After injury, Albert focuses on recruiting

Alabama's Prattville High School was widely considered one of the best football teams in the nation. The Lions stormed to their second consecutive state championship this season and a top 10 ranking in most national high school football polls. All of that was done while Prattville's star tailback was nursing a torn ACL. However that's not to say he was nursing it from the sidelines.

Three-star running back Justin Albert tore his ACL in his team's first playoff game. But it would take much more than that to keep him off the field.

"My first playoff game I tore my ACL," Albert said. "I missed the second playoff game and then played on it the rest of the playoffs. I didn't want to let the team down. I've been playing with those guys and starting for four years. The reason I was able to play on it was because my quad muscle is so strong."

Albert is now in the midst of rehab for his knee and is already making progress.

"I already had surgery on it," he said. "I'm going into the fourth week after surgery and I'm already riding the bike. The doctor said I'd be fully recovered by June which is when I would report to camp."

The injury hasn't slowed down the schools recruiting the 5-foot-8 all-purpose back. Just Sunday, he had an in-home visit from the Troy coaching staff.

"I got a full ride from Troy," he said. "I really like them. That's a school I could really look forward to going to and playing for. The coaches came to my house yesterday and told me I'd fit in good there. Hopefully that's a good thing. My first official visit is this Friday and I'm going to Troy."

Though Troy is in good shape with Albert, there is definitely one school that stands out to him should an offer come his way.

"Auburn is first for me then Troy then Ole Miss," he said.

Though Auburn has yet to offer, Albert said that should an offer come his way, he would most likely be a Tiger. For now though, Albert is likely to wait until signing day to commit.

"I think I'm gonna wait until signing day but more than likely [Troy] is the best offer," he said.

A versatile back, Albert has great receiving skills out of the backfield but also lists his vision and his ability to return kicks as some assets that have college coaches interested.