Madison Academy’s A.J. Rice selected for Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic Dec. 14

MADISON – The 38th annual Alabama- Mississippi All-Star Classic will feature Madison Academy’s A.J. Rice. The linebacker/tight end two-way starter for the Mustangs was selected as a linebacker for the Alabama team that will tangle with a similar Mississippi squad in the game scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 14 in Mobile’s Hancock Whitney Stadium with a noon kickoff.

“This is a big honor to be among the elite players from both Alabama and Mississippi, but I also know this selection is special because of all good athletes that did not get chosen,” said Rice. “I believe I was chosen because I work hard, and film study a lot. As a linebacker, I know what the opposing offense is running. I’m what we call a downhill player who likes to hit opposing runners.”

So far this season, the Class 4A, Region 8 Mustangs are 4-4 overall with a 4-2 mark in region play. Rice has posted 98 tackles, two of which for a loss. On offense, he has rushed the ball four times for 67 yards and one touchdown and had four pass catches for 101 yards and one score. Heading into the final weeks of the season and possible playoffs, Rice said he’s confident the team can rebound from past adversities as the Mustangs lost its first two opening games on the schedule and four of its first six games.

The 41-player Alabama team roster looks to be solid across the board in all aspects of the game. With Rice among the mix, they will have a super- talented athlete who plans on signing a scholarship with Mississippi State in December. He has a 3.4 grade point average and wants to study Kinesiology with his sights set on working in the area of physical therapy. He is a native Crawford, Miss., a small town in Lowndes County with a population of around 1,000. His family moved to this area in 2020.

Rice is known for his quickness and strength. He has a posted 4.56-second in the 40 and a time of 17.94, which is best on the Madison Academy team, in the 5-10 sprint fly-fly.

He stands 6-foot-3 and weighs in at 240 pounds. In the weight room, Rice is among the tops in the strength categories. With 600 pounds, he is tops on the team in the deadlift, he is second among his teammates in both the bench press (315-pounds) and squat (545-pounds).

Rice was a First-Team 2023 Class 3A All-State selection at linebacker and is well on his way to receiving a similar honor for this season in Class 4A. He has overcome two surgeries in his stay at Madison Academy. Three years ago, he underwent left knee surgery and, earlier in 2024, he faced another surgery in February for a torn right labrum. Rice added, “I went through months of rehabilitation to get ready for this season and I’m looking for us to return to the playoffs as my personal goal is just win.”