Rosters Announced for 66th Annual AHSAA North-South Football Classic
MONTGOMERY, AL – The rosters for the 66th annual AHSAA North-South All-Star Football Game have been unveiled. The two 37-player teams will compete at Hancock Whitney Stadium in Mobile on Friday, Dec. 13, with kickoff at 7 p.m. This event precedes the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 15, marking the first time both games will be held consecutively at the same venue.
J.T. Lawrence, Director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors and Coaches Association (AHSADCA), announced the team selections. Heading the South team is Kenny King of Daphne High School, while Sam Adams of Oxford High School will coach the North team.
The AHSADCA All-Star Selection Committee selected the rosters from nominations submitted by AHSAA member school coaches. The event is organized annually in partnership with the Mobile Sports Authority, the City, and County of Mobile, and the University of South Alabama. All players are 2023 seniors.
“We are excited for another thrilling game this December,” said Lawrence. “The talent across both teams is a testament to the exceptional players in our state.”
The game will be broadcast live on the AHSAA TV Network and streamed on the NFHS Network, with Vince Earley of WOTM TV as executive producer.
South Team Highlights
The South squad features standout quarterbacks Jackson Kilgore of Auburn and Andrew Alford of Central-Phenix City. Alford, who led his team to a 13-0 season and a Class 7A state title in 2023, has achieved 1,541 passing yards and 19 touchdowns this season. Kilgore has guided Auburn to an 8-0 record, clinching the Class 7A, Region title.
Key receivers include Tae Martin from Reeltown High School and Derrick “DJ” Vinson from Montgomery Academy. Vinson boasts 51 catches for 1,072 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.
The running back lineup is led by Saraland’s Santae McWilliams, with contributions from Rayshon Coleman of Florala, Carlos Benjamin of Vigor, and Trevon “Trey” Berry of Carver-Montgomery.
On defense, Elba’s Caden Adkins, Highland Home’s C.J. May, and Vigor’s Kentonio Kelly have been noted for their strong performances this season. Blayne Munson from Baker High School leads special teams with a 39.7-yard punting average and 10 field goals out of 13 attempts.
North Team Highlights
Quarterbacks Dax Varnadore from Fort Payne and Max Beason from Hoover lead the North’s offense. Varnadore has thrown for 5,328 yards and 48 touchdowns over the past two years, while Beason has propelled Hoover to a 7-2 record and a Class 7A, Region 3 title.
Top receivers include Clarence Taylor from Parker and Tremell Washington from Pleasant Grove. Running back T.J. Worthy of Gadsden City recently set a school record for career rushing yards, and Clay-Chalkville’s Aaron Osley played a pivotal role in his team’s 21-game win streak.
Special teams are bolstered by Helena’s Austin Lewis, who is perfect on field goals this season, with a long of 53 yards.
Historical Context
The South team won last year’s game 31-28, extending its series lead to 35-28-2. The North-South Classic has a rich history dating back to 1948 and has been played at various venues, including Bryant-Denny Stadium, Cramton Bowl, Troy University, Alabama A&M University, and now Hancock Whitney Stadium. After a brief hiatus, the classic was reinstated in 1997 and has become a staple of AHSAA sports events.
| 2024 NORTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL ROSTER | |||||
| Athlete | School | POS | HT | WT | Head Coach |
| Dax Varnadore | Fort Payne HS | QB | 6’0 | 190 | Chris Elmore |
| Mac Beason | Hoover HS | QB | 6’2 | 190 | Chip English |
| Terence Gaines Jr. | A.H. Parker HS | RB | 5’10 | 195 | Frank Warren |
| Julyon Jordan | Guntersville HS | RB | 5’11 | 185 | Lance Reese |
| Aaron Osley | Clay-Chalkville HS | RB | 5’10 | 190 | Stuart Floyd |
| TJ Worthy | Gadsden City HS | RB | 5’11 | 195 | Ali Smith |
| Jaquess Green | Muscle Shoals HS | WR | 6’0 | 180 | Scott Basden |
| Therman Moore | Center Point HS | WR | 6’0 | 180 | George Bates |
| Brannon Oliver | Fort Payne HS | WR | 6’1 | 180 | Chris Elmore |
| Clarence Taylor | A.H. Parker HS | WR | 6’0 | 170 | Frank Warren |
| Tremell Washington | Pleasant Grove HS | WR | 5’6 | 166 | Darrell Lebeaux |
