Alabama Keeps Rollin' Up Awards
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| 2016 SEC Coach Of The Year Nick Saban Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Yes, it's nothing new for the Alabama Crimson Tide football program. Awards year-in and year-out.
And all of them special.
In addition to Saban's nod for the SEC Coach of the Year honor, Hurts was named Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, Allen was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year and Robinson was honored with the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, emblematic of the SEC's top offensive lineman. All honors were voted on by the all 14 head coaches of the Southeastern Conference. Incidentally, the coaches were not allowed to vote for their own players.
Saban is in his 10th season at The Capstone, and just this week was named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson and American Football Coaches Association coach of the year awards. This season Saban has led the Crimson Tide to a 13-0 record, its 26th SEC championship and a No. 1 seed in the 2016 College Football Playoff. Coach Saban has done a remarkable job since arriving at UA, with this being the ninth consecutive season he has coached the Tide to a 10-win season. This is also the sixth straight season with 11 wins. Alabama now enters the 2016 postseason on a 25-game winning streak, the longest active streak in college football.
Hurts is Alabama's first Freshman of the Year selection and is the first true freshman to be named the SEC's Offensive Player of the Year since 2003 when the league split its Player of the Year honor into separate offensive and defensive awards. Hurts has started 12 of Alabama's 13 games this season and is the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama since 1984. He is already the school's single-season quarterback rushing leader and is very close to breaking the season records for touchdown responsibility and total offense.
Allen was honored with the Nagurski Trophy as the national defensive player of the year on Monday and is a finalist for the Chuck Bednarik Award, and now this SEC Defensive Player Of The Year honor. He has been a huge factor the Alabama defense, one that leads the nation in total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense and defensive touchdowns. Allen leads the Crimson Tide in quarterback hurries (15) and shares the team lead in sacks (8.5) as well as 13.0 tackles for loss. In addition, he has returned a team-leading two fumble recoveries for 105 combined yards and two touchdowns. He is second on the Bama all-time career sacks list with 26.5, just behind former Bama-great Derrick Thomas.
Robinson has really shown some chops this season. He, by the way, is a finalist for the Outland Trophy. He has been a true leader on the Alabama offensive line. Bama's offensive line has been the instrument that has provided protection for a balanced attack that leads the SEC in scoring at 40.5 points per game and is second in total offense (471.3 yards per game), rushing offense (245.0 yards per game) and yards per rushing attempt (5.7). Robinson earned first-team All-SEC honors on Monday and is the second Alabama player to win the Jacobs, with center Ryan Kelly winning the award in 2015.
The SEC All-Freshman Team is set to be announced on Thursday.
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Crimson Tide Football Places Five
On Both USA TODAY & Sports Illustrated All-America Teams
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Crimson Tide Football Places Five
On Both USA TODAY & Sports Illustrated All-America Teams
Don't you just love this time of year? This is the time you get to see how well respected (mostly) the players and coaches are from the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football program. The awards start rolling in and just seem to keep on a-comin'!
Alabama football has landed five players on both the USA TODAY and Sports Illustrated All-America Teams. Both organizations made the announcements this afternoon.
Making the first team for USA TODAY are Reuben Foster and Jonathan Allen. It was O.J. Howard, Minkah Fitzpatrick and Tim Williams making the second team.
The Sports Illustrated selections were Allen, Foster and Cam Robinson for the first team, while Williams and JK Scott were added to the second team.
Allen had a career-high 56 tackles this season, including 13 tackles for loss as well as 8.5 sacks. He also has 15 quarterback hurries, a blocked field goal attempt and two fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns.
Foster has well-represented and captained the Alabama defense this season. The Bama D ranks first nationally in both total defense (247.8 ypg) as well as scoring defense (11.8 ppg). Foster leads the Crimson Tide in tackles with a total of 94, including 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also has contributed eight quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
Robinson has stepped up and been a real leader on the Tide offensive line this season. This group of young men have provided protection for a balanced attack that leads the SEC in scoring at 40.5 points per game and is second in total offense (471.3 yards per game), rushing offense (245.0 yards per game) and yards per rushing attempt (5.7). Robinson also has been given First Team All-SEC honors and is the second Alabama player to win the Jacobs.
Currently enjoying his finest season with the Tide, Fitzpatrick has recorded a career-high 56 tackles, including five tackles for loss and one sack. He leads the SEC with five interceptions and 158 return yards, including two pick-sixes. The two returns for a score give Fitzpatrick a total of four in his career with the Tide, the most in Alabama history. Incidentally, his 100-yard interception return vs. Arkansas on October 8th is the longest in school history.
