10 of Alabama's Best Kept Secrets

My favorite part about my role with Prep Redzone is uncovering some of the hidden gems in my territory, and often before anybody else in the industry. Here, I highlight 10 of the best-kept secrets in Alabama. Some of these guys won't be secrets for long.    Jayden Young is an undersized, yet feisty edge defender with plenty of physical upside. Young is extremely explosive off the snap, quickly shooting gaps and using his thin frame to slip by blockers. His play strength will have to improve, especially against the run, but he battles hard and strikes with power. He is a nimble, flexible athlete with some bend. Pair that with his explosiveness and speed, and you have a prototype speed rusher, especially if he can add 20-30 pounds of good weight.     Jarius Barnes is a raw blend of speed and power that wears a lot of hats for Selma. He projects at DE, but he takes reps on offense and even handles punting duties. Barnes is naturally strong, winning at the point of attack with leverage and violent hands. He has solid closing speed and a high motor, flagging down the football from across the field and sending the QB in chase mode. He plays well in traffic jams, keeping his feet anchored to the ground and holding his own as he battles for footing. Barnes is a true senior sleeper. From a size and athleticism standpoint, Barnes is more than worthy of college attention.     Kendariys Reynolds holds a few D1 offers, but he is still a sleeper on the national level and could generate some P4 buzz before his junior season concludes. He is a bit of a tweener, coming in at 6'3 190 and playing at the LB spot. He has the speed and athleticism to play DB, but it's more likely that he fills out and sticks at LB. Reynolds plays with just 1 speed, fast. From the snap, he dissects plays well and fires like a missile from his stance into the backfield. He arrives with force at the ball carrier and uses his length to wrap tackle. In coverage, he is fast and long, which allows him to cloud passing lanes over the middle of the field. Athletically, Reynolds lands a P4 grade. Now, he just has to add more play strength and mature physically.   *Reynolds now plays at Carver Montgomery*     [player_tooltip player_id='681628' first='Colton' last='Moore'] is a well-rounded LB prospect with a solid blend of power and athleticism. He is listed at 6'2 215 and possesses the weight and play strength to hold his own against blockers and thump between the tackles. He plays with good instincts and plays flat along the LOS exceptionally well, reacting to the flow of the offense and taking fantastic angles to the football. He has good speed for a second-level defender and shows it off by running sideline to sideline to patrol the field and limit big gains. Moore can make plays in the box thanks to his patience and reactionary skills. He can also make plays across the field thanks to his speed and motor. He does both things very well. He grades out as an FBS LB prospect.     Andarius McClain is a violent pursuer of the football with a basketball background, which indicates natural athleticism. He is explosive out of his stance and meets blockers with aggression. His main move is to attempt to run right through blockers, when that fails, he will battle with his hands and steer off blocks by any means necessary. His angles to the ball carrier could be more consistent, but he arrives quickly and violently to the football. McClain is a 6'4 225 basketball athlete with some aggression in his game. For those reasons alone, he is someone worthy of college attention.     Crishon Overton is the classic example of a good athlete playing QB. When the play breaks down, he has the wheels needed to evade pressure and keep plays alive. In the open field, he can dance around would-be tacklers and carry away from defenders. He has plenty of juice in his arm. He can throw the fastball, putting it on a rope over the middle of the field and to the flats. Now, Overton will just need to continue adding touch and harness some of the traits he is gifted with. With two years of HS development left in the tank, Overton has late-bloomer potential.     [player_tooltip player_id='1646764' first='Bryson' last='Sanderson'] is a big, athletic youngster with his best football ahead of him. He measures in around 6'5 300 and is still in the infancy stages of his growth. He will have to refine some twitchy movements, but he moves very well for his age and size. He is light on his feet, allowing him to shift in front of rushers and keep the action in front of him. He gets out to the second level with ease, where his mass and strength do the rest by eliminating smaller defenders. He is more refined as a run blocker at this stage, but he is difficult to run around and is balanced in his pass set. Sanderson is a secret for now, but won't be for long. I expect him to generate some FBS buzz, especially as he performs at a higher level of classification.     Deacon Dyer will be part of the next wave of notable QB prospects in Alabama. He is a breakout candidate this fall for Gardendale. He produced mostly as a runner during his freshman season. He is an impressive athlete, doubling as a basketball player. He is very stout and explosive, allowing him to stay on his feet as he creates yards in the short areas. In the open field, he puts his acceleration on display, building away from defenses. He is still developing as a passer, but he flashed some impressive off-platform and on-the-move passing skills, which require both athleticism and arm talent. Dyer will generate D1 buzz over the course of his career.     Demetrius Terrell is a stout, heavy-handed, aggressive youngster set to contribute this fall. He takes most of his reps at RT, where I believe he projects. He is athletic and lightfooted enough to size up rushers and stall their pursuit of the QB. He is noticeably strong in the hands, steering defenders to the turf when he gets his hands on their chest. In the open field, he is an impact-style blocker, driving his helmet into the chest of defenders and often decleating them. He blocks through the whistle, frequently finishing blocks through the turf. Terrell has a unique blend of athleticism and violence, not to mention he still has a few years of physical growth ahead of him. Terrell is another guy who should pick up FBS buzz during his HS career.     Despite his young age, Courtney Maxwell looks like a college offensive lineman. He is well-built and carries his weight well. He also looks plenty long in the arms. He might not have the finesse to play LT, but he can step in front of rushers and is bendy enough to gather his footing and stall rushers. For that reason, he is bull-rush proof. His pass set is clean, settling down and using his length to catch pass rushers. At the very least, Maxwell will be able to move people off the ball and keep running lanes clean. Maxwell should generate FBS attention.

My favorite part about my role with Prep Redzone is uncovering some of the hidden gems in my territory, and often before anybody else in the industry. Here, I highlight 10 of the best-kept secrets in Alabama. Some of these guys won't be secrets for long.