Two players who led their teams to state championships last week at the Super 7 are making their overdue debuts in the Best in Bama, AL.com's rankings of the best high school football players in the state regardless of classification or graduating class.
Ba'Roc Willis has been on the radar of recruiters since he committed to Alabama as a sophomore. He has since re-opened his recruitment. Now a junior, Willis is turning his potential into production.
He led one of the state's most aggressive and successful defenses this year at Moody High School. The Blue Devils cruised to the Class 5A state championship with a 25-0 shutout of an explosive Vigor offense. The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Willis was a big part of that success.
He enters Best in Bama at No. 37.
Coosa Christian star Kylen Johnson makes an even higher debut at No. 31. The sophomore helped the Crusaders to the school's first state championship. Coosa Christian won the Class 2A title in the only Super 7 game that came down to the last minute.
Unfortunately, Johnson was in the injury tent when quarterback Mac Long scored the winning touchdown with 22 seconds remaining to beat Lanett. But that doesn't alter his standing as one of the top sophomores in the state.
Eight-time state championship coach Rush Propst describes his young star as one of the top 10 players he has ever coached.
"He's definitely an SEC player," Propst said of the 5-foot-9, 160-pound Johnson. "He could play nickel or slot receiver. He's got to get a little bigger, but he will. He's been a great player for us."
Every Best in Bama senior signed a college scholarship last week.
Alabama led the way by picking up five of those players. Tide signee EJ Crowell remains No. 1 on the list after eclipsing 300 rushing yards in Jackson's Class 4A championship game win.
Auburn signed three off the list, led by Jaquez Wilkes, who led Wadley into the Class 1A championship game Thursday before suffering a leg injury.
North Carolina also signed three. Florida and Mississippi State signed two each.
The other Best in Bama seniors signed with Oregon, LSU, South Carolina, Clemson, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, Miami, Wake Forest, Purdue and Ohio State.
Next up for 17 of the seasons in Best in Bama is the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic Saturday in Hattiesburg, Miss.