Howard has been impressive this season. Though the numbers are not exactly huge, they all were meaningful. He has caught 13 passes for 445 yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2016. He is also close to breaking into the Alabama football career top 10 for receptions with 106, just two shy of 10th all-time at Alabama
Scott has been impressive this season as in the past. He is averaging 47.7 yards per punt on 46 attempt, has forced 11 fair catches and placed 17 punts inside the 20 yard line. Twenty-three of his 46 punts have traveled more than 50 yards, including six of 60 yards or more. His season-long boot of 66 yards came against LSU, with two punts flying for 63 yards at Ole Miss and Arkansas. He also had a 60-yarder against the Texas A&M Aggies.
Williams shares the team sack lead with Allen at 8.5 and is second on the team with 15.5 tackles for loss. Nearly 60 percent of his 27 tackles have come behind the line of scrimmage. He has also recorded one sack, two pass breakups, 12 quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery that he returned 23 yards for a touchdown against the Arkansas Razorbacks. His 21.5 career tackles for loss ranks seventh on the Alabama all-time list.
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Four Bama Footballers Named To
Pro Football Focus All-America Team
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Four first-team honorees were selected from the Crimson Tide, the most of any school in the country. Those named were Nagurski Trophy winner Jonathan Allen and Butkus Award winner Reuben Foster as first-team selections, and fellow senior O.J. Howard as well as and sophomore Minkah Fitzpatrick were also added to the first team.
Jonathan Allen is pretty much the anchor of the Alabama defensive line, thus the honor of being named the 2016 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and all the other honors bestowed. He has definitely been a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive front that leads the country in rush defense allowing only 63.4 yards per game. He has a career-high 56 tackles this season, including a whopping 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Allen is also credited with 15 quarterback hurries, a blocked field goal attempt and two fumble recoveries. Oh yeah, both of those fumble recoveries were returned for touchdowns.
Foster has served as captain for pretty much the best defense in the country and is the 2016 Butkus Award winner, The Alabama defensive unit ranks first nationally in both total defense (247.8 ypg) and rushing defense (63.4 ypg), and in scoring defense (11.8 ppg) as well. Foster is leading the Bama defense in tackles with 94, including 12 for a loss (-56 yards) and four sacks (-33 yards). He is also responsible for eight quarterback hurries and two pass breakups.
This is the first All-America team honor in his career for Howard. He has snagged 37 receptions for 445 yards and two touchdowns. Howard has also showed his chops as a blocker, being a valuble asset in opening up running lanes for Bama runners.
And of course there is Minkah Fitzpatrick, who is currently enjoying his best season with the Crimson Tide. He has contributed a career-high 56 tackles, including five tackles for a loss (-14 yards) and a sack (-9 yards) this season. The sophomore leads the SEC with five interceptions and 158 return yards, including two impressive pick-sixes. The two returns for a score have given Fitzpatrick the record for the Crimson Tide, bring his total to four.
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Four-Star Safety Daniel Wright
Flips Commitment From Florida State To Alabama
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Four-Star Safety Daniel Wright
Flips Commitment From Florida State To Alabama
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| Daniel Wright commits to the Crimson Tide Photo Credit: 247Sports |
And then there were 24.
The University of Alabama landed 4-star safety Daniel Wright today when he flipped his commitment from the Florida State to the Crimson Tide of Alabama. This now gives Bama 24 commitments for the class of 2017.
The 6'1", 187-pound Wright had committed to the Seminoles back in the summer, but after traveling from his home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to pay Saban and The Capstone an official visit, Wright decided that playing for the defending national champions is what he wanted.
After his official visit, Wright said concerning the Alabama coaching staff, "They came even harder after that. It was crazy. As soon as I committed, the same day, coach (assistant Mario Cristobal) was already hitting me up and letting me know that they were still on me. That showed me a lot."
Wright isn't the first Florida State commit to flip from the Seminoles to the Crimson Tide. VanDarius Cowans was the first, hailing from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to decide that he needed to be in Tuscalooosa.
According to 247Sports composite rankings, Wright is ranked as the No. 121 overall recruit, No. 15 safety and No. 22 recruit in the state of Florida.
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Alabama QB David Cornwell Announces Transfer
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| David Cornwell is leaving UA Photo Credit: Getty Images |
When it rains it pours.
Okay, an old salt slogan, but it fits.
When true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts became the starting quarterback for the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team, many of us figured there would be an exodus of backup quarterbacks. The first one was Blake Barnett and pretty much on schedule. Now, however, just at the time all concentration needs to be on the playoffs, the departure of two more quarterbacks have been announced.
Cooper Bateman announced his transfer to parts-unknown only a few days ago. So that was two.
