes his speed to cross the field and rack up tackles. Last fall, Purter had himself a really sophomore season where he totaled up 51 total tackles (5 for loss), 4 pass breakups, 4 fumble recoveries. With that kind of play and production, Purter has become a rising star throughout the state. He's picked up offers from Troy, Missouri, and Auburn all within the last few weeks!     [player_tooltip player_id='1337992' first='Xavier' last='Starks'] is a really exciting defensive back prospect out of Clay-Chalkville that has put a ton of great tape together, especially in his sophomore season last fall. Starks is a hybrid safety who makes a ton of big plays against the run and pass. On tape, Starks demonstrates how much of an instinctual player he is- he does a great job reading and reacting to opposing offenses and is always in the right spot to impact plays. In coverage, Starks does a great job not biting on play fakes, can pick off and jar passes free, and consistently delivers big hits to the pass catcher should they reel any passes in. Against the run, Starks does not shy away from contact, has great pursuit, and wraps up the ball carrier really well. Starks has played and produced at a really high level and had a terrific sophomore year that has allowed for his recruitment to really open up. He has recently picked up offers from Marshall, Mississippi State, Arkansas, and more! Keep an eye on him this fall, he's a dynamic player in Clay-Chalkville's secondary and is set for a huge junior season!     [player_tooltip player_id='1337998' first='Armari' last='Towns'] is a really athletic wide receiver prospect out of Hoover that has quickly risen in our 2026 Rankings due to his play last season. Towns is a huge physical target out on the field, standing at 6'6 220, Towns physically outmatches nearly every defensive back in the state and can dominate opposing secondaries. Frequently on tape Towns uses his size to his advantage- he can highpoint the ball, rip away passes from defensive backs, and can plow and play through contact when defenders are trying to take him down. It's also impressive watching how well Towns can run routes and separate at his size, he has a great burst off the line, quick feet, and is able to really accelerate when he gets the ball in his hands. Towns has seen his recruitment really take off over the last few months, he's recently picked up offers from Marshall, Troy, and West Georgia in just the last few weeks. Keep an eye on him going forward, he's a fast-rising star in the state and is bound to make a ton of plays this upcoming season!     [player_tooltip player_id='401133' first='Omari' last='Smith'] is a super quick wide receiver out of Pike Road that's been able to make a ton of big plays in their passing attack. Smith is a smaller wide receiver that provides a terrific deep threat for their offense. He has a tremendous amount of speed and acceleration that allow him to both quickly beat defenders downfield and cause a ton of damage after the catch with how elusive and shifty he is. Smith had a really productive sophomore season last fall where he really developed great chemistry with his quarterback Cason Meyers. It's been really exciting watching Smith's development over the last few years, and teams at the next level are starting to notice his potential. In the last few months, Smith has racked up offers from from Appalachian State and UAB. Keep an eye on him going forward, we could definitely see that list grow some more!

Our state is filled with exciting talent year after year, today, we are checking out some of the prospects whose recruitments have seriously opened up recently!