Bama Softball Splits Doubleheader; Tide Baseball Suffers Loss To LSU Tigers; Alabama-LSU Game 3 Press Conference; Eddie Jackson Selected By Chicago In Round 4 Of NFL Draft

Alabama Softball Splits Doubleheader With Ole Miss

Alexis Osorio picks up win
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

OXFORD, Mississippi – University of Alabama softball started off like gangbusters on Saturday, then found itself getting slapped in game two. In Saturday's weekend opener with the Ole Miss Rebels, the Alabama Crimson Tide posted a 2-0 shutout in the opener, but Johnny Reb rebounded with a walk-off 2-1 win in game two at the Ole Miss Softball Complex.

Game one on Saturday was the 24th shutout of the season for Alabama (39-12, 11-8 SEC), leaving the Crimson Tide just two shutouts away from the single-season record. Though the Crimson Tide scored first in game two and held onto a slim one-run lead going into the seventh inning, the Rebels (33-17, 7-13 SEC) were able to string together four hits in the bottom of that seventh inning to pick up two runs and the win by a score of 2-1.

GAME ONE: ALABAMA 2, OLE MISS 0
Alexis Osorio (19-6) was able to pitch the Tide to the win in game one, and managed to hold the Rebels to just one hit versus nine strikeouts. Elissa Brown came on strong for Bama, picking up her second consecutive multi-hit game, going two-for-three in the contest with one run. It was Marisa Runyon and Bailey Hemphill picking up the two RBIs for UA in the contest. Chandler Dare extended her hitting streak to a season-best six games in her one-for-two day. Merris Schroder was one-for-three in the game.

GAME TWO: OLE MISS 2, ALABAMA 1
The Crimson Tide took the early lead in game two, but fell short when the Rebels sent on a hitting barrage in the seventh inning to take the win over Bama 2-1. Alabama was only able to put one run across the plat on three hits, with Marisa Runyon picking up the lone RBI as well as two of the Tide's three hits in the contest. Sydney Littlejohn (14-5) suffered the loss in the pitching duel, but managed to help the defense hold Ole Miss scoreless on three hits before the Rebels' big seventh inning.

The series finale is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Crimson Tide Baseball Suffers Loss To LSU Tigers

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – It was another heartbreaking loss for the Alabama baseball team, suffering a 4-3 loss on Saturday afternoon to the 15th-ranked LSU Tigers in extra innings at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Crimson Tide is now 15-29 overall and 2-19 in the Southeastern Conference on the season.

University of Alabama baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "We had our opportunities with the game on the line, we just have got to have somebody to get that base hit. I took our guys into the locker room and told them that sometimes, when we go through things like this in life and baseball, it's difficult. The average man quits, but the winners get through and experience something that is out there in front of them. I told them that our destination is out there in front of us and not behind us."

It remained close throughout the contest, evening tying up the game twice. In fact, the Tide and Tigers were tied up for five of the game's 11 innings. Bama starter Jake Walters pitched a career-long 7.1 innings on 108 total tosses. He allowed three earned runs on five hits and struck out five while issuing just one walk. Davis Vainer (0-3) then took over, working the next 3.1 innings, but surrendered to the Tigers giving up the winning run in the 11th inning.

Goff said, "Jake Walters is just a great competitor. He's been a tremendous leader for our pitching staff. I think he grew today. He started getting outs with changeups, and I thought he really just grew as a pitcher. His pitch-count was down, and he pitched to contact more. I thought [yesterday] was his best outing by far."

Kyle Kaufman and Hunter Alexander both finished the game two-for-four, with Kaufman adding a run scored. Cody Henry and Alex Webb both were two-for-five, with Henry contributing one RBI and one run.

Next up for the Crimson Tide is the Auburn Tigers. Bama travels to the Plains for a traditional weekend series.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Alabama-LSU Game 3 Press Conference

Click HERE to view press conference via Tide TV

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Eddie Jackson Selected By Chicago Bears

In Round Four Of 2017 NFL Draft

University of Alabama's Eddie Jackson
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

PHILADELPHIA – It was University of Alabama defensive back Eddie Jackson being selected by the Chicago Bears as the fifth pick in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft on the final day on Saturday afternoon at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Jackson was the 10th Alabama Crimson Tide player selected in the 2017 Draft, joining his teammates of the last few years,  Marlon Humphrey (Baltimore, Round 1), Jonathan Allen (Washington, Round 1), O.J. Howard (Tampa Bay, Round 1), Reuben Foster (San Francisco, Round 1), Cam Robinson (Jacksonville, Round 2), Ryan Anderson (Washington, Round 2), Dalvin Tomlinson (New York Giants, Round 2), Tim Williams (Baltimore, Round 3) and ArDarius Stewart (New York Jets, Round 3).

Jackson was the captain of the Alabama secondary, earning second team All-SEC honors from the conference coaches, despite having only played in eight games due to a leg injury. He holds the Alabama record for career interception return yards with 303 on nine picks. Jackson had 24 total tackles, two pass breakups and an interception in 2016. He also averaged 23.0 yards per punt return on 11 attempts with two touchdowns last season.

