Lights, Camera & Action

When the stadium lights came on across the state of Alabama, these players were ready for the action. The first game of the year set the stage for emerging stars and seasoned veterans to showcase their skills, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. There were several standout performances throughout the state and in this article, we highlight some of those.    Jackson has all of the qualities you want in a running back. The first thing you notice is his powerful legs that allow him to shred arm tackles. Jackson has a low center of gravity which prevents defenders from getting a big shot on him. Jackson showed great vision and acceleration on several big runs in week one. He finished the night with 18 rushes for 153 yards and a touchdown. Jackson also hauled in a screen pass and raced 51 yards for another score. Expect Jackson to make plays all season long for the Wildcats.     Daniel is the type of player that would be successful regardless of the era of football. Playing both linebacker and running back, the senior is a "throwback" player that brings a relentless toughness on every snap. In the Ranburne season opener, Daniel finished the night with 123 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns. Defensively, he led the Bulldog defense with 8 tackles while rarely leaving the field. Daniel is a rugged player that sets the tone for RHS on both sides of the ball.     If you're going to be involved in a shootout, it sure is nice to have a gunslinger on your side. Oxford outdueled Central-Carrollton (GA) 56-46 in their season opener. The Yellow Jackets rode the powerful arm of QB [player_tooltip player_id='495323' first='Mason' last='Mims'] to the win. The Louisville commit led his team back from a 10-point deficit on two separate occasions to move to 1-0. Mims finished the night completing 28-of-35 passes for 442 yards and 3 touchdowns. Yellow Jacket fans have grown accustomed to seeing Mims turn in stellar performances and are eager to watch him in action in 2024.     After a great junior season, Watson looks ready to continue to dominate. In 2023, Watson posted over 100 tackles including 41 stops for loss. On Friday, he looked in mid-season form, tallying 16 tackles with one in the backfield. Watson makes quick reads from his middle linebacker spot and is full speed in an instant. He also shows exceptional strength in shedding blockers to get to the football. Watson is one tough defender and Vestavia Hills' opponents will find that out this season.     When you watch film of [player_tooltip player_id='401098' first='Donovan' last='Crow'], you can't help but be impressed by [player_tooltip player_id='401098' first='Donovan' last='Crow']'s running style. Only a junior, Crow has all of the moves to elude defenders and leave them behind. His power is what sets him apart. On several plays, Crow often carries a host of defenders down the field for huge gains. He made quick work last Friday of a 61-14 win over Pinson Valley. Crow carried the ball 9 times for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns in the route. Holding an offer from the University of Minnesota, look for more programs to take notice of Crow's talent.

When the stadium lights came on across the state of Alabama, these players were ready for the action. The first game of the year set the stage for emerging stars and seasoned veterans to showcase their skills, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. There were several standout performances throughout the state and in this article, we highlight some of those.