Offense:
Photo Courtesy SEC Media Portal
MVP: RB Jahmyr Gibbs
The junior transfer from Georgia Tech had his second straight huge game for the Crimson Tide. Gibbs finished the night with 21 rushes for 154 yards and added another 13 yards on 3 receptions to finish with 24 touches for 167 total offensive yards. Much like Jameson Williams around this time a year ago, the 5-11, 200-pounder is hitting his stride with his new squad toward midseason. The Dalton, Georgia, native is AVERAGING 8.3 yards per carry the University of Alabama during the 2022 season: 64 carries 532 yards 2 TDs. As a receiver: 22 catches 220 yards 3 TDs. IMPACT.
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
Newcomer Game Ball: WR Jermaine Burton
The portal addition from Georgia finished the contest with three catches for 48 yards & a score. The touchdown, from 35 yards on a slant thrown by Milroe on a perfectly executed RPO, turned out to be the most explosive pass play of the night for the Crimson Tide. The native of Calabasas, California, made the big play catch-and-run at the 5:33 mark of the 2nd quarter to help Alabama reclaim the lead for good 14-7 inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
Photo courtesy of the SEC Media Portal
Unsung Hero: Center Seth McLaughlin
The Redshirt junior from Buford, Georgia, made his 2nd straight SEC start vs Texas A&M this past Saturday in Tuscaloosa for the banged up Darion Dalcourt. Even though the offense struggled with 4 turnovers (3 lost fumbles & an INT), once again the offensive line showed improvement. In the last two SEC games on the road at Arkansas and at home against Texas A&M, the Crimson Tide OL has gained 603 yards rushing on 93 attempts with 5 TDs averaging nearly 6.5 yards per carry with McLaughlin in the pivot. Much of this running game has developed with Bryce Young out of the lineup. This could be a silver lining that could make this offense even more dangerous and have the balance that will be difficult for the rest of the SEC to stop.
Defense:
Photo Courtesy of 247Sports
Co-MVP: Jack Linebacker Will Anderson
For Anderson modest stat line of only 2 tackles, (1 solo) and 1 TFL. But here is the real statistic to tell you how he impacted the game: 8 Quarterback pressures which is one off the school record of nine by the legendary Derrick Thomas. The junior’s late pressure vs. Haynes King definitely contributed to the 24-20 Crimson Tide victory & no question helped the secondary hold up in coverage (Terrion Arnold).
Photo courtesy of SEC Media Portal
Co-MVPs: Dallas Turner & Chris Braswell
The sophomore Turner and Junior Braswell
combined for 5 tackles (4 solo), 3 sacks, & 3 TFL. The “Cheetah” package was very effective against the Aggies on Saturday night. This helped create 14 total pressures on Haynes King & led to the 3 sacks & 1 INT by Terrion Arnold. At several points during the game on third down Anderson and Braswell lined up on the same side to rush the passer with Dallas Turner lined up on the opposite side. Not sure how much of a factor this will be against Tennessee due to their tempo but it is something to watch for Saturday, especially on 3rd down.
Photo Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
Newcomer Game Ball: Will Linebacker Deontae Lawson
The redshirt freshman from Mobile got his first start in Crimson this past Saturday inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. Jaylen Moody was out with a bruised kidney. Lawson responded with 5 tackles (3 solo) providing quality production due to the loss of the senior Moody.
Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics
Unsung Hero: Nickel Brian Branch
The junior led the team in tackles with 9 (5 solo) with two TFL & two passes defensed from his star position in the nickel package. He was called for interference in the end zone late to set up the final snap but our other unsung hero read the lips of the head coach and was ready for the last play.
Photo courtesy of 247Sports
Unsung Hero: Cornerback Terrion Arnold
As mentioned above the redshirt freshman played extremely well for Alabama against the Aggies on Saturday night inside Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Florida native finished with eight tackles (second on the team to Branch above), 4 solo stops & 1 pass defensed along with the first interception of his career. Arnold held up in coverage on the last snap of the game as Haynes King targeted Evan Stewart near the goal line. Coverage was tight and the past fell incomplete to give the Crimson Tide the hard fought victory.
Special Teams:
Photo Courtesy of Alabama Athletics
MVP: Punter James Burnip
The redshirt sophomore from Australia had a very solid night averaging nearly 42 yards per boot on 4 punts with a long of 48 with two downed inside the 20 yard line. Special mention for the kick coverage units who were also very solid and did not allow Devon Achane much, if any, room to return the football. The explosive Junior, who took a kickoff back for a key touchdown in the upset at Kyle Field last year, was held to 13 yards on his only return on the night.
Photo courtesy of Arion Carter (Twitter)
Two of the top linebacker targets left on the Alabama recruiting board visited Tuscaloosa for the night matchup with Texas A&M. One was Arion Carter of Smyrna, Tennessee. The Memphis commitment has been one of the fastest rising seniors in the country and Alabama has a need for 2-3 prospects to join Juco product Justin Jefferson. Check out Carter’s outstanding senior film here:
https://www.hudl.com/profile/
Photo courtesy of Sports Illustrated
The other top target to visit is the #1 prospect in the Magnolia State: Suntarine Perkins of Raleigh, Mississippi. The versatile athlete plays both sides of the ball much like Carter but ultimately projects at linebacker. Perkins admitted during this visit that he & his family grew up Alabama fans. But he has been committed to Ole Miss for many months and has family ties to the Rebels in former WR Donte Moncrief. It was speculated heavily that he almost flipped to Alabama during the summer. Lane Kiffin and his staff seemed to firm him up and many around that program still believe the elite athlete signs with Ole Miss. This is definitely a situation to monitor until December.
https://www.hudl.com/profile/
Next Up For 3rd-ranked Alabama: The Crimson Tide and Bryce Young are on the road (with ESPN College Gameday in town) at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, TN for a 2:30 PM kickoff on CBS Sports.
Prediction: Alabama 45 Tennessee 27