Bama Baseball Suffers Another Loss; Alabama-LSU Postgame Press Conference; UA Football Boasts Record Nine Selections In First 3 Rounds Of NFL Draft; Crimson Tide To Face Ole Miss In 3-Game Softball Series; UA's Anton McKEE Is H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Of The Year

Bama Baseball Suffers Another Loss

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Former Yankees and Senators Major League Baseball player Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez once said, "I'd rather be lucky than good." The University of Alabama baseball team could sure use some of that luck of which Lefty spoke. The Crimson Tide once again came up on the short end of a 7-5 score on Friday evening, losing to the 15th-ranked LSU Tigers at Alabama's Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The Tide is now 15-28 overall and 2-18 in Southeastern Conference play.

Alabama Crimson Tide baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "Our guys really competed tonight. I thought Chandler Taylor had a tremendous night with the left-on-left matchup; he had some big hits. Our whole team just really competed against some really good arms. Give LSU credit, once we scored, they continued to score. We just ran out of innings."

Leading the Alabama offense was Chandler Taylor, finishing the evening with a season-high tying three hits in four-at-bats, one home run, one RBI and a two runs. Sam Finnerty was one-for-four with an RBI, Connor Short added an RBI while picking up his fourth home run of the season. Both Chandler Avant and Cobie Vance were one-for-four on the night.

The series finale is scheduled for today at 2 p.m. CT at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Alabama will start junior righty Jake Walters, while LSU starts freshman right-hander Eric Walker.

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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Alabama-LSU Postgame Press Conference

Click HERE for Postgame Press Conference via Tide TV

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University Of Alabama Boasts Record Nine Selections 

 In First Three Rounds Of 2017 NFL Draft

PHILADELPHIA – Nine former members of the University of Alabama football team have now been drafted in the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. Five players were selected in the second and third rounds of the draft on Friday evening at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Alabama's nine selections through three rounds leads not only all Southeastern Conference schools, but all schools at the 2017 National Football League Draft. The seven Crimson Tide players selected in the first 55 picks on Thursday and Friday is a new National Football League Draft record. The nine Alabama draftees in the first 80 picks is also a first in NFL Draft history.

The four Bama players taken in round one were defensive back Marlon Humphrey, defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, tight end O.J. Howard and linebacker Reuben Foster. Humphrey was the 16th selection and went to the Baltimore Ravens, with Allen going one pick later to the Washington Redskins at 17th. Not far behind, at 19th, was Howard going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and finally, Foster went to the San Francisco 49s as the 31st overall selection.

The first player taken off the board on Friday, going in the second round, was offensive tackle Cam Robinson, going to the Jacksonville Jaguars with the second pick of the second round, and 34th overall. The 17th player chosen in the second round was linebacker Ryan Anderson, going to the Washington Redskins with the 49th overall selection. Defensive lineman Dalvin Tomlinson went six picks later to the New York Giants as the 23rd selection of the round and 55th pick overall.

Moving to the third round, linebacker Tim Williams was the 14th pick of the round and 78th overall, going to the Baltimore Ravens. One selection later at 15th pick of the round and 79th overall was wide receiver ArDarius Stewart, on his way to the New York Jets.

Alabama now boasts 37 selections overall in the first or second rounds of the NFL Draft since 2009. The Crimson Tide has placed 22 players in the first, as well as 15 in the second round of the draft in that time frame.

Robinson was indeed a bull for the Tide, the 2016 Outland Trophy winner as well as one of Bama's permanent team captains for the 2016 season. He started every game at left tackle for UA during his tenure at The Capstone (43 games) and was one of the Tide's three unanimous All-America selections in 2016. Robinson was also the winner of the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy, the second for the Tide in as many years. He was also a first team All-SEC selection by the conference coaches and the Associated Press.

Anderson earned first team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press, was named to the Butkus and Lombardi Award Watch Lists and was also a semifinalist for the Butkus Award. He finished with 61 total tackles, including a team-high 19.0 tackles for loss (-100 yards), 9.0 sacks (-68 yards) along with 10 quarterback hurries, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

One might say that Tomlinson was indeed a dominating player on the Tide's defensive front. He was responsible for 62 total tackles and added three sacks (-28 yards), seven quarterback hurries and four pass breakups. Robinson also had 5.5 tackles for loss (-32 yards) as well as one forced fumble. A total of 55 of Tomlinson's tackles were against the run. He was a Lombardi Watch List selection, and was also chosen as one of the UA coaching staff's defensive players of the week five times in 2016.

Williams earned second team All-America honors from the Associated Press and Sports Illustrated in 2016. He collected 31 total tackles, added nine sacks (-97 yards) and 16 tackles for loss (-125 yards). Williams also recorded 12 quarterback hurries, two forced fumbles and two pass breakups. He also added one fumble recovery that he returned 23 yards for his first career touchdown.

Stewart has a very impressive junior season, leading Bama in touchdown catches (8), receiving yards (864), yards per game (72.0) and yards per reception (16.0). He was second on the team in receptions with 54 despite only playing in 12 games in 2016. Stewart also rushed eight times for a total of 68 yards and completed two passes for 12 and 24 yards and a pair of first downs.

Rounds four through seven will take place this afternoon from the Philadelphia Museum of Art to conclude the 2017 NFL Draft.

ALABAMA in the 2017 NFL Draft:

Round 1

Marlon Humphrey
Jonathan Allen
O.J. Howard
Reuben Foster

Round 2

Cam Robinson
Ryan Anderson
Dalvin Tomlinson

Round 3

Tim Williams
ArDarius Stewart

Photo courtesy profootballspot.com

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Alabama Crimson Tide To Face Ole Miss Rebels

In Three-Game Softball Series

UA Softball pitcher Alexis Osorio
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

OXFORD, Mississippi - The No. 13/14 University of Alabama Crimson Tide is in Oxford, Mississippi today to take on the No. 20/21 Ole Miss Rebels in a three-game Southeastern Conference series at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. Bama is 38-11 overall, 10-7 SEC while the Rebs are 32-16 overall, 6-12 in the conference. 

