It hasn’t taken long for Baldwin County alumni to make their names known at the next level as familiar faces have been shining for college programs in the early weeks of the season.

From igniting the spark under a new head coach to making explosive plays in their debuts and even more in between, here is a sampling of highlights featuring local athletes helping their new teams.

Notre Dame, Riley Leonard

Possibly the biggest noise was made at one of the most recognizable programs in the country as Fairhope alum Riley Leonard led the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a dramatic road victory over the Texas A&M Aggies in front of 107,315 people in the season opener.

Leonard followed that performance up with history in Week 3 where he became the first quarterback since Lamar Jackson’s Heisman season from 2016 to record more than 100 passing yards, 100 rushing yards and 3 rushing touchdowns in the first half en route to a 42-0 lead over Purdue at the break.

Auburn, Perry Thompson

Another explosive debut was made on The Plains when Foley’s Perry Thompson caught a 70-yard pass for his first collegiate touchdown against the Alabama A&M Bulldogs in the opener. He finished the night with 82 receiving yards on 2 catches and was ranked the third-highest graded receiver in college football for Week 1 at 91.5 according to Pro Football Focus.

South Alabama, Blayne Myrick

The team leader in total tackles, Fairhope alum Blayne Myrick was recently awarded South Alabama’s No. 5 jersey which is awarded weekly to “somebody who embodies the values, culture and tradition of the program.”

Myrick grabbed 3 total tackles in the Jaguars’ Week 3 win over Northwestern State while the offense helped set a program and Sun Belt Conference record with 87 points. The mark was also the most points scored by a team in the Football Bowl Subdivision since 1991.

With 25 total tackles, Myrick also has 1 pass breakup and 1 forced fumble to his credit. Spanish Fort alum Carlos Johnson has recorded 7 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1 fumble recovery.

ULM, Carl Fauntroy

Spanish Fort alum Carl Fauntroy has racked up 10 total tackles and ranks tied for fifth on his team that is 2-0 under first-year head coach Bryant Vincent, coach of the 2010 state champion Toros.

Robertsdale alum Taven Curry also ranks third on the team with 88 rushing yards on 17 attempts and another former Spanish Fort Toro, Jacob Godfrey, is fourth in the receiving room with 26 yards on 2 catches.

The Warhawks are set for a road trip to the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in Week 4 before opening play within the Sun Belt Conference on the road against Troy in Week 5.

Air Force, Luke Freer

The big leg from Fairhope has been pacing the punting for the Air Force Falcons who sit 1-2 overall heading into a bye week before Mountain West Conference play begins in Wyoming.

Luke Freer has registered 553 yards over 12 punts with a long of 72 in addition to 2 others that went at least 50 yards. Three punts have been downed inside the 20-yard line, 4 of his punts have induced fair catches and 1 went for a touchback.

Southern Miss, Ti Mims

With the team lead in catches at 10, Baldwin County alum Ti Mims has once again shown himself as a force to be reckoned with in the Sun Belt Conference as a Southern Miss Golden Eagle. Mims has racked up 142 receiving yards with a long of 56 to go along with 3 rushing yards.

Mississippi College, Preston Godfrey

Another Fairhope Pirate and big-play threat uncorked a 59-yard run for his first collegiate touchdown as Preston Godfrey supplied an answering score for the Mississippi College Choctaws in their Week 3 game against Texas A&M-Kingsville. So far on the season, he’s amassed 81 rushing yards on 8 carries to go along with 27 receiving yards on 4 catches.