The best from the fertile recruiting states of Alabama and Mississippi took part in the 2024 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game week in Mobile over the last week and Rivals was on hand for most of the action.
National recruiting analysts John Garcia, Jr. and Sam Spiegelman look back on some of the most memorable performances from future college stars on hand.
MR. CONSISTENCY
Sure, Lacey was the MVP of the game on Saturday with another impressive performance from the three-time state finalist. But during the week the Texas signee built up a string of practices that almost led to that type of expectation. He has great arm talent and mobility inside and out of the pocket, but it’s his feel for buying that much more time or loading up for a third-level ball that makes him special. The off-script game is elite and the use of multiple arm angles relative to the situation is another clear strength of Lacey’s that is all but undeniable at this stage. But even when things were clean, the future Longhorn was able to stand tall and deliver accurate and catchable spirals all week long.
THE FUTURE
With all high-level quarterbacks, the development year-to-year is imperative. Deuce Knight continued to elevate his game over the off-season, which led to a stellar senior season at Lucedale (Miss.) George County culminating with an MVP performance for the Mississippi All-Star squad in Mobile. Knight is a terrific decision-maker with immense arm talent and extraordinary athletic traits. Through multiple in-person evaluations, the Auburn signee has been able to take over games in critical downs and distances effectively. Knight is poised and has developed into a fantastic passer capable of ripping throws to multiple levels of the field and delivering passes with touch and timing. The future Auburn Tiger possesses the threat of running the football and extending plays outside the pocket. At 6-foot-4 and 190 pounds, Knight’s mobility and ability to make out-of-structure plays is an X-factor that will haunt defensive coordinators in the SEC for years to come.
THE PLAYMAKER
You may hear from him before you see him flash, but the latter is inevitable. Fegans worked out at safety, nickel and even cornerback during the week and seemingly made plays regardless. In between tipping off the defense to what was coming and high-energy trash talk, Fegans showed a true nose for being in the right place at the right time, making considerable plays at the catch point. A movable piece for a defensive coordinator at the next level at Auburn, the senior fittingly capped the week with a late interception during the all-star game itself. Fegans could be the safest bet to make a strong impact as a freshman on the Plains despite the gaudy defensive class brought in by Hugh Freeze and company this cycle.
BUY ALL THE STOCK YOU CAN
Those in the area have been praising the potential of the long and rangy Smith dating back to when he was a freshman in high school, and the flashes were always there. It continued into his upperclassman years, but now those head-turning moments are registering at a much higher clip off of the edge. Smith showed plenty this week against several future Power 4 offensive linemen, not just as a speed or flashy edge rusher either. The Auburn-bound rusher used better leverage and power than he is often given credit for, even dropping an SEC-bound blocker to his tail en route to the passer on one rep. When it did come time to win pass-rushing reps, Smith showed advanced hand technique and some smooth inside moves to counter the speed expectation.
FRANCHISE TACKLE
Four-star OL Carde Smith was a major stock-riser after a live evaluation midway through his senior season at Mobile (Ala.) Williamson. The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder has continued to check boxes during his final high school season and again at the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game. Smith saw reps at both tackle spots and certainly found a rhythm working on the right side. The Colorado signee won with finesse and was fluid dropping back in pass sets and playing with leverage. Smith is bendy and has excellent feet, and it showed in pass pro and run-blocking. The Rivals250 offensive tackle should build out his frame to north of 300 pounds and compete for early playing time up front when he arrives in Boulder in a few weeks.
LIVED UP TO THE NICKNAME
“Turbo” is a heck of a nickname for an offensive skill player to possess, but most in the state and beyond continue to refer to the future Ohio State back as just that. The speed is clear, but it’s the acceleration that has Rogers tough to slow down as both a runner and receiver. He gets to his top-gear in a hurry and doesn’t waste much motion in the process, including as a runner through the wash up front, probably the most undervalued element of his game. The great vision also allows for Turbo to execute where most expect him to, in space, against defenders. Whether it is beating angles at the corner or setting up a cover player in the stem of his route, there aren’t many at the prep level that can stay in front of the future Buckeye. Rogers was arguably the top slot receiver for Team Alabama during the practice week
TWITCHED UP
Zion Grady has long been circled as one of the most intriguing edge-rushers in this 2025 recruiting cycle, and the Ohio State signee flashed in spurts over the week during Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game practices. The top-100 DE is twitchy off the line and bursts downhill in his 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame at 100 miles per hour. Working off the edge, Grady consistently conjured up big splash plays during one-on-ones as well as in the live portion of workouts. Grady plays with a chip on his shoulder and can win with speed and power. He showed off an array of different pass-rush moves that became more and more devastating and effective as the week went on.
PROFESSOR CHAOS
Tyler Lockhart is one of the gems in Jeff Lebby’s 2025 recruiting class at Mississippi State. The four-star hybrid defender from the Sip is a true speed-rusher capable of getting after the quarterback from the edge or as a stand-up linebacker. Lockhart’s game is designed around speed, and the four-star linebacker can cover a ton of real estate sideline to sideline in addition to making plays off the edge of the defensive front. The Misisssippi State signee flashed plus- closing speed with a knack for disrupting offensive rhythms – doing his best damage playing in the box. We noticed Lockhart playing at a pace different from several of his peers during the week on South Alabama’s campus.
BIG CAT
Malik Autry passes the eye test in a big way at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds moving seamlessly from the interior of the Alabama All-Star defensive line. The Auburn signee out of Opelika (Ala.) High has the tools to be a difference-maker in the trenches. He pops off the ball and is a handful to contain – and usually demands the attention of multiple blockers play to play. Autry is a force defending the run and has legitimate first-round potential based off his ability to generate a pass rush from the middle of the defensive line. The future Tiger has a quick first step for a 300-plus-pounder and is a playmaker working by or behind the line of scrimmage. We like Autry’s chances of being an impact contributor on Saturdays and eventually Sundays.
STEAL OF THE CYCLE
Throughout the early practices in Mobile, there was a consistent ‘who is that?!’ coming from onlookers relative to a long and lean defensive back snagging interceptions. It turned out to be Boddie, who signed with North Alabama in early December. Interest came in from the Group of Five and on down, but staying close to home became the path for this all-star. Boddie not only led the team in interceptions during the week, picking off five during the four practices Rivals took in, but he was impressive at the catch point throughout the work week. The future Lion also showed the ability to turn and run with multiple P4 prospects challenging him at the second and third level. The speed, length and ball skills will surely translate at North Alabama sooner rather than later.