10 National Sleepers in Alabama

It's time to take a deep dive into the state of Alabama and uncover some prospects who are flying a bit under the radar on the national scale.    [player_tooltip player_id='1301122' first='Bryson' last='Riggins'] has done nothing but produce in his HS career, and he had his most efficient season as a junior. He is a true dual-threat QB, relying on his legs to dodge pressure and make something out of nothing. In the open field, he has the juice to make defenders miss and create his own yards. Riggins has plenty of pop in his arm, showing enough arm strength to power the ball nearly 60 yards downfield. He has a longer throwing motion and does a good job cutting through the ball to spin it into tight windows and outside the numbers. He has some horsepower on his arm, but ball placement looks to be a plus, putting it where only his receivers have a chance to make a play on the ball. Even without national love, Riggins continues to deliver and has improved each year.     [player_tooltip player_id='1669274' first='Alijah' last='Johnson'] is an athletic QB prospect with a broad multi-sport background. He broke out as a junior and still has his best football ahead of him. Johnson is a twitched-up athlete who evades pressure and can move the chains with his legs. He might project to the next level as a skill player, but he offers plenty as a passer. He has enough power in his arm to bomb the ball over safeties and outside the numbers. His off-platform skills are fantastic, delivering eye-popping throws while off-balanced with just the flick of his wrist. He can change up trajectories and throw the ball with plenty of air under it, letting his receivers settle and win over top. I will look for Johnson to become more efficient as a senior. Regardless, he is a playmaker, which will bode well for him regardless of if he sticks at QB or not.     [player_tooltip player_id='1704454' first='Jayden' last='Martin'] is a smaller scat-back who is a threat to find the endzone on every snap. He is a patient runner who squeezes lanes and steps on toes to draw tacklers in and set up cut-back opportunities. Once in space, he opens up and has the speed to consistently run away from the defense. Pinpoints and takes advantage of cut-back lanes in the second level. He makes swift jukes and cuts in the open field, often leaving defenders slipping and even running into each other. Martin is a smart runner who can create his own yards. He isn't reporting any offers yet, but he is a candidate to generate some mid-major recruiting buzz this offseason.     [player_tooltip player_id='401133' first='Omari' last='Smith'] is a small, yet explosive two-way player for Pike Road who projects long-term as a WR. He is explosive out of his stance, eliminating cushion and getting up on second-level defenders quickly. He has quick feet, which helps him deceive and separate at the top of his routes when you combine his footwork with his explosiveness. He is quick in the open field and does a good job staying vertical to take the yards available. He maximizes his catch radius by proving capable of altering his body to make unique catches and even pulling a ball in through traffic. Smith has an offer from UAB and is sure to add more this offseason.     [player_tooltip player_id='1642089' first='Justyn' last='Hartley'] is a raw EDGE prospect with most of his physical development ahead of him. He is a thin 6'2 205 with optimal space to add more point-of-attack play strength. He plays with good pursuit skills, chasing the QB out of the backfield and battling after initial losses to get back into the play. He has outstanding lateral agility and uses it to set up blockers, giving him access to both shoulders. Hartley has a high ceiling and should continue improving as he bulks up.     Colby Key is a young QB who flashed some serious playmaking potential this fall. Key has solid mechanics as a passer, navigating the pocket well, stepping into his throws, and shortening up his release to get the ball out quickly. He has solid arm strength and dispenses the ball around the field. Might not be an elite athlete, but has enough juice to extend plays and keep defenses honest. He made solid plays out on the move as a sophomore. Key plays stiff competition in Alabama and is a strong breakout candidate for next fall after a solid season as a sophomore.     [player_tooltip player_id='444725' first='CJ' last='Cowley'] is a versatile, speedy RB prospect with production across several facets of the game as a sophomore. He is a solid runner, receiver, and returner. Breakaway speed is a strength at this stage, taking advantage of openings in the return game and on outside run designs. He plays with excellent initial patience as a runner and possesses the bounce to take the play outside if nothing is open in the interior. He is a downfield receiving threat, give credit to his quick feet and motor throughout the route process to win. He will be a consistent challenge for LBs out of the backfield. Cowley has time to develop more point-of-attack strength, but he will always project as a scat back and he already has FBS offers under his belt.     [player_tooltip player_id='440308' first='Darion' last='Moseley'] just took home the state championship MVP, which will be the start of a snowball of momentum coming this offseason on the recruiting trail. Moseley has adequate size at this stage of growth and still has time to get bigger. He is a solid athlete, but his game is around creating deception and taking advantage of space as a route runner. He does a brilliant job of selling the vertical route, allowing him plenty of in-breaking opportunities when you couple that with smooth releases. He plays with outstanding spatial awareness, often making his way across the entire field while evading contact and looking the ball into his hands. Moseley has an offer from UAB, but his state championship performance elevated his stock another notch.     Branden Brown showed glimpses of being a prolific receiver as a sophomore and is someone to track closely as an upperclassman. He is absolutely on the smaller side and has plenty of room to fill out and add weight. Even then, he plays above the rim well and proves capable of contouring his body in the air to make difficult catches, maximizing his catch radius. Brown is scrappy after the catch and has quick feet, allowing him to scamper around contact and generate plenty of YAC opportunities. Brown's quickness and ability to make plays at all levels of the field as a smaller receiver will bode well for him on the recruiting trail.     [player_tooltip player_id='1700878' first='Colton' last='McIntyre'] is a shorter, yet prolific IDL prospect who produced as a senior. He plays laterally very well, moving with the flow of the offense in the run game while battling hard to shed blocks. Shorter DL prospects have to compensate with something, and I think McIntyre's compensator is his motor. He is a prolific pass rusher from his IDL spot, which you can credit to his pursuit after the QB and the speed needed to do so. McIntyre has an offer from North Alabama and I will keep tracking him to see if he adds another gear athletically.

It's time to take a deep dive into the state of Alabama and uncover some prospects who are flying a bit under the radar on the national scale.