A serious injury once threatened to keep Mobile Christian senior Prince off the football field for good. Instead, it set the stage for what his coach calls one of the biggest breakout stories on this year’s Leopards roster.
Known to teammates and coaches by his nickname, “Rico,” the 6-foot-3, 225-pound senior will line up at both defensive end and inside linebacker for Mobile Christian this fall, sliding between spots on the line to exploit his speed off the edge and knack for getting after the quarterback.
Prince arrived at Mobile Christian expecting basketball to be his primary sport, and he remains a key contributor for the Leopards on the hardwood. But after doctors and coaches doubted he would return to football following his injury, he not only came back — he emerged as one of the team’s most dependable defenders.
A Coach’s Praise
Mobile Christian head coach Lawson said Prince’s comeback has been a source of inspiration for the entire program.
“For him to bounce back and come back the way he did and to be a force, it’s amazing,” Lawson said. “It’s a blessing for me as a coach. But it just shows his work ethic. I know he’s going to keep all options open, because he still plays basketball. But I think football is his sport.”
Lawson pointed to Prince’s offseason habits as proof of that commitment, describing him showing up to work out on the practice field in the summer heat even when no one required it of him.
“People don’t know the behind-the-scenes stuff that he does, but the kid works around the clock,” Lawson said. “He goes to a trainer, he’s at our practices. Even after his trainer and our practices, he’s still out there working one-on-ones, whether it’s with his brother or somebody else. He’s still working on his craft, so that’s going to carry him a long way.”
Football Family Ties and College Interest
Prince said his love of football traces back to his older brother, who introduced him to the sport.
“I like to hit,” Prince said of what drew him to the game. “My brother always loved football, so he gave it a try. I did too. It was just natural.”
That passion has translated into college interest. North Alabama has already extended Prince a football scholarship offer, and he said other programs have reached out as well. Basketball still matters to him, but after doubters questioned whether he’d ever suit up again following his injury, football has become the sport he’s most focused on proving himself in.
“They didn’t think I was going to play again,” Prince said of the aftermath of his injury. “I was supposed to go over there for basketball. I love the game.”
Seniors Rebuild the Roster
Lawson credited Prince and his fellow seniors with reshaping the culture of the Mobile Christian program, crediting their recruiting efforts in the hallways for nearly doubling the size of the roster.
“I have five seniors this year, and those guys are key,” Lawson said. “I thought I was going to have a rough class this year, but when I say they have turned everything around for this program — they got more kids out of the hall to come play football for Mobile Christian. We went from 26 players to 46 players, and that’s because of them.”
Lawson said the seniors have preached the same message to the underclassmen: extra work outside of practice is what separates good teams from great ones, and it’s a lesson the younger players have taken to heart.
A New Region and a Season Opener
Mobile Christian opens its season Friday, Aug. 21, at home against McIntosh, which enters the year under new head coach John McKenzie, a former head coach at both Vigor and Murphy high schools.
The Leopards will also be competing in a reshaped postseason landscape this fall. The Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) recently split state championship play so public and private schools follow separate paths, with six classifications now in place for public schools and two for private schools. Mobile Christian will compete in Private Class A, Region 1.
Prince said he likes the Leopards’ chances in the new region.
“I’m pretty confident in my team this year,” Prince said. “We’ve worked hard this summer and we’re ready to get to work on the field. Things have changed with the split and everything, but I think our chances in our region are very strong. I feel like we’ll be in Hancock Whitney Stadium in December.”
That would be a fitting goal: the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Stadium is set to host the AHSAA’s state championship games this season on Dec. 15, with the Private Class A title game scheduled for 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 2.