Offense:
Photo courtesy of SEC Media Portal
MVP: Jahmyr Gibbs
The winner of the Doak Walker National Running Back of the Week plus SEC Offensive Player of the Week after his breakout performance of 20 touches for 226 yards & two TDs. Finished with 18 rushes for 206 yards (11.4 YPC) & 2 catches for 20 yards. His two explosive touchdown runs of 72 and 76 yards sealed the game in the fourth quarter. It was Gibbs breakout game since transferring from Georgia Tech at the end of last season via the Transfer Portal.
Photo courtesy of Tuscaloosa News
Newcomer Game Ball: #55 OG Tyler Booker
Nasty true freshman from New Haven, Connecticut, via IMG Academy. The 6 foot five 332 pounder enrolled early and has drawn constant praise from head coach Nick Saban due to his mental toughness & work ethic. Rotated at left guard with Javion Cohen. His physicality helped pave the way for a running game that finished with 42 carries for 317 yards (7.5 per carry). Plus the Crimson Tide passed for 238 passing yards to finish with 555 total offensive yards & 7 TDs (Five rushing & two passing.
Photo courtesy of UA Athletics
Newcomer Game Ball: WR Kobe Prentice
The freshman from Calera made two explosive plays in the game. The first was a completion of 41 yards on Alabama’s opening possession. That drive ended in an interception near the goal line but the second possession was a touchdown after Prentice converted a 3rd & 3 slant pass from Bryce Young into a 47 yard TD. It was the first score of Kobe’s Crimson Tide career & staked Bama to a 7-0 lead with 7:41 left in the first quarter. He did all of his work in the first two drives finishing with 3 catches for 92 yards & that opening touchdown.
Photo courtesy of SEC Media Portal
Unsung Hero: QB Jalen Milroe
The redshirt freshman from Katy, Texas, saw the first extensive action of his career following the early 2nd quarter exit due to an AC joint shoulder sprain suffered by starting QB Bryce Young. The sturdy Milroe quickly led two 2nd quarter scoring drives that doubled the Crimson Tide lead to 28-0. The first was a 3-yard TD on a zone read with 8:29 left in the first half and the 2nd was a key 3rd down tunnel screen to JoJo Earle for a 22 yard score (first touchdown pass of his career). Made the game’s biggest play dashing 77 yards on 3rd & 15 with Alabama clinging to a 28-23 third quarter lead:
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Finished the game 4-9 passing for 65 yards 1 TD & 6 rushes for 91 yards with ZERO turnovers.
Defense:
Photo courtesy of SEC Media Portal
Co-MVP: SAM Linebacker Dallas Turner
After a somewhat quiet start to his sophomore season, Turner turned in a dominant afternoon vs the Hawgs. The St. Thomas Aquinas Alum finished tied for second on the team with 8 tackles, 2 solo & 2.5 tackles for loss. He was extremely disruptive the entire game and pursued relentlessly. Hopefully this will jumpstart Turner and get him going with the heart of the SEC schedule coming up.
Photo courtesy of the SEC Media Portal
Co-MVP: Safety DeMarcco Hellams
The senior from Washington, D.C., had six tackles, 5 solo with a forced fumble that he also recovered. It was only the second forced turnover of the season for the Crimson Tide. The Dematha catholic product has been a very consistent force in the backend for Alabama as the regular season nears the halfway point.
Photo courtesy of the SEC Media Portal
Newcomer Game Ball: DT Jaheim Oatis
Like a fine wine he just keeps getting better. The massive true freshman from Mississippi had his best game yet in a Crimson Tide uniform. My man Oatis finished tied for 2nd on the squad with 8 tackles, 1 solo, 1 sack, 1 TFL. Truly a dominant effort from the Columbia (MS) High School Alum. This performance was especially impressive due to the fact solid senior starter Justin Eboigbe did not travel due to a neck injury & was missing from the lineup on the DL. This meant Oatis was going to be counted on to play a bigger role, and he was more than ready to take that on.
Photo courtesy of SEC Media Portal
Unsung Hero: Cornerback Terrion Arnold
The redshirt freshman from Tallahassee, Florida, continued his consistent play on Saturday. He also finished with six tackles, five of them solo & a pass defensed. His final solo stop on Arkansas wide receiver Jadon Haselwood closed out the Razorbacks in Fayetteville. His ascension has really been a key for this Crimson Tide Defense being ranked tops in the SEC.
Special Teams:
Photo courtesy SEC Media Portal
MVP: Cornerback/Punt Returner Kool-Aid McKinstry
The sophomore from Pinson Valley High School continued to be a dangerous weapon in the punt return game Saturday in Fayetteville. He averaged 25.7 yards on his 3 returns with a long of 45. McKinstry also had six solo tackles with two passes defensed playing both corner and even star for a series.
Photo courtesy of UA Athletics
Unsung Hero: Punter James Burnip
The native of Mount Macedon, Victoria Australia, has been much more consistent during his second season in Tuscaloosa. The redshirt sophomore was very solid on Saturday averaging 45.7 yards on his three punts with one downed inside the 20 and a long boot of 49.
Photo courtesy of Twitter (Keon Keeley)
Huge recruiting weekend headlined by official visit of top ten national prospect Keon Keeley
The product of Berkeley Prep in Tampa, FL, will be visiting Alabama for the third time since January. It will be his first time since late July for the champions cookout. Many top prospects attended that event before the dead period this summer. Keeley then decommitted from Notre Dame. He had been committed to the Irish for over a calendar year and since that time Alabama along with Ohio State have been considered the favorites. Billy Napier in Florida continues to work him hard but this weekend’s official visit to the Capstone with his family could seal the deal for Alabama. It would go a long way to wrapping up the number one overall class for the Crimson Tide & give their DL class a huge fourth addition. The 6-6 245 pounder is considered the best edge rusher in the 2023 class.
Photo of Keeley courtesy of ONE FOOT DOWN
Photo courtesy The Grueling Truth
Next Up For top-ranked Alabama: The Crimson Tide return home to Bryant-Denny Stadium as the unranked Texas A&M Aggies come to Tuscaloosa for an SEC nationally televised 7 pm night kickoff on CBS Sports.
Prediction: Alabama 41 Texas A&M 13
