Tony Brown Earns All-America Honors
_____
Finishes 6th At 2016 NCAA Track & Field Championships
Alabama's Track & Field Standout Tony Brown
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The University of Alabama has another All-American. The Crimson Tide's Tony Brown finished sixth yesterday in the
110-meter hurdles to earn All-America honors on the final day of men’s
competition at the 2016 NCAA Track and Field Championships being held at Hayward
Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Alabama track and field head coach was proud of the young man, offering praise for his abilities and accomplishment, saying, "For a guy who has seen pretty limited action on the track the
last two years, Tony Brown really stepped up and showed what a
competitor he is. He’s an impressive talent and he did a great job this season making
his way into the final here and earning All-America honors. Overall, it
was a disappointing day and a tough one for our men but our program has
come far in five years and we had people competing across all the
disciplines in this meet. It’s been a pretty special year for us in a
lot of ways, just a tough final day for our men’s team today."
Here's a look at how Alabama men fared in Friday’s field event finals:
Joe Williams (187 feet, 5 inches; 57.13 meters), Hayden Reed (180-8; 55.06m), and Kord Ferguson (180-5; 54.99m) finished 11th, 16th and 17th, respectively in the men’s discus. Justin Fondren tied for 22nd in the high jump at 6-10 ¼ (2.09m).
Kord Ferguson
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Justin Fondren
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Daniel Haugh
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Hayden Reed
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Joe Williams
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
-----------------------------------
Seattle Mariners Select Thomas Burrows In MLB Draft
The 2016 Major League Baseball First Year Draft is underway, and Alabama Crimson Tide closer Thomas Burrows has been selected by the Seattle Mariners as the 11th pick of the fourth round, and the 117th selection overall. Burrows is the first player taken from the 2015-16 Alabama men's roster.
Burrows is the Crimson Tide career saves leader with a total of 30 saves, a 7-6 record and 72 relief appearances. He had a 2.20 ERA (25 ER/102.1 IP) during his three seasons at the Capstone, and held opposing hitters to a .210 average, allowing only 76 hits. He struck out 113 batters as opposed to 39 walks (2.9K/BB) in his three season's as the Tide's primary closer.
The lefty recently completed his third season with the Crimson Tide sporting a career-high 12 saves, closing out his junior year with a 0.95 ERA (3 ER/28.1 IP) and allowing only nine walks as compared to 41 punchouts. Burrows allowed only 19 hits, as he held the opposition to just a .179 average. With his 2-1 record he had 12 saves in 13 chances across 21 total appearances. Burrows suffered an oblique strain in March, but was able to come back after missing a month in recovery to still put together his best season to date. The youngster was named to the Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List and was a candidate for All-America honors as a relief pitcher.
The 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft concludes today. Coverage of the event starts at 11 a.m. CT this morning, covering rounds 11-40 and can be seen on the MLB Network.
-----------------------------------
4-Star LB Markail Benton Chooses Crimson Tide Football
Markail Benton
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
-----------------------------------
Kicker Brandon Ruiz Commits To Crimson Tide Football
Nick Saban with Brandon Ruiz
-----------------------------------
-----------------------------------
4-Star LB Markail Benton Chooses Crimson Tide Football
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Another elite high school football player plucked from the hands of the Auburn Tigers.
Four-star linebacker Markail Benton announced yesterday in a ceremony at Central-Phenix City High School that he would be attending the University of Alabama to continue his football career.
The 2017 Under Armour All-American told those attending, "I would like to thank the schools that have recruited me. It was a very hard decision to decide, but I think I've found the right school for me to further my education and play football. Every child should have that dream to be successful in life.
"My decision is, as you all should see, the University of Alabama. Roll Tide." Benton chose the Tide over finalists Auburn and Florida State.
Benton is quite impressive, with the speed and size enabling him to be an inside or outside linebacker. Coaches say the young man has the ability to come off the edge to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, as well as being able to do very well in man coverage.
The Phenix City native is the 12th player to commit to the Crimson Tide from the class of 2017. He is the No. 3 recruit in the state and the No. 6 outside linebacker in the nation according to 247Sports composite.
Kicker Brandon Ruiz Commits To Crimson Tide Football
Photo Credit: Brandon Ruiz Twitter Acct.
The University of Alabama football program picked up two commitments for the class of 2017 yesterday. The first was four-star linebacker Markail Benton. Then the second arrived later in the afternoon, via Twitter. That one is 5' 10", 165-pounder Brandon Ruiz out of Gilbert, Arizona, who is rated as the top kicker prospect in the 2017 class according to Chris Sailor Kicking.
Recruitment of the young Ruiz has been primarily handled by Bobby Williams. Ruiz reportedly holds offers not only from Alabama, but also Tennessee, Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State.
Recruitment of the young Ruiz has been primarily handled by Bobby Williams. Ruiz reportedly holds offers not only from Alabama, but also Tennessee, Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State.
The young man has connected on a 76-yard field goal, and proudly displays a video of the kick.
On his website, Chris Sailer wrote, "Brandon is a big-time kicking prospect. He is a great athlete with an elite leg. Field
goals are outstanding off the ground. He is smooth and accurate. Gets
great height on his ball. Kickoffs are a major strength. He hits a
big-time D1 ball. He is also a dependable punter. Brandon is a
competitor that does very well under pressure. A fine young man with a
great attitude and work ethic. He is going to dominate the next level.
... Huge addition for Alabama."
-----------------------------------
2017 Football Commitments For Alabama Football
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team currently has 13 student-athletes who have committed to furthering their football careers at the Capstone. As new commits are announced the list will be updated and released.
Here is the complete list of 2017 commitments to UA as of 6/11/16:
- Najee Harris, RB (6-1, 210), Antioch, California
- Alex Leatherwood, OL (6-4, 300), Pensacola, Florida
- Chadarius Townsend, ATH, (6-0, 180), Tanner, Alabama*
- Xavier McKinney, DB (6-1, 170), Roswell, Georgia
- Brian Robinson, RB (6-2, 210), Tuscaloosa, Alabama*
- Aaron Sterling, DL (6-1, 270), Stone Mountain, Georgia
- Gary Johnson, LB (6-2, 225), Dodge City (Kan.) Community College
- VanDarius Cowan, LB (6-4, 217), Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
- Tua Tagovailoa, QB (6-1, 210), Honolulu, Hawaii
- Elliot Baker, OL (6-7, 295), City College of San Francisco (Calif.)
- Mac Jones, QB (6-2, 185), Jacksonville, Fla.
- Markail Benton, LB (6-2, 245), Phenix City, Alabama*
- Brandon Ruiz, K (5-10, 165), Gilbert, Arizona
*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments
-----------------------------------