The first game is slated for this afternoon at 2 p.m. CT, followed by another game approximately 30 minutes after the finish of game one (about 6 p.m. CT if the game is finished by then). The Sunday game previously scheduled for 6 p.m. CT has been moved up due to the expectation of inclement weather. The finale is still scheduled to be played at 6 p.m. CT on Monday, May 1st. Game three of the series will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.

In its last regular-season non-conference game, Alabama defeated Samford 8-1 on Tuesday of this week. Just two SEC series remain for the Tide in the regular season.

The Crimson Tide is currently second in the Southeastern Conference in strikes with 411 total, with league-leading Florida being the only other team with over 300 this season. Bama also ranks second in opposing batting average (.166) and hits allowed (189) and is third in walks drawn (216), earned run average (1.54) and fielding percentage (.978).

UA softball ace pitcher Alexis Osorio currently leads the SEC, and is seventh nationally, with 233 strikeouts, just one of two pitchers in the Southeastern Conference with over 200 strikeouts. Sydney Littlejohn is fourth in the SEC with 152 strikeouts, making Alabama and Florida the only SEC schools to have over 300 strikeouts between two starters. Littlejohn also ranks fifth in the SEC with a 1.05 ERA.

Alabama is 57-2 versus Ole Miss, boasting a .966 winning percentage, its highest against any SEC opponent, winning 57 of the 59 games between the teams. The Crimson Tide has an identical 28-1 (.966) record both at home and on the road against Ole Miss. The lone neutral-site contest between the teams came in the 2006 SEC Tournament, which the Tide won, 6-0.

UA softball pitcher Sydney Littlejohn
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

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University of Alabama Swimmer Anton McKee Named

2016-17 SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athlete Of The Year

Alabama Swim & Dive's Anton McKee
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - University of Alabama swimmer Anton McKee as well as Texas A&M University swimmer Sarah Gibson have been named the 2016-17 Southeastern Conference H. Boyd McWhorter Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The announcement was made by SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey.

The two student-athletes were chosen by a committee of Faculty Athletics Representatives from Southeastern Conference universities and each will receive a $15,000 post-graduate scholarship, provided by AT&T, one of the SEC Corporate Sponsors. McKee and Gibson will be honored at the annual SEC Awards Dinner during the SEC Spring Meetings in Sandestin, Florida in early June.

Sankey stated, "Anton and Sarah are amazing young people who are an inspiration for their commitment to the complete student-athlete experience of success in competition and excellence in the classroom. Each of them are All-Americans in the pool and 4.0 students in the classroom, making them the ideal recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Award, the highest individual honor a student-athlete can achieve in the Southeastern Conference. Anton and Sarah personify the highest of standards in the SEC for their combination of academics and athletics and I congratulate them and the institutions they proudly represent."

McKee is a Management Information Systems major at the University of Alabama boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA, is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and the 2016 CoSIDA At-Large Team Academic All-American of the Year.

Get this...McKee is an 11-time All-American for UA, was the 2017 Southeastern Conference champion in the 200 breaststroke as well as the NCAA runner-up in the same event. He helped lead Alabama to three consecutive NCAA top-10 finishes, marking the first time Alabama has posted a trio of top-10 finishes in a row since 1981-83.

McKee is a record-setter. He set the SEC record on the way to capturing the 2014 SEC 200 breaststroke title and is the Alabama record holder in the 100 and 200 breaststroke as well. He also boasts the record in the 200 individual medley and as part of the 400 medley relay.

The Bama senior also competed for Iceland at the 2012 and 2016 Olympics, and at the 2016 Rio Olympics, he finished in the top-20 in the 200 breaststroke. At the 2015 FINA World Championships, McKee picked up top-20 finishes in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, which set the Icelandic national record in both events.

In all there were 13 male finalists as well as 13 female finalists for the honor. For Alabama, in addition to McKee for the University of Alabama, Krystal Rivers represented UA as a member of the volleyball team.


Past recipients of the H. Boyd McWhorter Award:

