Alabama’s defense limit Texas A&M to 32 rushing yards, a 48.9 percent completion mark and forced four turnovers in a 41-23 win over the Aggies last week. Running back Derrick Henry totaled 236 yards with two touchdowns and quarterback Jacob Coker protected the ball.
Alabama’s coaching staff recognized nine players Monday morning for their efforts at Kyle Field. Yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine now lists the players of the week.
Alabama offensive players of the week
- QB Jacob Coker
- RB Derrick Henry
Summary: Senior quarterback Jacob Coker continued his success on the road against Texas A&M. He completed 76 percent of his throws (19 of 25) for 138 yards with no turnovers.
Coker endured his first game without a touchdown last week, but he provided Alabama’s offense a spark with his toughness. He recorded 30 rushing yards, despite a 13-yard total on his stat sheet. Coker was able to dish out some punishment to go with the big hits he took.
Much of Derrick Henry’s damage came in the first half (200 rushing yards), but offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin consistently gave him the ball. He ended with 236 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries. The junior averaged 7.4 yards per attempt, and his performance ranks fifth all-time in program history for rushing yards in a single game.
Alabama defensive players of the week
- DE Jonathan Allen
- LB Reggie Ragland
- DB Eddie Jackson
- DB Minkah Fitzpatrick
Summary: Defensive end Jonathan Allen aggravated Texas A&M’s offensive line.
He tied for second on the team (Geno Matias-Smith) in tackles with five, including four for loss. Allen generated a forced fumble and had two of the team’s six sacks against the Aggies.
Senior inside linebacker Reggie Ragland led the group in tackles with nine, including 1.5 for loss. He registered a sack and helped Allen limit Texas A&M to just 32 rushing yards.
Defensive back Eddie Jackson set a record last week with 119 interception return yards. He victimized Kyle Allen in the second quarter, taking an interception 93 yards for a touchdown. Jackson would later pick off Aggies’ backup quarterback Kyler Murray in the third quarter.
True freshman cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick became the first defender in Alabama football history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in the same game. He picked off Kyle Allen in the first quarter and returned it for a 33-yard touchdown. Fitzpatrick struck again in the fourth quarter with a 55-yard touchdown return off Allen’s third mistake of the game.
Both Jackson and Fitzpatrick accounted for two tackles each.
Alabama special teams players of the week
- PK Adam Griffith
- DB Maurice Smith
- CB Bradley Sylve
Summary: Place kicker Adam Griffith nailed both of his field goal attempts, a 32-yard try in the third quarter and a 20-yard attempt in the fourth quarter. He made all five of Alabama’s extra points and averaged 63.9 yards on kickoffs, with five touchbacks.
Defensive back Maurice Smith assisted on three tackles in punt coverage, while cornerback Bradley Sylve put in three tackles and helped limit Texas A&M’s aerial attack to 284 yards.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
