After initial snub, Dudley gets invite to Alabama-Mississippi game

T.J. Dudley (right) will get a chance to play in the annual Alabama-Mississippi All Star game in December. (Tim Gayle)

By TIM GAYLE

When high school officials released the names of the 40 state players selected for the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic last Wednesday, Catholic linebacker T.J. Dudley was disappointed to learn he was not part of the team.

“It had an effect,” Dudley admitted. “In my ninth-grade year, we had C.J. Person play in it so it was always a goal of mine to get invited to play in it so when I found out I didn’t make it, it was upsetting.”

On Tuesday, his disappointment turned to joy when Catholic coach Kirk Johnson told him he was replacing an injured player and will be participating in the 35th annual high school all-star football game at Southern Mississippi’s M.M. Roberts Stadium in Hattiesburg, Miss., on Dec. 11.

Dudley will join Catholic defensive back Jourdan Thomas in the game and becomes the sixth Catholic player selected to play in the annual game that started in 1988 and the fourth in the past four years.

“I think it was well deserved,” Dudley said. “I think I should have been on the team in the first place, but I feel like it was well deserved.”

Dudley’s omission was clearly an oversight for the selection committee, who chose the eight top prospects in the state, then skipped over Dudley to select three other linebackers. Recruiting rankings and hype aside -- Dudley is a preseason Butkus Award candidate presented to the nation’s top high school linebacker -- the senior is having his best season for the unbeaten Knights, which have surrendered just two touchdowns on defense this season. Dudley has 94 tackles in nine games, including 21 for loss, along with four interceptions, three of which were returned for touchdowns. He leads the team in each of those categories.  

“I just feel like the kid deserves it,” Johnson said. “While we make everything about football, T.J. -- and Jourdan, for that matter -- are just good kids. They do everything they’re supposed to do off the field. He carries a 3.6 GPA. When you talk about somebody representing your state, a kid like T.J. is what you think about.

“And then you add in the football things. Highly recruited four-star recruit with 36 schools to choose from. I had a terrible day Wednesday (when the all-star squad was officially announced). And it was so hard because I was so excited for Jourdan.”

Among those top recruits are Thompson linebacker Jeremiah Alexander, considered the state’s top recruit with 64 tackles, including 22 for loss; Alexander’s teammate, defensive back Trequon Fegans, who also committed to Alabama; Faith Academy defensive end and Florida commitment Shemar James; and local players Avery Thomas, a defensive back at Wetumpka, and Pike Road defensive lineman Khurtiss Perry. Now Dudley, an Oregon commitment, will join the state’s best as a replacement for Williamson linebacker Robert Woodyard, who will miss the remainder of the year with an injury. 

“Those are my guys,” Dudley said. “We talk often. So us being able to play on the same team for a week, it’ll be awesome.”  

Johnson was happy game officials called after learning of Woodyard’s injury late last week.

“I’m not on the committee and I don’t know everything that goes into that,” the Catholic coach said. “I’m sure it’s a great process. I just know I’m here for my kids and I’m going to advocate and lobby for them.

“I thought T.J. did not have a great year last year, not because of stats but because I thought he tried his best to play the way people wanted him to play and not just play football like he’s always done. This year, I think he went back to doing what he was supposed to do in the offseason and he’s playing at a high level.”

Dudley, meanwhile, was in better spirits on Tuesday after learning he will have the opportunity to fulfill a dream in December.

“I definitely want to be MVP of the game,” he said, “but honestly, I just want to play against some of the best people in Mississippi and play together with some of the best people in Alabama.”

Alabama is 23-11 in the series, but has never won in the state of Mississippi, losing games in 2015, 2017 and 2019. And while some coaches, particularly at mid-level private schools, might be eager to see how their athletes perform on the big all-star stage, Johnson is comfortable in the knowledge that Dudley and Thomas will not be overwhelmed by the event.

“I know who they are, I know what they bring to the table,” he said. “These kids have been around high major athletes. They go to camps with all these dudes. I know that, in the right system, they’re going to thrive.”

Dudley and Thomas join St. James linebacker Sterling Jones (2016) and Person as the only defensive players from the Capital City Conference ever selected to play in the game. Thomas will be the first CCC defensive back to play in the game, while Dudley will be the second linebacker.    

CAPITAL CITY CONFERENCE SELECTIONS

ALABAMA-MISSISSIPPI ALL-STAR GAME

1988 -- Hamp Greene, PK, Montgomery Academy

2003 -- William Crum, PK, Montgomery Academy

2007 -- Graham Sutter, PK, St. James

2013 -- James Sherman, P-PK, Catholic

2014 -- Jalen Harris, TE, St. James

2016 -- Brian Anderson, OL, Catholic

2016 -- Sterling Jones, LB, St. James

2018 -- C.J. Person, DL, Catholic

2019 -- Chase Little, OL, Catholic

2021 -- Jourdan Thomas, DB, Catholic

2021 -- T.J. Dudley, LB, Catholic