1986 - John Young, Tennessee (track) and Virginia Diederich, Georgia (swimming)
1987 - Jeff Noblin, Ole Miss (football) and Julie Estin, Alabama (gymnastics)
1988 - Danny Hoskins, Ole Miss (football) and Linda Leith, Georgia (swimming)
1989 - Mikael Olander, LSU (track) and Deanne Burnett, Georgia (swimming)
1990 - Burke Masters, Mississippi State (baseball) and Janice Kerr, Florida (gymnastics)
1991 - Al Parker, Georgia (tennis) and Patty Wiegand, Tennessee (track and cross country)
1992 - Jeff Laubenthal, Alabama (baseball) and Jenifer Kleyn, Auburn (volleyball)
1993 - Lang Wiseman, Tennessee (basketball) and Aimee York, Mississippi State (volleyball)
1994 - Peter Duitsman, South Carolina (soccer) and Tammy Newlon, Mississippi State (basketball)
1995 - Michael Blanchard, LSU (football) and April Ecke, Mississippi State (cross country)
1996 - Martin Nyberg, LSU (swimming) and Michelle Palmisano, Vanderbilt (basketball)
1997 - Andrew DeVooght, Georgia (swimming) and Meredith Willard, Alabama (gymnastics)
1998 - Jeremy Jackson, Mississippi State (baseball) and Shani Abshier, South Carolina (volleyball)
1999 - Jeff Zurcher, Kentucky (football) and Jessica Field, Arkansas (volleyball)
2000 - Joey Pitts, Georgia (tennis) and Lisette Lee, LSU (golf)
2001 - Scott Westerfield, Mississippi State (football) and Kim Black, Georgia (swimming)
2002 - Trey Dyson, South Carolina (baseball) and Tiffany Woolley, Arkansas (softball)
2003 - Matt Bonner, Florida (basketball) and Kristin Sterner, Alabama (gymnastics)
2004 - Caesar Garcia, Auburn (swimming & diving) and Lauren Imwalle, Alabama (soccer)
2005 - Rob Robertson, Ole Miss (football) and Lauryn McCalley, Tennessee (swimming & diving)
2006 - Rudy Niswanger, LSU (football) and Sarah Lowe, Florida (basketball)
2007 - Emeel Salem, Alabama (baseball) and Erika Schneble, Vanderbilt (track & field)
2008 - Joseph Sykora, Alabama (golf) and Kristen Hastrup, Auburn (swimming & diving)
2009 - Bram ten Berge, Ole Miss (tennis) and Christine Magnuson, Tennessee (swimming & diving)
2010 - Jordan Anderson, Auburn (swimming & diving) and Phoebe Wright, Tennessee (track & field)
2011 - Dan Mazzaferro, Auburn (swimming & diving) and Erica Meissner, Auburn (swimming & diving)
2012 - Michael Roth, South Carolina (baseball) and Wendy Trott, Georgia (swimming & diving)
2013 - Barrett Jones, Alabama (football) and Chelsea Oswald, Kentucky (track & field/cross country)
2014 - Cory Whitsett, Alabama (golf) and Shannon Vreeland, Georgia (swimming)
2015 - Nathanael Franks, Arkansas (track & field) and Maddie Locus, Georgia (swimming)
2016 - Forrest Gamble, Ole Miss (golf) and Haylie McCleney, Alabama (softball)

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Bama Football In The NFL; Alabama Baseball Falls To LSU; 2019 Football Prospect Puts Tide In Top 10; Expect More Players Arriving This Summer Expecting To Break Into Bama Football Lineup; Alabama Track & Field Head To SEC Relays

Four UA Players Selected In Round One Of 2017 NFL Draft

PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania - The 2017 NFL Draft is in full swing. After round one, four Crimson Tide football players are ready to suit up for their respective teams. Alabama players selected in round one on Thursday evening were Marlon Humphrey selected at 16th (the first Tide player to be picked), Jonathan Allen at No. 17, O.J. Howard was 19th and finally Reuben Foster was No. 31. This year's draft venue is the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

The four first round selections for the University of Alabama are the most for any team in this year's opening round, and also equals the most selections for the Crimson Tide in the first round under Alabama football head coach Nick Saban. Four UA players were drafted in the first round of both the 2011 and 2012 drafts.

Bama has now placed 22 players in the first round of the last nine drafts. Andre Smith was selected in 2009. Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson were picked in 2010. Marcell Dareus, Julio Jones, James Carpenter and Mark Ingram all went in round one in 2011, while Trent Richardson, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick and Dont'a Hightower were taken in 2012. Dee Milliner, Chance Warmack and D.J. Fluker were selected in 2013 while C.J. Mosley and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix were chosen in 2014. Amari Cooper was selected in 2015. Ryan Kelly was selected just this past year, 2016.

Here is a look at Alabama's four 1st-Round NFL Draft Picks:

16th Selection: Marlon Humphrey, Baltimore Ravens

The first University of Alabama Crimson Tide player to be selected last night was cornerback Marlon Humphrey. Of note is the fact that the general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, Ozzie Newsome, is a former player and College Football Hall of Fame member for UA.  became the first Alabama player picked in the 2017 NFL Draft. He started all 29 games during his tenure with the Crimson Tide.

Humphrey did something his father, Bobby Humphrey, didn't do. Marlon was selected in the regular NFL Draft, while Bobby was selected in the 1989 NFL Supplemental Draft. Humphrey the elder was a big-time running back for the Crimson Tide and NFL. Bobby rushed for 2,353 yards in his first two seasons in the National Football League.

Marlon Humphrey was selected by the Football Writers Association of America as a first team All-American in 2016. He was a three-time All-State selection in football as well as a track star at Hoover High School, and, in his senior season, won seven events at the AHSAA indoor and outdoor track championships.

It should be noted that the Ravens' first-round pick was announced by 14-year old T.J. Owuanibe, an eighth-grader from Baltimore, Maryland who had been diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago. Owuanibe's wish come true in making the announcement last evening.

17th Selection: Jonathan Allen, Washington Redskins

Allen was the second player from Bama to be selected in last night's draft. He had been projected to be selected higher, but will be a good fit with the 'Skins.

Allen won the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award as the nation's best defensive player and the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation's best defensive end during the 2016 season with the University of Alabama. Allen was also the Defensive Player of the Year for the Southeastern Conference as well as a unanimous All-American.