| Isaac Achenbach | James Clemens HS | TE | 6’6 | 240 | Christopher McGehee |
| Braylen Roberts | Lynn HS | TE/DE | 6’3 | 235 | Clifton Hastings |
| Cade Channell | Dora HS | OL | 6’4 | 285 | Chavis Williams |
| Micah Douglas | James Clemens HS | OL | 6’3 | 245 | Christopher McGehee |
| Lance Johnson | Ramsay IB HS | OL | 6’4 | 285 | Ronnie Jackson |
| J’vion McDuffie | McAdory HS | OL | 6’2 | 305 | Aryvia Holmes |
| Jordan Slater | Minor HS | OL, DL | 6’1 | 340 | Adrian Abrams |
| Neyland Baker | Russellville HS | OC | 6’3 | 285 | Dustin Goodwin |
| Dylan East | Coosa Christian | OC | 6 2 | 245 | Mark O’Bryant |
| Austin Lewis | Helena HS | K,P | 5’10 | 165 | Richie Busby |
| Jamar Moultrie | Hoover HS | DB | 6’2 | 185 | Chip English |
| Nicholas Thomas | McAdory HS | DB/LS | 6’5 | 202 | Aryvia Holmes |
| Cedric Twyman | Oxford HS | DB | 5’10 | 160 | Sam Adams |
| Sidney Walton | Moody HS | DB | 6’2 | 200 | Jake Ganus |
| Na’Karius Allen | Clay-Chalkville HS | LB | 6’2 | 195 | Stuart Floyd |
| Trent Cheathom | Thompson HS | LB | 6’1 | 202 | Mark Freeman |
| Kobe Hawkins | Pleasant Grove HS | LB | 5’10 | 210 | Darrell Lebeaux |
| Talton Thomas | A.H. Parker HS | LB | 6’0 | 175 | Frank Warren |
| Jacob Watson | Vestavia Hills HS | LB | 6’0 | 200 | Robert Evans |
| Porter Simmons | Hartselle HS | DE | 6’5 | 240 | Bert Newton |
| Patrick Smith Jr. | Clay-Chalkville HS | DE | 6’3 | 240 | Stuart Floyd |
| Sean Wyers | Winfield HS | DE | 6’5 | 210 | David McKinney |
| Nikolas Alston | Thompson HS | DL | 6’1 | 260 | Mark Freeman |
| Hayden McDonald | Thompson HS | DL | 6’0 | 265 | Mark Freeman |
| Ryan Reese | Ramsay IB HS | DL | 6’2 | 260 | Ronnie Jackson |
| Nehemiah Samples | Gadsden City HS | DL | 6’1 | 290 | Ali Smith |
| 2024 SOUTH ALL-STAR FOOTBALL ROSTER | |||||
| Athlete | School | POS | HT | WT | Head Coach |
| Jackson Kilgore | Auburn HS | QB | 6’0 | 185 | Keith Etheredge |
| Andrew Alford | Central, Phenix City HS | QB | 6’1 | 190 | Patrick Nix |
| Carlos Benjamin | Vigor HS | RB | 5’9 | 180 | John McKenzie |
| Trevon Berry | Carver-Montgomery HS | RB | 5’11 | 200 | Bobby Carr |
| Rayshon Coleman | Florala HS | RB/DB | 6’1 | 190 | Daniel Green |
| Santae McWilliams | Saraland HS | RB | 5’9 | 180 | Jeff Kelly |
| Catavis ‘Tae’ Martin | Reeltown HS | WR | 5’10 | 170 | Matt Johnson |
| Jamari Miller | Opelika HS | WR | 5’10 | 157 | Bryan Moore |
| Tiaquentin Mims | Baldwin County HS | WR | 5’10 | 175 | Andrew Davis |
| Derrick ‘DJ’ Vinson | Montgomery Academy | WR | 6’4 | 198 | Ethan McBride |
| Noah Greene | Charles Henderson HS | TE | 6’1 | 220 | Quinn Hambrite |
| Antonio Gibbs | LeFlore Magnet HS | OL | 6’4 | 269 | Renardo Jac |
| Louis Snell | Dothan HS | OL | 6’4 | 320 | Jed Kennedy |
| Jon Stephens | Mary G. Montgomery | OL | 6’3 | 285 | Zach Golson |
| Eric Williams | Williamson HS | OL | 6’4 | 285 | Antonio Coleman |
| Terion Bell | Pike Road HS | OL | 6’2 | 300 | Granger Shook |
| Aidan Platt | Auburn HS | OC | 6’4 | 310 | Keith Etheredge |
| Aaron Taylor | Montgomery Catholic | OC | 6’0 | 260 | Kirk Johnson |
| Blayne Munson | Baker HS | K/P | 6’3 | 200 | Juan Johnson |
| Jaden Barnes | Dothan HS | ATH | 6’0 | 185 | Jed Kennedy |
| Nemo Hixon | Spanish Fort HS | ATH | 5’5 | 155 | Chase Smith |
| Elijah Owens | Citronelle HS | DB/WR | 6’2 | 190 | Jason Rowell |
| Jotavion Pierce | Montgomery Catholic | DB | 6’2 | 200 | Kirk Johnson |
| Andrew Purcell | Enterprise HS | DB | 5’11 | 185 | Ben Blackmon |
| Antonious Steele | Bibb County HS | DB | 6’2 | 185 | Matt Geohagan |
| Rickie Williams | Montgomery Catholic | DB | 5’11 | 175 | Kirk Johnson |
| Cayden Adkins | Elba HS | LB | 6’2 | 235 | Marc Sieving |
| Z.J. Grady | Beauregard HS | LB | 6’1 | 212 | Justin Jones |
| Kentonio Kelly | Vigor HS | LB | 5’11 | 214 | John McKenzie |
| Keshun Marbury | Percy Julian HS | LB | 6’1 | 225 | Kenneth White |
| Jordan Simmons | Mary Montgomery HS | LB/DE | 6’1 | 235 | Zach Golson |
| Cayden Williams | Daphne HS | LB | 6’2 | 200 | Kenny King |
| C.J. May | Highland Home HS | DE | 6’4 | 230 | Justin Bragg |
| Caleb Pitts | Auburn HS | DE | 6’4 | 265 | Keith Etheredge |
| E’Mauri Smiley | Opelika HS | DE | 6’3 | 250 | Bryan Moore |
| Marquaes Lambert | Daphne HS | DL | 6’1 | 280 | Kenny King |
| Alexander Mullins | Demopolis HS | DL | 6’0 | 265 | Lance Tucker |
