Candidates for Alabama's 2025 Gatorade Player of the Year

It’s that time of the year when considerations for candidates for numerous awards becomes the topic of discussion and one of the more notable of them all is the Gatorade Player of the Year for high school football players.

Each state has a player named for the prestigious honor and as the season begins ending for many across the country, the question starts popping up of who should be up for the very honor Gatorade Player of the Year?

Rivals examines state-by-state the unofficial candidates for the Gatorade Player of the Year, with next up being the Yellowhammer State of Alabama. Check out the five Gatorade POTY potential candidates we have selected and believe should be up at the forefront for the award.

(All candidates were selected by Rivals’ Andy Villamarzo)

Trent Seaborn, QB, Thompson

When you’re quarterbacking one of the state’s best teams and playing at the level Seaborn is right now, you have to be somewhere on this Gatorade POTY list. Seaborn, who committed to the University of Alabama in late October, has been superb for the Warriors this season as they take aim at winning their seventh state championship. Seaborn this season has completed an impressive 73 percent (233 of 317) of his passes for 3,200 yards and 30 touchdowns. The junior quarterback has also added nearly 100 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Ezavier Crowell, RB, Jackson

The University of Alabama commitment has been as good as advertised on any given Friday night as the running back has run through the competition on a weekly basis. Crowell this season for the defending Alabama Class 4A state champions has rushed for 2,023 yards (13.2 yards per carry) on just 148 carries and has scored 24 times. Crowell’s best performance this season came last week in a 42-28 win over Handley, rushing for 350 yards on just 14 touches and finding the endzone four times. The Crimson Tide are getting a good one and Crowell, Aggies should be well on their way to another state title.

Gunner Rivers, QB, St. Michael Catholic

Another sensational junior signal caller we throw on to this list is Rivers, son of former NFL quarterback Phillip Rivers. The four-star rated passer has had himself a sensational junior campaign for St. Michael Catholic as they have made themselves viable contenders to the defending champion Jackson Aggies. Leading an undefeated Cardinals bunch, Rivers has completed 208 of 290 passes for 2,813 yards, 44 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Rivers’ best game this season was in a 49-7 win over Orange Beach, completing 16 of 18 passes for 271 yards and four scores.

Tristan Lyles, EDGE, Phenix City Central

Finally, a defender is added to the list of Gatorade POTY candidates we have selected and Lyles playing on one of the state’s top Class 7A teams certainly plays a factor into this. One of Alabama’s top EDGEs this season has been Lyles, playing on a defensive unit that’s forced 22 turnovers this season. The three-star defensive end has tallied a team-high 70 tackles, 30 going for a loss, 19 sacks, five fumbles forces and two pass breakups. There’s not much that Lyles hasn’t done on the defensive side of the ball other than pick off a pass for the 11-1 Red Devils.

Cedrick Simmons, ATH, Southside

The final selection we have made to this list, we go outside the box with the junior all-everything for the Panthers of Southside, Alabama. Simmons plays for an undefeated Southside group that’s current unbeaten at 12-0 and is contending for Alabama’s Class 3A state championship right now. Diving into Simmons’ numbers this season, none of this seems possible without the play of the junior on both sides of the ball. The athlete has hauled in a ridiculous 94 passes for 2,036 yards and 18 touchdowns. Flipping to the defensive side of the ball, Simmons has made 33 total tackles and intercepted six passes, good enough for second-most on Southside’s defense.

How to Follow Alabama High School Football

For Alabama high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Yellowhammer State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across the state of Alabama.