He also led the Tide in sacks and quarterback hurries last season as well as returning two of his three fumble recoveries for touchdowns of 75 and 30 yards.


19th Selection: O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

University of Alabama tight end O.J. Howard was the third player from the Crimson Tide selected last night. Howard is expected to be a great addition to the receiver corps, since the Bucs had recently picked up wide receiver DeSean Jackson from the Washington Redskins. It gives the Buccaneers quarterback, Jameis Winston, what he needs to be more successful.

Howard caught 45 passes for 595 yards and three touchdowns for Alabama in 2016. He was the Most Valuable Player in the Alabama win over Clemson in the 2015 National Championship game as well as the top player during the week of prep for the annual all-star game at the Reese's Senior Bowl in Mobile back in January. Howard was also a three-time All-State selection at Autauga Academy.

Howard was a finalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the nation's top top linebacker.
 

31st Selection: Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers

The fourth player from the Crimson Tide selected in last night's first round of the NFL Draft was linebacker Reuben Foster. With his selection, Alabama once again tied the Southeastern Conference record for most first-round selection from one team in one draft. The marks the third time that the UA football program has earned this accomplishment.

Foster was a unanimous All-American for the Crimson Tide this past season, as well as picking up the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker. Most had projected Foster, and other Crimson Tiders, to go higher in the first round of the draft. Most believe an altercation with a hospital worker , a failed drug test, being sent home from the NFL Scouting Combine as well as shoulder surgery after the season dropped the young man's stock.

In order to pick up Foster, the San Francisco 49ers made a trade with the Chicago Bears. The Niners held the second selection, but made the trade and picked third instead. Then the 49ers got the 31st pick from the Seattle Seahawks to make their second first-round selection.

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Alabama Baseball Falls To LSU

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Alabama baseball is now looking at a 15-7 season slate, with only winning 2-of-17 in Southeastern Conference play thus far. The Crimson Tide lost again last night, this time to 15th-ranked LSU by a score of 8-2.

Alabama baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "I think (Alex Lange) is a really good arm and a true Friday night guy. I felt like we had some really good at-bats tonight. When you've got a good arm on the mound like (Lange), you've got to be able to get situational hits; those are the little things that we have to do. You're not going to get four or five hits off of that guy in the same inning, so you've got to be able to situational hit, and we just didn't come through tonight."

LSU starter Alex Lange (5-4) picked up his fifth win of the season with 7.1 innings of two-run baseball. The Tiger right-hander allowed eight hits and issued one walk while striking out 10 Bama players. Tide starter Dylan Duarte (2-5) suffered the loss in the Thursday evening contest, exiting the game early after 3.0 innings. Following Duarte on the mound were Sam Finnerty, Zac Rogers and Mike Oczypok for the final 6.0 innings. 

Bama picked up two hits apiece from Alex Webb, Cody Henry and Kyle Kaufman, with Webb completing the evening two-for-four with a double, a home run, both of Alabama's RBIs as well as one run scored.

The second game of the series between Alabama and LSU return to the field tonight at 6 p.m. CT at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. The game will air nationally on the SEC Network.

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2019 Football Prospect Puts Tide In Top 10

Arjei Henderson
Twitter Photo

One target-prospect for University of Alabama football for the Class of 2019 has released his top 10, or as he calls it, his big 10. Arjei Henderson is listed as one of the top prospects in the country for 2019, and he has narrowed his list to ten schools.

Henderson is listed as a four-star receiver out of Richmond, Texas. Via Twitter he listed his favorites. 

Henderson has listed as his top ten The University of Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Penn State, USC, Oregon, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan and Ohio State.

The young man had originally committed to Oklahoma back in February, but then decommitted in April. The 6' 1", 190-pounder reportedly holds approximately 40 offers in all, and is rated by 247Sports as the No. 9 wide receiver and No. 37 overall prospect in the country for 2019.

Last season Henderson hauled down 100 passes for 18 touchdowns and 1,400 yards.

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Expect More Players Arriving This Summer

Looking To Break Into Crimson Tide Football Lineup

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - For die-hard University of Alabama football fans, we have now entered sort of a "dead period." Not dead, yet, for overall sports at UA, what with some of the sports programs still competing, but admittedly, an overall dead period will be here in a matter of weeks.

But football. I understand your thinking. Even on Twitter many accounts go dormant after the bowl games. Then some will put in another appearance when spring training comes, only to drop out again when the A-Day game is past.

Alabama had a good crop of signees go ahead and enroll at The Capstone after the first of year. That gave them a jump on the student-athletes that still needed additional credits in high school in order to graduate and then enroll at Bama. This group gets a head start, including many that were able to play in the A-Day Game. But, remember, there are some great players still to arrive on campus this summer and begin preparations for the fall. And there are some who didn't sign, but are coming.

Case-in-point, kicker Joseph Bulovas. Bulovas wasn't included as a part of the 2017 National Signing Day, but is scheduled to arrive on campus this summer. He went with the blue shirt option. The young man can kick.

Also arriving this summer will be offensive tackle Jedrick Wills. He's a big, strong young man who could contribute to the Tide this fall. He will enroll this summer, and though the offensive line is looking good, it's never a bad thing to have someone else ready to come in each game, sometimes for short periods and sometimes for longer...and heaven forbid in the event of injury along that front line.
At 6' 5", 310 pounds, he would be a really good one to have up front. In fact, according to Rivals.com, he is a five-star recruit.

