A perplexing quarterback competition has turned multiple media outlets away from Alabama; however, it still leaves no excuse to refuse credit to where it’s rightfully due.
CBS Sports has aired numerous Alabama games over the year, yet it placed only one individual from the Crimson Tide on its 2015 preseason All-America team, junior defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson.
Robinson, 6-foot-4, 312 pounds, was one of seven players from the Southeastern Conference to grace the list on the first team. He recorded 49 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries, three pass deflections, a fumble recovery and a blocked extra-point last season.
Sophomore left tackle Cam Robinson did not make the cut, and punter JK Scott was placed on the second-team specialist list. Both Reggie Ragland and O.J. Howard found their names on the second team.
Ragland, who totaled 95 tackles, including 10.5 for loss last season, was edged out by Jaylon Smith (Notre Dame) and Myles Jack (UCLA). Whether CBS was upset for not calling last year’s Iron Bowl or not allowing its golden boys -Verne Lunquist and Gary Danielson- to see the list before it was released, the network saw only one Alabama player that met its requirement.
Having a quarterback is important, but it isn’t the only position on the team.
Alabama has enough firepower on both sides of the ball to contend this season.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine and SB Nation. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
