Cottage Hill Christian Academy’s Shadarius Toodle is ranked as the No. 4 linebacker nationally in the 2026 class. (Helen Joyce/Call News)
By ARTHUR L. MACK
MOBILE — Cottage Hill Christian Academy’s do-it-all junior star Shadarius Toodle committed to Auburn on Saturday during Big Cat Weekend.
Toodle (6-3, 215), a four-star linebacker, committed to the Tigers over the weekend along with Saraland defensive lineman Antonio Coleman, Gulf Shores linebacker JaMichael Garrett and Mae Jemison edge rusher Hezekiah Harris.
Toodle said he and his family hung out at Auburn coach Hugh Freeze’s house and had a great time while on the Plains.
“Coach Freeze talked with me about what it takes to play for Auburn,” Toodle said. “The whole family was excited about being there. We had a great time at coach Freeze’s house and had a good time talking with the other Auburn coaches.”
While Toodle has committed to the Tigers, he said he plans to visit Louisville and Texas A&M.
“A lot of colleges have been hitting me up and I’ve been taking trips,” he said, “but I’m staying focused to my high school team right now.”
Toodle wants to help turn around the Warriors, who won two of their last three games last year to finish 2-8. He was one of the bright spots on the team, playing quarterback on offense and earning Class 3A second-team All-State honors at linebacker.
CHCA coach Carvel Jones took over just before summer workouts last season and quickly realized Toodle’s value.
“Shadarius has been (providing leadership) since the eighth grade,” Jones said. “That’s when he got his first offer, so it seems like he’s been doing it forever. He’s definitely going to be one of the ones we call upon to plan around certain games. Hopefully, he’ll take some pressure off other guys.”
Toodle, who is ranked the No. 4 linebacker nationally in the 2026 class according to On3’s composite, said playing quarterback last season was rewarding.
“It was great,” he said. “It’s just whatever it takes to get the job done for the team.”
A prime example of Toodle’s versatility came in a 41-6 win over Monroe County, when he had 70 yards on seven carries and three touchdowns along with 10 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Against St. Luke’s, Toodle rushed for two touchdowns and had 15 tackles, a sack and an interception in a 25-13 win.
Toodle relishes contact and said playing quarterback helps him understand linebackers’ roles in reading offenses.
“I love hitting people and under coach Jones I learned new techniques,” he said. “Playing linebacker on defense helped me at quarterback. Knowing what the offense will do and what the defense will do, it helped me a lot on defense.”
Jones said Toodle is a student of the game.
“When we call on him, he steps up,” Jones said. “He’s really studying film a lot. He’s able to get on offense and help us. I think it also showed colleges his athletic ability because he was able to show that he could run and he can throw.
“He’s a leader, so in order to play both sides, you have to have a certain type of mentality to go on the field on defense, go three and out and turn right back around and try to go score a touchdown and then play on special teams. He’s not coming off the field and he doesn’t want to come off the field.”
Jones said Toodle’s mental toughness has rubbed off on the rest of the team and helped his profile.
“All the kids have been holding each other to a certain standard,” Jones said. “It was good that a lot of young guys played last year and they’ll be a year older and more experienced. They really push each other and that’s something new that I’m seeing. They want to get Shadarius in the end zone, they want to get the other running backs into the end zone. They want a quarterback to complete passes, so they’re doing it for each other. That’s kind of the standard that’s a little bit different.”
Toodle’s athleticism transfers to other sports. Like most other Mobile-area college football prospects, he’s a multi-sport athlete, playing on the basketball team and running the first leg on the 4×100-meter relay team.
“I’ve been playing all sports since a young age, so it’s basically come easy for me,” he said.
While Toodle is in elite company among local major college prospects, he’s concentrating on staying focused on this season.
“The next two years are going to be really big for Mobile-area schools as far as talent,” Jones said. “Shadarius is one of those talents but he’s not letting it go to his head. He loves for us to hold him accountable and he knows that’s what I do. That’s also part of that standard.
“We’re just taking it in day by day and we’ve been telling him to enjoy where your feet are. When the season starts, we’re going to put all of those distractions aside and just focus on the season.”
