There were almost as many college football recruiters wearing team-issued Polos on the sideline as there were blue-chip talents on the football field Thursday night in Semmes.
Reigning Class 4A state champion Jackson was in town to face emerging Class 7A power Mary G. Montgomery. The Aggies brought the country’s No. 1 running back in the class of 2026, E.J. Crowell, and four-star quarterback Landon Duckworth among other stars.
MGM’s roster is highlighted by Jacksonville State commits Shondell Harris and Devin Pettway. The Vikings also feature defensive lineman Kaleb Morris, who picked up a scholarship offer just this week from Auburn, among many others.
The Vikings won the first half 21-14 before the reserve players took over after a brief intermission. But the score was less important than the talented players being given a chance to showcase their abilities.
College coaches from at least 18 schools were roaming the sidelines. Those included Texas Tech, Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama (general manager Courtney Morgan and assistant head coach/running backs coach Robert Gillespie), Tulane, South Alabama, Appalachian State, Kentucky, Alabama State, Kennesaw State, Mississippi State, North Carolina, Memphis, Jacksonville State, Georgia Tech, Southern Miss, Florida State and South Carolina.
Former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn (now offensive coordinator at Florida State), former Alabama head coach Mike Shula (now offensive coordinator at South Carolina) and former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens (now offensive coordinator at North Carolina), were among the coaches there to check in on Duckworth and others.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound athlete — who is still considering Florida State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, North Carolina and Auburn — did not disappoint. He tossed a 40-yards touchdown to Isaiah Gladney. He said he has an official visit planned to Auburn in two weeks.
Crowell had a relatively quiet night, but did score on an 11-yard run.
“I’m not saying we’ll always be able to compete with teams like this, but we can right now,” said Jackson coach Cody Flournoy, whose team has played Theodore, Fairhope and MGM in spring games the last three years.
The Aggies rolled to 14 straight wins last year after a close opening loss at Saraland. Jackson opens next season with games against Saraland, Demopolis, Escambia County and Baker.
Crowell wore Alabama sweatbands on both wrists.
“I like just about everything about Alabama,” he said. Crowell is also considering Texas, Auburn, Florida State and Georgia.
Defensive back Jamarrion Gordon, a former commit of Alabama and UCF, said he likes Florida State the most, but is still planning to visit Ole Miss, Florida and North Carolina.
Wide receiver Keeyun Chapman has official visits set up for North Carolina, Florida State, USC and Georgia Tech.
Morris is a 6-4, 250-pound interior defensive lineman for Mary G. Montgomery. His stock is rising quickly, as evidenced by his recent Auburn offer.
“That was a big offer because it’s in state and it’s a big-time program,” Morris said. “I’d like to be part of their program.”
Morris has long been recruited by programs such as Houston, Memphis, Mississippi State, Georgia Tech, Tulane and Oklahoma State.
“A lot of schools are starting to reach out now,” he said.