Turning to the defensive line, there's a pair that will be looking to break into the rotation. Arriving this summer will be LaBryan Ray and Phil Mathis. Both big and strong, both with a positive mental attitude and both hungry to play for the Crimson Tide.

Ray was rated as a five-star prospect, and took down  ball carriers 124 times in 2016, 25 of which were tackles-for-loss. He also contributed 13 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and even blocked a punt.

Last season Mathis recorded 41 tackles, of which 12 were for a loss, as well as seven sacks and six quarterback hurries. He was listed as a four-star prospect by 247Sports.

Others are coming. Bama once again had the number one recruiting class this past year and really loaded up. It will be interesting to see which of them actually are able to make a place for themselves. Competition is sure to be fierce.

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Alabama Track & Field Head To SEC Relays

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama men's and women's track & field teams are set to compete in the SEC Relays on April 28-29 at LSU's Bernie Moore Track & Field Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Other Southeastern Conference schools scheduled to compete include Arkansas, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt. This weekend's meet will be the final scheduled regular season meet for Bama prior to the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

The Crimson Tide men's track and field team is ranked fifth this week,  while the women are 10th in the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Team Rankings. The men's team scored 204.45 points while the women's team picked up 135.07 points. Regionally, the men are ranked No. 1 in the South region for the third-consecutive week, while the women remain No. 3 for the second-consecutive week.

Bama Baseball To Host LSU; University Of Alabama Football Trivia; Alabama Men's Tennis Falls In SEC Tournament First Round; Nick Saban Says There Is No Quarterback Controversy; Celebrity Birthdays

Bama Baseball To Host LSU

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – The University of Alabama baseball team will host the 15th-ranked LSU Tigers at Sewell-Thomas Stadium for a three-game Southeastern Conference series beginning tonight and lasting through Saturday. The Crimson Tide and Tigers are set for a start time tonight of 6:30 p.m. CT for the series opener. Game two of the series is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. CT on Friday, with the series finale scheduled for 2 p.m. CT on Saturday. The opener is slated to be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 with Tom Hart handling the play-by-play and Gabe Gross on color. The final two games of the series will air live on SEC Network+ with Eli Gold on play-by-play and Lance Cormier on color/analysis.

Tonight's contest will be the 367th meeting between the two teams, with Alabama holding the overall series lead at 201-162-3 as well as a 115-66 home slate. 

Tonight's starting pitcher for the Crimson Tide will be lefty Dylan Duarte, while the Tigers counter with right-hander Alex Lange.

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University Of Alabama Football Trivia

Like trivia? I know you like the University of Alabama, so go ahead...give it a try!

  1 Who set an Alabama record for the most rushing yards in 1999?

  2 Who did Alabama beat in the 1993 Sugar Bowl?

  3 Who was the coach at Alabama before Bear Bryant?

  4 What was the first bowl game Gene Stallings went to as head coach at UA?

  5 Who was the MVP of the 1993 Sugar Bowl?

  6 Which team did Alabama beat in 1926 to become the 1925 National Champion?

  7 Which former Crimson Tide player became a movie star?

  8 What is the name of the UA on-campus stadium?

  9 What bowl was Bear Bryant's final bowl appearance?

 10 What win against an Ivy League school put UA on the college football map?

*See answers below.

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Alabama Crimson Tide Men's Tennis

Falls To Vanderbilt In 1st Round Of SEC Tournament

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – The University of Alabama men's tennis team lost a first round decision in the 2017 Southeastern Conference Tournament to Vanderbilt on Wednesday afternoon. The Crimson Tide fell 4-2 to the 49th-ranked Commodores at the Barksdale Stadium on the campus of The University of Tennessee. With the loss, UA men's tennis drops to an 11-17 record, 2-11 in SEC play. Vandy improves to 12-14, 3-10 SEC.

Alabama 2, No. 49 Vanderbilt 4

SINGLES
1. No. 54 Daniel Valent (Vanderbilt) defeated No. 27 Mazen Osama (Alabama) 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-4
2. No. 107 Baker Newman (Vanderbilt) defeated No. 119 Thibault Cancel (Alabama) 6-3, 6-2
3. Billy Rowe (Vanderbilt) defeated Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-1
4. Edson Ortiz (Alabama) vs. Panu Virtanen (Vanderbilt) 6-2, 4-6, 5-5, DNF
5. Zhe Zhou (Alabama) defeated Tate Allwardt (Vanderbilt) 7-6(3), 6-3
6. Spencer Richey (Alabama) defeated Pen Binet (Vanderbilt) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

DOUBLES
1. No. 12 Mazen Osama/Spencer Richey (Alabama)  defeated  Pen Binet/Baker Newman (Vanderbilt) 6-3
2. Tate Allwardt/Billy Rowe (Vanderbilt) defeated Thibault Cancel/Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-3

3. Daniel Valent/Panu Virtanen (Vanderbilt) defeated Edson Ortiz/Zhe Zhou (Alabama) 6-4

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Nick Saban Says There Is No Quarterback Controversy

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Let this one thing be perfectly clear. There is no quarterback controversy at The University of Alabama. None. Zilch. It's a settled matter.

Those who were impressed with true freshman and early-enrollee Tua Tagovailoa and his performances at last Saturday's A-Day Spring Game can just remained impressed. But those saying he's the best quarterback? No. Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban says there is a starter, and he started for UA football last season. That would be SEC Player of the Year, Jalen Hurts.

