With high school football kicking off, several Alabama Football recruits kicked off their senior season. The Corky Kell Classic in Mercedes Benz stadium this weekend featured some of Georgia’s most elite high school football programs.
2023 Alabama Football recruits shine in the opening weekend of football
Two major commits had especially big weekends: Caleb Downs of Hoschton, GA and Dylan Lonergan of Snellville, GA. Lonergan led his Brookwood broncos to an exciting win over Norcross High School 28-24, and Downs helped his team win a shootout over Walton 44-41.
Dylan Lonergan, QB
After trailing most of the game, Lonergan threw his final touchdown pass of the game to give Brookwood the 28-24 lead with roughly ten minutes of game time remaining.
On the ensuing drive, Brookwood’s defense bent but didn’t break, and the Broncos got the ball back with just a few minutes remaining. After Norcross held them to 3-and-out, the Broncos had a 4th and 1 from their own 29 yard line with only a small lead.
The Broncos decided to go for it, a bold move. If they do not convert, Norcross gets the ball back on the 29 yard line with plenty of time to score. If they do convert, Brookwood is in a position to run out the clock.
A gutsy call, but the head coach of the Broncos relied on their Alabama Football QB commit, Dylan Lonergan. After what appeared to be a tight crush of players and just enough for the conversion, Lonergan busts through the dog pile and takes the ball over 40 yards. His power could not be contained, and the Broncos went on to secure their victory.
Lonergan showed incredible athleticism in the game. He can hurt you with his arm or legs and has great awareness in the pocket. He takes open lanes when he has them, but he also has the patience to let his playmakers get open. His football IQ is high, and Alabama Football will look forward to continuing to develop him when he gets on campus.