High school football rankings: Thompson tops Alabama Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

By Staff Report Aug 10, 2021, 10:00am

Elite talent has Warriors favored to three-peat in Class 7A.

The 2021 high school football season in Alabama kicks off next week and MaxPreps has your look at the state's top teams. Seeking its third consecutive state championship in Class 7A, Thompson (Alabaster) owns the No. 1 spot in the preseason rankings.

Since arriving at Thompson in 2015, head coach Mark Freeman has helped turn the program into a heavyweight, going 59-14 in the six seasons since – including 49-4 over the past four.

The Warriors are loaded with elite talent, including defensive ends Jeremiah Alexander (Alabama commit) and Peter Woods (34 FBS offers), quarterback Conner Harrell (North Carolina commit) and five-star junior cornerback Tony Mitchell.

In addition to Thompson, defending state champions include Pinson Valley in Class 6A, St. Paul's Episcopal (5A), Handley (4A), Fyffe (3A), Mars Hill Bible (2A) and Linden (1A).



See the complete list below.
Head coach Mark Freeman and his Thompson Warriors are ranked No. 5 nationally heading into the season.
Head coach Mark Freeman and his Thompson Warriors are ranked No. 5 nationally heading into the season.
Photo by Joe Boyd
Alabama Preseason MaxPreps Top 25

1. Thompson (Alabaster), 14-0 record in 2020
2. Hewitt-Trussville (Trussville), 9-3
3. Hoover, 11-2
4. Clay-Chalkville (Pinson), 11-2
5. Auburn, 9-2
6. Saraland, 11-3
7. Pinson Valley (Pinson), 12-2
8. Oxford, 11-2
9. Central (Phenix City), 7-5
10. Oak Mountain (Birmingham), 7-5
11. Faith Academy (Mobile), 11-2
12. Mountain Brook (Birmingham), 11-2
13. St. Paul's Episcopal (Mobile), 15-0
14. Gardendale, 9-4
15. Spain Park (Hoover), 5-6
16. Daphne, 10-2
17. Vestavia Hills, 4-5
18. Spanish Fort, 11-4
19. Montgomery Catholic (Montgomery), 12-3
20. Briarwood Christian (Birmingham), 8-4
21. James Clemens (Madison), 8-2
22. Prattville, 7-4
23. Pike Road, 10-1
24. Opelika, 9-3
25. Enterprise, 7-4