Commenting on the situation while in Mobile, Sabana said, "Jalen Hurts played a lot of good football for us last year, and he's certainly made a lot of progress this spring. Even though all of you in the press are trying to make a quarterback controversy out of nothing, which is what you're doing right now, there isn't one."


In the A-Day contest, Hurts completed 16 of 25 passes 301 yards, accounted for two touchdowns and threw one interception. He led a last-minute drive, ending in a field goal, to give the Crimson Team a 27-24 victory over the White Team which was led by Tagovailoa.

Tagovailoa enrolled early at The Capstone in order to get a jump on incoming freshmen in order to practice and learn the system employed by the Alabama football team. Saturday he completed 18 of 32 passes for 315 yards and three touchdowns. He, like Hurts, tossed one interception. However, Tagovailoa's interception was returned for a 60-yard score by Terrell Hall.

Saban was complimentary of both Hurts and Tagovailoa, saying, "We want both guys to play at a high level, and I think the competition that they offer each other is probably healthy for both and, hopefully, will make both players better players, and we're just looking forward and feel fortunate to have two outstanding young men that can play at a high level at that position."

Of course never say never.

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Celebrity Birthdays
April 27th

Jessica Alba, Actress, 35

Ann Margaret, Actress, 75

Melanie Martinez, Singer, 21

Katherine Langford, Actress, 20

Penelope Cruz, Actress, 22

Drew Scott, TV show host, 38

Harry Shum, Jr., Actor, 34

Juan Mata, Soccer, 28

Billie Dawn Ingle, Instagram, 19

Michael Carbonaro, Actor, 34

Jay Leno, Talk Show Host, 66

Harper Lee, Novelist (1926-2016)

Jenna Ushkowitz, Actress, 30

Nikko Smith, Singer, 34

Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Actress, 29

Catherine Wayne, Comedian, 24

Bridget Moynahan, Actress, 46

Adrianna Di Liello, Actress, 14

Aleisha Allen, Actress, 25

Jorge Garcia, Actor, 43

Gianna Gomez, Actress, 12

Alex Riley, Wrestler, 35

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Answers To Trivia Questions

   1 Shaun Alexander

   2 Miami

   3 J.B. "Ears" Whitworth

   4 Fiesta Bowl (Alabama lost to Louisville 34-7)

   5 Derrick Lassic

   6 Washington (Alabama won 20-19)

   7 Johnny Mack Brown

   8 Bryant-Denny Stadium

   9 Liberty Bowl

 10 Pennsylvania

Bama Softball Slams Samford; Jacksonville State Baseball Defeats Crimson Tide; Alabama Baseball Postgame Press Conference; Alabama Crimson Tide Men's Tennis Falls To Vanderbilt At SEC Tournament; Crimson Tide Football Injury Report; Jake Coker Calling It Quits; Celebrity Birthdays

Bama Softball Slams Samford

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – University of Alabama softball blasted out eight runs, including a pair of home runs in the first two innings, to give the Crimson Tide an 8-1 victory over the Samford Bulldogs on Tuesday evening in a non-Southeastern Conference contest in Birmingham, Alabama.

It was Alabama improving to an overall record of 38-11 scoring eight runs on eight hits. Six of those hits came from Reagan Dykes and Bailey Hemphill with home run blasts bring in six runs. Hemphill was two-for three on the night, with Dykes going one-for-two with one run and three RBIs. Elissa Brown was two-for-three with three runs to her credit, and Chandler Dare went two-for-three with one run. Starting pitcher Madi Moore (6-1) earned the complete-game win while holding Samford (21-30) to just one run on two hits.

The Crimson Tide continues SEC play with a three-game series against the  No. 20/21 Ole Miss Rebels (31-16, 6-12 SEC) in Oxford, Mississippi beginning this Saturday, April 29th at 2 p.m. CT. Sunday and Monday's games are both scheduled for 6 p.m. CT starts and will be broadcast live on the SEC Network.

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Jacksonville State Baseball Defeats Crimson Tide

Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – Another Alabama baseball game. Another loss. Jacksonville State batted out four runs in the seventh inning that proved to be the difference in the Tuesday evening contest to defeat the Crimson Tide 11-8 to Jacksonville State at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. UA baseball now falls to 15-26 on the season.

University of Alabama baseball head coach Greg Goff said, "Our guys competed all night. Offensively, we never gave in, coming back twice. I don't respect walks and errors, and you can do that against a good team like Jacksonville State or you're going to let them back in the game like we did tonight."

It was a game until the seventh inning, with both team slugging out runs, back-and-forth, throughout the night. Though the Tide held a one-run lead at the bottom of the sixth inning, the five-run barrage by Jax State gave JSU a four-run lead and the victory.

All-in-all, eight of the Crimson Tide starters recorded at least one hit, totalling a team total of 13 on the evening. Cody Henry finished the night three-for-four with a home run, a team-best four RBIs, and two runs. Chandler Taylor finished the night one-for-four with two RBIs, a walk and one run on a home run knock. Taylor's home run extended his hitting streak to 11 games this season.  Kyle Kaufman finished the contest a perfect two-for-two with two walks, a hit-by-pitch, one RBI and two runs scored. Kaufman reached basein all five at-bats.

Alabama next faces No. 15 LSU in a three-game series this Thursday through Saturday. Game one is set for a 6:30 p.m. CT start and will be broadcast on ESPN2 on Thursday. The Friday game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT, with the series finale scheduled to start at 2 p.m. CT. The final two games of the series can be seen on SEC Network+.

