Jonathan Allen Picks Up Chuck Bednarik Award
Cam Robinson Wins 2016 Outland Trophy
 |
| Jonathan Allen Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics/Robert Sutton |
Don't you just love seeing these two pick up the hardware? And of course play the game of football that they pay sooo well.
Allen received the 2016 Chuck Bednarik Award, presented annually to the nation's collegiate defensive player of the year. Incidentally, Allen is the first to bring this award home to Alabama. The honor is the third national award for Allen this week. In addition to the Bednarkik, Mr. Allen received the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on Monday and followed that up with the Ted Hendricks Award on Wednesday.
Allen has been dominating on defense, and a force to be reckoned with for the Bama D. The Tide leads the nation in total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense and defensive touchdowns. He leads Bama in quarterback hurries (15) and shares the team lead in sacks (8.5) to go along with 13.0 tackles for loss. He has also returned a team-leading two fumble recoveries for 105 combined yards and two touchdowns.
Robinson took home the 2016 Outland Trophy, which is awarded each year by the Football Writers Association of America to the outstanding interior lineman in college football. Robinson is now the fourth recipient from the Alabama Crimson Tide. He joins Chris Samuels (1999), Andre Smith (2008) and Barrett Jones (2011) in receiving this honor.
Robinson is also the winner of the SEC Jacobs Blocking Trophy as well as being named to the All-SEC First Team, so he's been getting some attention off the field as well as the attention he receives on the field. Robinson leads an Alabama offensive line that has provided protection for Bama's 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).
 |
| Cam Robinson Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics/Robert Sutton |
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jalen Hurts A Finalist For Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award
 |
| Alabama Quarterback Jalen Hurts Graphics/Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts continues to impress off the field as well as he did on the field. Of course, both are related. Hurts is one of five finalists for the 2016 Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award. SPORTyler, Inc. made the announcement on Thursday.
Hurts has already had his name in the news a lot lately because of the honors and awards being bestowed upon him this season. He has been named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, becoming the first true freshman to win player of the year honors from the SEC since Herschel Walker did so back in 1980. The youngster out of Channelview, Texas has started 12 of the 13 games for the Tide this season and is the first true freshman to start at quarterback for Alabama since 1984. Hurts already owns Alabama's single-season quarterback rushing title and is on pace to break the school season records for touchdown responsibility and total offense. Hurts has thrown for 2,592 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns so far this season.
The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award is presented to the top offensive player in NCAA Division I football who also exhibits the enduring characteristics that define Earl Campbell: integrity, performance, teamwork, sportsmanship, drive, community and tenacity; specifically tenacity to persist and determination to overcome adversity and injury in pursuit of reaching goals. The award is limited to players who were born in the state of Texas, attended a Texas high school, or attended a Texas junior college or university.
The winner will be announced at the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award Banquet on January 11, 2017.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson Tide Football Places Five
On Both USA TODAY & Sports Illustrated All-America Teams
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.
-------------------------------------------------
Bama 4-Star Commit Chadarius Townsend
Signs Financial Aid Papers
 |
| Chadarius Townsend Twitter Photo |
Who's number one? Besides the Alabama Crimson Tide, I mean.
Four-star athlete and Crimson Tide commit Chadarius Townsend out of Tanner (Alabama) High School has now signed his financial aid papers to enter the University of Alabama as a student. From several reports, this makes him the first to do so, and has him ready to step into the role of "student-athlete" for the Crimson Tide.
Though Townsend played the quarterback position on offense and cornerback on defense for Tanner HS, he will be playing as a wide receiver for Bama. It is reported that the young man may even be able to contribute to this national championship quest, much as true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts did a year ago. Hurts helped the Tide get ready last year working with the scout team though not yet available to play in the game. Of course the boys from Bama would first have to take out the Washington Huskies in the semifinal game in order to meet the winner of the Clemson-Ohio State semifinal for the national championship.
