The state of Alabama continues to prove its reputation as a football powerhouse, and I'm not talking about the collegiate ranks. 

MaxPreps ranked Alabama No. 9 nationally in a new report that measured which states have produced the most success at the professional level. Using data compiled by Pro-Football-Reference.com, MaxPreps analyzed the number of NFL players, Hall of Famers, All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl appearances and full-time starters from each state. Weighted points were assigned to each category to determine an overall score.

Texas, California and Florida claimed the top three spots, while traditional football states such as Pennsylvania, Ohio and Illinois rounded out the top six. Louisiana, Georgia and Alabama followed, with Michigan closing out the top 10.

Alabama earned 4,979 points in the rankings, with 807 players reaching the NFL and 10 enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. The state has also produced 60 All-Pro first-team selections, 216 Pro Bowl players and 1,512 full-time NFL starters.

The notable Alabama high school alumni highlighted in the report was Baldwin County's own and former Foley star wideout Julio Jones. The former Lion was a five-time All-Pro selection, seven-time Pro-Bowler and a member of the NFL's 2010s All-Decade team. From the days of earning his nickname "Waffle House" for always being open, Jones went on to lead the NFL in receiving yards on two separate occasions, appear in a Super Bowl and will likely be a Hall of Fame nominee in just a few years. 

The results in the MaxPreps report reaffirmed the South's dominance in developing football talent with six of the top 12 states being in the southern region of the country.

In Alabama, the numbers only confirm what everyone already knows — football isn't just a game; it's part of the state's identity. This will always be football country.