For the third year in a row, a Saraland High School player is Alabama’s Mr. Football. Texas-signee KJ Lacey, a 4-star quarterback, according to 247Sports Composite Rankings, is the 2024 Mr. Football.
Lacey’s win comes after current University of Alabama wide receiver Ryan Williams won back-to-back awards in 2022 and 2023.
Last season, Lacey, who is an early enrollee at Texas threw for 3,042 yards and 40 touchdowns. He completed 62-pervent of his passes while missing two games. Lacey is also the 2024 Class 6A Back of the Year.
Lacey and Williams helped lift Saraland on the national scene during their time in south Alabama. After winning the 6A state championship in 2022, the Spartans have finished runner-up the last two seasons with high rankings in the High School Football America 300 national rankings, powered by NFL Play Football. This past season, Lacey and the Spartans finished No. 117 in the HSFA 300.
During his career, Lacey led the program to a 39-3 record with two of those losses coming in the 2023 and 2024 state championship games.
Congratulations to KJ Lacey for being named the 2024 Mr. Football for the State of Alabama
— SaralandCitySchools (@SaralandSchools) January 28, 2025@GoSaraland @SaralandHigh #TogetherWeAreSpartans pic.twitter.com/H2MhyHp834
Below are all of the Players of the Year by Class and by Position by the Alabama Sports Writers Association.
Backs of the Year
7A: Anquon Fegans, Thompson
6A: KJ Lacey, Saraland
5A: Cam Phinizee, Russellville
4A: Landon Duckworth, Jackson
3A: Kadyn Mitchell, Houston Academy
2A: Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Academy
1A: Alvin Henderson, Elba
AISA: Luke Tarver, Chambers Academy
Lineman of the Year
7A: Jared Smith, Thompson
6A: Jourdin Crawford, Parker
5A: Jabarrius Garror, Vigor
4A: Tae Diamond, Cherokee County
3A: Tucker Wilks, Fyffe
2A: JJ Faulk, Highland Home
1A: Hayes Farrell, Donoho
AISA: Ashton Yelder, Lowndes Academy
Coaches of the Year
7A: Chip English, Hoover
6A: Tim Vakakes, Spain Park
5A: Kirk Johnson, Montgomery Catholic
4A: Drew Phillips, West Morgan
3A: Darrell Higgins, Mars Hill Bible
2A: Caleb Simmons, Winston County
1A: Shenan Motley, Wadley
AISA: Stacy Luker, South Choctaw Academy
All-Time Alabama Mr. Football Winners
1982: Tommy Compton, Vigor
1983: Freddy Weygand, Emma Sansom
1984: Rod Green, Gardendale
1985: Pierre Goode, Hazlewood
1986: Larry Ware, Lee-Montgomery
1987: Robert Jones, Parker
1988: Darrell Williams, Vigor
1989: Steve Coleman, Pike County
1990: David Palmer, Jackson-Olin
1991: Robert Davis, Homewood
1992: Freddie Kitchens, Etowah
1993: Thomas Banks, West Jefferson
1994: Dawud Rasheed, Shades Valley
1995: Gorman Thornton, Jeff Davis
1996: Antoneyo Williams, Central-Tuscaloosa
1997: Mac Campbell, Alexandria
1998: DeMarco McNeil, Blount
1999: Cory Whisenant, Springville
2000: Carnell Williams, Etowah
2001: Brandon Cox, Hewitt-Trussville
2002: JaMarcus Russell, Williamson
2003: Chris Nickson, Pike County
2004: Jarod Bryant, Hoover
2005: Andre Smith, Huffman
2006: Larry Smith, Prattville
2007: Julio Jones, Foley
2008: Clint Moseley, Leroy
2009: Coty Blanchard, Cherokee County
2010: Jamal Golden, Wetumpka
2011: T.J. Yeldon, Daphne
2012: Jeremy Johnson, Carver-Montgomery
2013: Roc Thomas, Oxford
2014: Kerryon Johnson, Madison Academy
2015: Tyler Johnston, Spanish Fort
2016: La’Damian Webb, Beauregard
2017: Asa Martin, Austin
2018: Bo Nix, Pinson Valley
2019: Kristian Story, Lanett
2020: Ga’Quincy McKinstry, Pinson Valley
2021: Ryan Peppins, Thompson
2022: Ryan Williams, Saraland
2023: Ryan Williams, Saraland
2024: KJ Lacey, Saraland
