There will be several big football commitments in Auburn this week for the AHSAA Super 7 championships, perhaps none bigger than Lanett quarterback Kristian Story.
The four-star University of Alabama commitment leads the Panthers in the Class 1A state title game against Mars Hill Bible on Thursday at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Ranked as the No. 9 recruit in the state and the No. 6 athlete in the country (Alabama commitment Drew Sanders of Denton, Texas, is No. 2), Story is on the short list of top candidates for the Mr. Football award, given to the top player in the state.
He’s done more than enough to be in the conversation. Through 13 games Story has 1,173 rushing yards with 15 touchdowns and 2,616 passing yards with 33 touchdowns. He’s also got six interceptions as a defensive player.
Earlier this season he broke Bo Nix’s state record (12,497) for most career passing yards to give him 12,818. He also broke Nix’s record (161) for most touchdowns accounted for and has 171 entering today’s title game.
“He’s a winner, that’s the biggest thing about him,” said Sweet Water head coach Pat Thompson. “He’s got an uncanny ability to keep the play alive . The throws he made against us, the average receiver doesn’t catch it, but he puts it where only his guy could get it.”
Thompson got an up-close look at Story last week in Sweet Water’s 42-35 loss to Lanett in the 1A semifinals. Story, 6-1, 210, was held to under 50 rushing yards but threw for nearly 200 and five touchdowns.
“We see a lot of good players, but he’s probably the best quarterback we’ve seen this year,” Thompson said. “He does see the field real well and you notice the way he carries himself. When you have a guy like that leading the team they kind of follow him.”
Story is back in the state title game after leading Lanett to the 2017 state championship. He committed to Alabama in July.
“He will do just fine up there,” Thompson said.
Among the other Class of 2020 commitments playing in the Super 7 this week:
— Central-Phenix City’s E.J. Williams (WR, Clemson), Javion Cohen (OT, Auburn), Joshua Jones (OL, Kentucky), Mike Harris (DB, Arkansas), Tucker Melton (QB, Bowling Green), Terrell Gordon (S, Georgia State), Mason Cook (G, Georgia State)
–Spanish Fort’s Kris Abrams-Draine (WR, Ole Miss), Carlos Johnson (DT, South Alabama), Brady Wilson (C, UAB)
–Reeltown’s Eric Shaw (ATH, South Carolina)
–Pleasant Grove’s Rodney Groce Jr. (LG, Mississippi State).
Reach Edwin Stanton at edwin.stanton@tuscaloosanews.com, 205-722-0226 or via Twitter, @edwinstantonu2