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Alabama Baseball Postgame Press Conference

Click HERE to watch postgame presser via Tide TV

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Alabama Crimson Tide Men's Tennis
Falls To Vanderbilt In 1st Round Of SEC Tournament

KNOXVILLE, Tennessee – The University of Alabama men's tennis team lost a first round decision in the 2017 Southeastern Conference Tournament to Vanderbilt this afternoon. The Crimson Tide fell 4-2 to the 49th-ranked Commodores at the Barksdale Stadium on the campus of The University of Tennessee. With the loss, UA men's tennis drops to an 11-17 record, 2-11 in SEC play. Vandy improves to 12-14, 3-10 SEC. 

Alabama 2, No. 49 Vanderbilt 4

SINGLES

1. No. 54 Daniel Valent (Vanderbilt) defeated No. 27 Mazen Osama (Alabama) 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-4

2. No. 107 Baker Newman (Vanderbilt) defeated No. 119 Thibault Cancel (Alabama) 6-3, 6-2

3. Billy Rowe (Vanderbilt) defeated Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-7(1), 6-4, 6-1

4. Edson Ortiz (Alabama) vs. Panu Virtanen (Vanderbilt) 6-2, 4-6, 5-5, DNF

5. Zhe Zhou (Alabama) defeated Tate Allwardt (Vanderbilt) 7-6(3), 6-3

6. Spencer Richey (Alabama) defeated Pen Binet (Vanderbilt) 2-6, 6-3, 6-1

DOUBLES

1. No. 12 Mazen Osama/Spencer Richey (Alabama)  defeated  Pen Binet/Baker Newman (Vanderbilt) 6-3

2. Tate Allwardt/Billy Rowe (Vanderbilt) defeated Thibault Cancel/Alexey Nesterov (Alabama) 6-3

3. Daniel Valent/Panu Virtanen (Vanderbilt) defeated Edson Ortiz/Zhe Zhou (Alabama) 6-4

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Crimson Tide Football Injury Report

Alabama's Nick Saban
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

TUSCALOOSA, Alabama - Several University of Alabama injured players are making progress in their recoveries this spring. As everyone knows, several Crimson Tide players didn't participate in the annual A-Day Spring Game due to injury issues, but are well on the road to recovery. Others have a little longer to go, and one appears to have an injury from the game this past weekend. The only injury of any real concern from Saturday was sophomore cornerback Aaron Robinson, who left late in the third quarter after making a tackle.

Robinson was an important special teams player for Alabama last season, and appears to suffer an injury to his right leg. He was later spotted using crutches on the sidelines. Alabama head football coach Nick Saban, speaking in Mobile on Tuesday just prior to the annual Team Focus charity event, said that the injury suffered by Robinson was not considered serious.

Saban commented, "Aaron Robinson did not need surgery. He actually was scheduled to have hip surgery, which was an old injury from high school. And he had that surgery and it was very successful."

Also mentioned by the head man was senior defensive end Da'Shawn Hand. The coaches thought it best for Hand to sit out of the game on Saturday recovering from back issues. Saban commented that Hand's injury was also not a long-term problem.

Saban said, "I think Da'Shawn Hand could have played in the spring game. It was just kind of precautionary. He actually practiced on Thursday before the spring game."

Though players were not mentioned by name, Saban did say that a handful of Bama players were on the mend. "We had players who needed surgeries after the season, some of them didn't make it back for spring practice," Saban said. "We've got players that have injuries that have the next month or so to heal up and be able to play."

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Jake Coker Calling It Quits

Former University of Alabama quarterback Jake Coker
Photo Credit: UA Athletics

Former University of Alabama football quarterback Jake Coker always said his main goal was to win a national championship. In 2015, he did just that...as the starting quarterback of the Crimson Tide. Coker successfully led Bama to a 14-1 record that season, and let UA to the national championship by defeating the Clemson Tigers 45-40.

Now, he is officially retiring from football, he recently announced.

Coker says he is done with the game. A knee injury has hampered him, and decided it was time to just "move on," according to an interview with Creg Stephenson of AL.com. He also told Stephenson he was "excited about what's ahead."

Coker threw for over 3,100 yards in his championship season, along with 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Good luck, Jake. Roll Tide!

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Celebrity Birthdays

April 26th

Channing Tatum, Actor, 37

Melania Trump, First Lady, 47

Simply Liv, Youtube, 13

Kane, Wrestler, 50

Jason Earles, Actor, 40

Daniel Padilla, Actor, 22

Kevin James, Actor, 52

Jet Li, Actor, 54

Stana Katic, Actress, 39

Jordana Brewster, Actress, 37

Sterling Griffith, Actress, 16

Tom Welling, Actor, 40

Anna McNulty, Youtube, 15

Evelina Barry, Youtube, 28

Carol Burnett, Actress/TV Show hostess, 84

Keara Graves, Actress, 18

Jessica Lee Rose, Actress, 30

Bambino Becky, Youtube, 19

Roger Taylor, Musician, 57

Allisyn Ashley Arm, Actress, 21

Luke Bracey, Actor, 28

Emily Wickersham, Actress, 33

Cole Beasley, Football, 28

Ricky Norwood, Actor, 29

McKenzie Westmore, Actress, 40

Riley Voelkel, Actress, 40