Who are the players expected to make AHSAA flag football headlines this season?

Published On: July 18, 2025

Followers of girls flag football in Alabama – and across the nation – are aware that Central-Phenix City is the team to beat headed into the 2025 season that kicks off practice on Aug. 4 with opening games allowed to begin on Aug. 21. (Those dates are the same for the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s other football teams, the ones that have about a hundred-year head start.)

Gone from the 2024 national champion and two-time defending state champion Red Devils are players like

Gerritt Griggs, AL.com’s first Miss Football

, and three other players now on college flag football rosters. Central-Phenix City is expected to have plenty of standout performers to step into their shoes, such as receivers Colby Cook and Savannah Sevier and quarterback Mariah Harrison.

AL.com asked coaches from across the state who are some other players expected to make noise on flag football teams this season?

RELATED:

Flag football in Alabama poised to ‘explode’

Moody, the Class 1A/5A state runner-up last season in Wren Moore’s first-ever foray into coaching, will return several top performers. One opposing coach called rising sophomore Serinity Rutledge “the best player I’ve seen – period – at any position, regardless of class and she’s just going into the 10th grade.”

Rutledge plays receiver, quarterback and defensive back for the Blue Devils. Junior Kennedy Hockman stars at wide receiver and safety and freshman Sophie White, a starter as an eighth grader last year, will be “one of my top three players,” Moore said. White plays running back, receiver and cornerback.

Also in 1A/5A, Wenonah coach Cedric Lane, who has led the Dragons to a 75-6 record in four years, has defensive most valuable player Jaylin Jackson back for her senior season. The linebacker/strong safety already has flag football scholarship offers, the coach said.

Last season’s backup quarterback who was expected to move into the starting spot, Quinae “Lefty” Cooper, tore an ACL in off-season basketball workouts. “She was our best athlete,” Lane said. “She played receiver, backup quarterback, cornerback and rusher. I hated to put her at just at quarterback (for this season).”

Youth will be served at another 1A/5A squad, according to coach Michael Havard. His Elberta squad will be counting on a trio of first-year players to have stellar seasons in freshmen Campbell Adams and Ashley Michanwicz and senior Mercedes Nicely.

In Class 6A/7A, Alma Bryant twins Madi-Marie and Mari-Margret Grayson return for their senior season. Mari-Margret completed 140-of-213 passes with 1 interception last year. She had 36 touchdown passes and 1,880 yards through the air. She also ran for 13 TDs, carrying the ball 81 times for 571 yards. Madi-Marie caught 57 passes for 1,000 yards and 14 scores and had 9 interceptions – with a pair of pick-6 TDs. Both were members of the AL.com Terrific 20 all-star team as juniors.

Other Terrific 20 picks who are expected back this season:

Chenelle Hunter, Spain Park.

The freshman-to-be caught 45 passes for 433 yards and 12 touchdowns with 61 flag pulls and 9 interceptions at safety last year.

Abby Johnson, Daphne.

Johnson caught 59 passes for 1,054 yards for 17 touchdowns as a junior.

Lanieya Page, Prattville.

Senior-to-be Page caught 85 passes for 1,288 yards and 25 touchdowns for the Lions. She also had 15 punt returns for 150 yards and a pair of touchdowns and had 44 flag pulls, 5 sacks and 6 interceptions.

Julia Rose, Vestavia Hills.

The senior completed 50 percent of her throws last season (338-of-677) for 5,126 yards and 76 TDs.

Anna Russo, Montgomery Catholic.

Russo, a senior running back/linebacker, finished last season with 82 total flag pulls and 11 interceptions. She ran for 280 yards and had 245 more in pass receptions with 10 touchdowns. Russo also averaged 40 yards per punt for the 1A/5A champion Knights.

Kloeanne Smith, Homewood.

As a sophomore, Smith caught 66 passes for 862 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Hayden Fitts, Montgomery Catholic.

Fitts led the Knights to the 1A/5A state title, passing for 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Other players to watch:

WR Destiny Acklin, Austin.
LB Jada Billings, Austin.
Rusher Zyla Bryant, Hoover.
QB/RB/S Amiyah Carvin, Foley.
TB Nakayla Collins, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
WR Callie Davis, Vestavia Hills.
WR/DB Zoie Davis, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
Rusher Morgan Felton, Homewood.
QB Jamie Hughley, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
QB/WR Taylor Kindred, Hoover.
Athlete Sky Latham, Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa.
WR Alexis Rubin, Vestavia Hills.
WR/CB Mikayla Sanders, Foley.
Athlete Molly Mac Sharp, Vestavia Hills.
LB Emma Claire Wells, Homewood.

Nathan Tapp

Passionate about making complex financial topics easy to understand, Nathan Tapp covers the latest in personal finance, economic trends, and money-saving strategies. With a sharp eye on markets and policies, He delivers clear, timely insights to help readers make smarter financial decisions every day.