Now, David Cornwell has taken to Twitter to announce that he, too, is transferring. Cornwell tweeted yesterday:
My statement on transferring:
I've had the experience of a lifetime attending and
graduating from the University of Alabama. I have
made great friends and learned a lot from my coaches
and teammates. I've celebrated all of our successes as
a member of the team. At the same time, my dream
is to get on the field and contribute. I've put in the
work and although I didn't have that opportunity at
Alabama, I look forward to joining another program
for my final two years of eligibility. A big thank you
to Coach Saban for my time here. Roll Tide!
Cornwell is currently a sophomore at the University of Alabama. He redshirted in the 2014 season, and then last season didn't play at all. This year he has seen limited action, under center only eight times in 2016.
The 6' 5", 234-pound Cornwell will officially be listed as a graduate transfer making him immediately eligible to play wherever he ends up.
Cornwell had the same opportunities while at The Capstone but was unable to break into the starting or backup role. He has only been "the backup" for about a week now since the departure of Cooper Bateman. Cornwell was a four-star recruit out of Norman, Oklahoma.
Will Hurts be the only Alabama quarterback to actually have played in a game? Since it is still unclear as to whether either Bateman or Cornwell will remain with the Tide through the playoffs, there may be no experienced backup.
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Allen, Foster, Robinson & Fitzpatrick
Named To Sporting News All-America Team
More honors. More Bama players. More, more and more to come.
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team has had four players placed on the The Sporting News All-America Team. The announcement was made on Wednesday afternoon.
A total of three Crimson Tide players were added to the first team, and another placed on the second team. Nagurski Trophy and Ted Hendricks Award winner Jonathan Allen, Butkus Award winner Reuben Foster and Outland Trophy finalist Cam Robinson were all named as first-team selections, while sophomore Minkah Fitzpatrick received second-team honors.
Jonathan Allen is pretty much the anchor of the Alabama defensive line, thus the honor of being named the 2016 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and all the other honors bestowed. He has definitely been a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive front that leads the country in rush defense allowing only 63.4 yards per game. He has a career-high 56 tackles this season, including a whopping 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Allen is also credited with 15 quarterback hurries, a blocked field goal attempt and two fumble recoveries. Oh yeah, both of those fumble recoveries returned for touchdowns.
Foster leads the Crimson Tide in tackles with 94, including 12 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also has recorded eight quarterback hurries as well as two pass breakups.
The SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, Mr. Allen, makes sure you stay out of his neighborhood, leading an Alabama offensive line that has helped lead the way to open lanes and provide protection for the quarterback for an overall offense that leads the SEC in scoring at 40.5 points per game and is second in total offense (471.3 yards per game), rushing offense (245.0 yards per game) and yards per rushing attempt (5.7). The young man on Monday picked up First Team All-SEC honors and is the second Alabama player to win the Jacobs in as many years. Center Ryan Kelly won the award in 2015.
Fitzpatrick is having a great 2016 season. He has recorded a career-high 56 tackles, including five tackles for loss and one sack. He leads the SEC with five interceptions and 158 return yards, including two pick-sixes. The two returns for a score give Fitzpatrick four in his career, which is the most in Alabama history.
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Jonathan Allen Wins 2016 Ted Hendricks Award
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| Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Alabama Crimson Tide senior Jonathan Allen has been named the recipient of the 2016 Ted Hendricks Award. The award is presented annually to the nation's top collegiate defensive end. Allen is the first recipient from the University of Alabama.
The Hendricks Award is the second national award for Allen this week. He received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday. Allen is also a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, the Chuck Bednarik Award as well as the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
Jonathan Allen is pretty much the anchor of the Alabama defensive line, thus the honor of being named the 2016 SEC Defensive Player of the Year, and all the other honors bestowed. He has definitely been a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive front that leads the country in rush defense allowing only 63.4 yards per game. He has a career-high 56 tackles this season, including a whopping 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. Allen is also credited with 15 quarterback hurries, a blocked field goal attempt and two fumble recoveries. Both of the fumble recoveries were returned for touchdowns.
The award will be presented to Allen at the 2016 Hendricks Award Dinner in Miami, Florida.
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ESPN's Mike Golic Picks Bama In Playoffs
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| ESPN's Mike Golic Photo Credit: ESPN vis Bing |
University of Alabama football has one true ESPN believer. ESPN's Mike Golic of The Mike And Mike show says that the Crimson Tide will win both of their games in the College Football Playoffs to capture its 17th national championship. Oh yeah, He doesn't even think it will be close.
On his show this week, the co-host made the statement, "I think they win both their games by double-digits and win the national championship."
Very possible indeed. Alabama has won all 13 regular-season games this year by at least 10 points. With one exception. That being the team that beat the Crimson Tide the previous two consecutive years, the Ole Miss Rebels. That game ended 48-43.
