Justice Haynes kicked off his senior campaign with a very impressive performance against a tough Thompson defense.
Buford defeated the Warriors 38-7 in a game that was a defensive slugfest early on. Haynes finished the evening with more than 150 all-purpose yards, including a 97-yard kick return and a 22-yard touchdown run. He told Touchdown Alabama Thompson’s defense was the best one he ever went up against and gave props to five-star defensive end and Clemson commit, Peter Woods.
Alabama 5-Star RB commit, Justice Haynes @justicehaynes6 runs in his second score of the night.
Showing off that balance that makes him special. pic.twitter.com/KmsmeEV1KP
— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) August 19, 2022
”It was the best defense I played in my life,” Haynes said. “That boy Peter is a grown man. That Thompson defense, they fly around and they are fundamentally sound. They are not going to make mistakes. I can see why they have won the last three state championships in Alabama.”
The five-star prospect verbally committed to Alabama in July over Georgia, Ohio State and others. With his senior season in full swing, Haynes has his mind focused on getting better each week and helping Alabama build on its impressive 2023 class.
“We want Keon (Keeley) and big Samson (Okunlola),” Haynes said. “You can not go anywhere without an offensive line.”
Okunlola is a five-star offensive lineman, who took an official visit to Alabama in June. He currently has the Crimson Tide listed as one of his top choices. At 6-foot-5 and 300 pounds, he would fit right into Alabama’s 2023 offensive line class, which currently has an average height of 6-foot-6.4 and an average weight of 317.
Haynes is excited about running behind this group in the future.
“They big, strong and mean,” Haynes said. “That is what you love in an offensive line. When we run behind them boys, all it takes is a little crease and we gone.”
Alabama commits have been very open about their push to bring Keeley to Tuscaloosa in the future. Haynes feels the five-star recruit checks all the boxes as an edge rusher.
“He can do it all as a defensive end,” said Haynes. “He can come off the edge, he can power rush, he can bull rush you, he can hit you with a quick finesse move and he sts the run. He is just a dominant specimen.”
Buford and Haynes will take on Mallard Creek at Home next Friday.
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Justin Smith is a Scouting/Recruiting analyst for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via @Jdsmith31Smith
