Huntsville high school football prospects Joey Fleming and Samuel Bailey are among the top offensive line prospects in the country for the Class of 2028, reflecting a noteworthy trend in the emergence of quality offensive linemen in Alabama.
Huntsville Juniors Emerge as Elite National Prospects
Huntsville High School junior Joey Fleming and Mae Jemison junior Samuel Bailey rank among the premier offensive line prospects nationwide for the Class of 2028. Fleming, standing at 6-foot-5 and 280 pounds, primarily plays tight end for the Panthers but projects as an offensive tackle at the collegiate level, according to national recruiting service valuations. Similarly, Mae Jemison’s Samuel Bailey measures 6-foot-5 and 290 pounds, anchoring the Jaguars line as an overpowering guard.
If their current trajectories continue, Fleming and Bailey could join historical Huntsville standouts like Kerryon Johnson and Condredge Holloway as the most coveted Huntsville football prospects ever. Both athletes have a full season and a half remaining in their high school careers before finalizing their college selections.
Statewide Surge in Offensive Line Talent
The prominence of Fleming and Bailey coincides with a broader trend across Alabama high school football. Both Huntsville juniors secured spots in this week’s Best in Bama rankings published by AL.com, which evaluates the top prospects in the state regardless of classification or graduation year. They are part of a group of five offensive linemen included in the rankings—the largest representation for the position in the two-year history of the list.
The state’s top-ranked offensive linemen also include:
- Jatori Williams: Central-Phenix City senior and Miami commit.
- Stafford Willis: Arab senior and Alabama commit.
- Christian Bennett: Clay-Chalkville junior and uncommitted prospect.
This group represents a sharp contrast to the previous year’s final Best in Bama rankings, which did not feature a single offensive lineman. Additional prospects, such as South Carolina commit Jaxon Elston of Oxford and Prattville junior Braylon Jackson, continue to cycle through or stand on the cusp of the statewide rankings.
Current Best in Bama Class Breakdown
The broader statewide rankings highlight a heavy concentration of upperclassmen among elite recruits. The current Top 50 breakdown features:
- Seniors: 29
- Juniors: 15
- Sophomores: 2
- Freshmen: 4
Uncommitted prospects account for 19 spots in the current rankings, while committed players are distributed across multiple collegiate programs, led by five commitments each to Alabama and Auburn.
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