SEC Country is reporting that Townsend took care of business earlier in the week, and that the young man plans to enroll sometime between January 2nd and the 8th of this coming year.
Though the financial aid documents are non-binding, it assures Townsend that UA will be holding a scholarship for him should he actually enroll early next year. Now the school may talk with Townsend on an unlimited basis and not be breaking any NCAA rules. The so-called "dead period" will begin Sunday night at midnight, and is the time designated by the NCAA that contact with recruits must cease. However, with the financial aid papers signed Alabama and Townsend will be able to continue to talk.
Primary recruiter for the 6' 0", 190-pounder is Lane Kiffin who more than likely is leaving The Capstone. Townsend has signed the paperwork and plans to enroll no matter what. Incidentally, he canceled planned official visits to the Mississippi State and Florida campuses, and plans no other visits to any other schools now.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Four-Star Safety Daniel Wright
Flips Commitment From Florida State To Alabama
 |
| Daniel Wright commits to the Crimson Tide Photo Credit: 247Sports |
And then there were 24.
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."
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.
-----------------------------------------------------
2017 Football Commitments For Alabama Football
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide football team currently has 24 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 12/08/16:
- Najee Harris, RB (6-1, 210), Antioch, California
- Alex Leatherwood, OL (6-4, 300), Pensacola, Florida
- Chadarius Townsend, ATH, (6-0, 180), Tanner, Alabama*
- Brian Robinson, RB (6-2, 210), Tuscaloosa, Alabama*
- 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 (California)
- Mac Jones, QB (6-2, 185), Jacksonville, Florida
- Markail Benton, LB (6-2, 245), Phenix City, Alabama*
- Brandon Ruiz, K (5-10, 165), Gilbert, Arizona
- Tyrell Shavers, LB ( 6-6, 202), Lewisville, Texas
- Thomas Fletcher, C (6-2, 220), Bradenton, Florida
- Akial Byers, DL, (6-4, 275), Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Jhavonte Dean, (6-2, 189), Homestead, Florida
- Hunter Brannon, (6-4, 290), Cullman, Alabama*
- Jerry Jeudy, ( 6-1, 177), Deerfield Beach, Florida
- Kyriq McDonald, DB (5-11, 185), Madison, Alabama*
- Kendall Randolph, OL (6-5, 290), Madison, Alabama*
- Kedrick James, TE (6-5, 250), Waco, Texas
- Dylan Moses, LB (6-3, 235), IMG Academy, Bradenton, Florida
- Major Tennison, TE (6-6, 230), Bullard, Texas
- Jedrick Wills, OT, (6-5, 318), Lexington, Kentucky
- Christopher Allen, LB (6-4, 234), Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Daniel Wright, DB (6-1, 187), Fort Lauderdale, Florida
*State of Alabama Recruits/Commitments
---------------------------------------------------
Jalen Hurts & Jonah Williams
Named To SEC All-Freshman Team
Jalen Hurts & Jonah Williams
Named To SEC All-Freshman Team
 |
| Jalen Hurts & Jonah Williams Photo Credit: Alabama Athletics |
University of Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts as well as Crimson Tide offensive lineman Jonah Williams have been named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team. The announcement was made yesterday by the
conference office. The league's 14 head football coaches voted for the individual members but were not allowed to vote for their own
players.
Hurts had already picked up All-SEC, Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman
of the Year honors earlier in the week. The young man has started 12 of Bama's games this season and is the first true freshman to start at quarterback
for Alabama since 1984. Hurts already holds Alabama's single-season quarterback rushing leader title and is on pace to break the season records for touchdown responsibility and total
offense. He has thrown for 2,592 yards and 22 touchdowns and rushed
for 841 yards and 12 touchdowns this season.
Williams has started all 13 games at right
tackle this season and has done an excellent job in clearing lanes for Crimson Tide runners and protecting his quarterback, Jalen Hurts, from would-be sackers. He helped clear the way for a balanced Bama 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).
