Garrett-Harrison Stadium was packed with future college talent on Thursday night, and the AHSAA Kickoff Classic delivered plenty of it. Alabaster Thompson and Phenix City Central both put prospects on display, even if the final score got out of hand in Thompson’s 41-14 win after a seven-point lead became a runaway in the second half.
The scoreboard told one story. The talent on the field told another.
Trent Seaborn was the headliner. The Alabama quarterback commit controlled the night with his poise, sharp decisions and a deep ball that kept landing on time.
In the first half alone, he threw for three touchdowns and nearly 200 yards. Afterward, Seaborn said he wants to make it to every Alabama home game this season so he can represent the program from a grass-roots perspective while meeting other recruits.
His strong showing fit the profile: a Top 20 quarterback nationally who may not have ideal size or elite physical traits, but has been through enough high-level moments to look comfortable in the spotlight.
Central had a strong answer in Bobby Coleman Jr., the Georgia State commit and younger brother of standout college receiver Cam Coleman. The senior quarterback is listed at 6-foot, 180 pounds, though his frame suggests there may be more coming.
He looks the part of a passer with length, a smooth release and the ability to drive the ball more than 50 yards with accuracy. Coleman Jr. had 162 passing yards in the first half, then faded late as Thompson pulled away and Central tried to chase the game.
Even so, multiple G6 programs are showing interest, and he has a real path to late P4 attention.
Thompson also gave a brief look at its quarterback of the future, freshman Jahari Nation. He played one series, completed his only pass and showed off the kind of arm confidence that already jumps out at 6-foot-3.
The receiver group brought even more firepower.
Thompson’s trio of P4 prospects all made noise: three-star Darion Moseley, a 2027 Arkansas commit; three-star Mason McClure, a 2027 Maryland commit; and four-star Dedrick Kimbrough, a 2028 prospect. Kimbrough and McClure both got behind the defense on deep shots, and Kimbrough turned his into a touchdown in the third quarter. Moseley worked a drag route in the red zone, slipped into space and finished the play for a score.
Kimbrough is leaning toward Oklahoma right now, and the confidence in a Crystal Ball prediction for him to land with the Sooners has only grown.
But the night’s biggest surprise might have come from Central underclassman Braylen Averett, who may have stood out more than any receiver on the field and perhaps more than any player overall.
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His return gives the Tide a little more optimism at a position group that has been watching his recovery closely. It does not lock in a Week 1 availability timeline, but it does suggest Rogers is moving in the right direction at a time when Alabama would rather be building depth than managing another early-season uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]