Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Classic To Feature Two Local Elite Players
MADISON- Two players from local schools have been selected to represent Alabama in the annual Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic football game scheduled to be held Dec. 16 at Carlisle H.H. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss. on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi.
Jaylen Brown (DL, 6-6, 240, Sr.) of James Clemens and Reese Baker (OL, 6-5, 285, Sr.) of Madison Academy are part of the 40-player roster for Alabama in the 37th annual contest pitting 40 high school senior football players from each state in the battle first played in 1988.
“I’m really excited to play, but I didn’t know anything about this game until my coach (Chad McGehee) told me early in the summer I would be nominated to play,” said Brown, who has committed to sign with the Missouri Tigers of the Southeastern Conference. “This is a special honor to be chosen for this special game with these elite players from across Alabama. I feel blessed and my being named certainly took me by surprise.”
For Reese, a four-year starter for the Mustangs and a returning All-State Class 3A selection, his future in football remains up in the air as he has not committed to a particular school, but he has numerous offers including from Auburn, MTSU, Appalachian State, Southern Miss, Army, SE Missouri State, Troy, Jacksonville State, UNA, Liberty, West Virginia and Tulane.
With the All-Star appearance comes the chances to be viewed by college recruiters and Reese said he believes he knows what the college coaches are looking for when they see him play. “They tell me they love my feet, my long arms and that I carry my body weight well,” said Reese, who is a monster in the weightroom as he benches 315 pounds, 560 pounds in the deadlift and set a mark of over 400 pounds in the squat.
“Reese is an amazing talent. The sky’s the limit for him and this team means everything to Reese and he means everything to this team,” said Bob Godsey, head coach of the Mustangs, of his team Co-Captain.
“Although I am currently suffering from a slight knee injury and wearing a brace to help, we recently had a big win over undefeated Sparkman and after the season I plan on to continue working out in preparation for the All-Star Game,” said Brown.
Alabama beat Mississippi 14-10 last December at Mobile’s Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama (USA). The victory improved Alabama’s overall record to 25-11. The series began in 1988 with Alabama winning the first four games of the series before Mississippi returned the favor winning the next four.
