The A-List is AL.com’s ranking of the top 15 senior prospects in the state of Alabama. We will count down one each day until No. 1 is revealed Aug. 17.
Let’s call it the pile, football’s version of legalized mayhem where activities that might be considered criminal or at least ill-mannered in polite society are common among constantly warring opposing offensive and defensive lines.
Beaten and banged on every play, the under-appreciated workhorses seldom receive enough credit for success mostly built on their labors.
“I like to play defense because I like to hit people,” said Gardendale defensive lineman Kelby Collins. “I want to impart my will on the opponent. You can really take over an offense on the defensive line.”
A-List No. 8 Collins is one of the highest recruited players ever to come out of Gardendale.
A 4-star defender with more than 30 offers, Collins plans to announce his college decision on Saturday. It’s expected the senior will pick from among Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and South Carolina.
He’s ready to end madness.
“It’ll definitely be a relief just playing football and having fun, not having to answer calls and reporters blowing up my phone,” Collins said.
Collins first started for the Rockets as a freshman. He’s grown physically and mentally over the past three seasons.
He helped Gardendale to a 10-3 finish, losing 50-44 in overtime to eventual Class 6A champion Clay-Chalkville in the third round of playoffs last season. Collins had 81 total tackles with 16 sacks and 20 tackles for loss as a junior.
“He has been the type of kid everybody knew would show up and do his job and now he’s more of a vocal leader,” said Gardendale coach Chad Eads. “He’s grown into being a leader, showing his teammates that he’s a hard worker and doing his job. Now he talks to the young kids, helping them whether about football stuff or anything.”
Collins excels at the physical aspects with explosive quickness and good hands. Opponents have to worry not only about his ability to overpower, but his quickness to the ball.
“On a typical play, maybe they run the ball away from me and I have to go get it,” Collins said. “Sometimes they triple team me with a guard and tackle and sometimes the tight end. It can get real physical down there.”
“He’s really good at stopping the run at him and he can run plays down on the other sides of the ball,” Eads said. “He’s such an explosive kid and athletic enough to get to the ball.”
A-LIST NO. 8: KELBY COLLINS, GARDENDALE
Position: Defensive lineman
Height/weight: 6-5, 250
College status: Uncommitted.
Randy Kennedy’s scouting report: Kelby Collins is smart, disciplined and still getting better as a defensive lineman. His upside is as great as any prospect in the state.
THE 2023 A-LIST
No. 15: Bradyn Joiner, OL, Auburn
No. 14: Jeremiah Cobb, RB, Montgomery Catholic
No. 13: Hunter Osborne, DL, Hewitt-Trussville
No. 12: Ryqueze McElderry, OL, Anniston
No. 11: Tomarrion Parker, EDGE, Central-Phenix City
No. 10: Wilkin Formby, OL, Northridge
No. 9: AJ Harris, DB, Central-Phenix City
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