Alabama was caught napping on a 59-yard flea flicker from Mike White to wide receiver Taywan Taylor, but its secondary held Western Kentucky’s dominant passing attack in check for much of Saturday’s 38-10 victory. The Hilltoppers completed 18 of 35 passes (51.4 percent) and like Southern California, the Crimson Tide limited coach Jeff Brohm’s group to under 60 percent.
While Marlon Humphrey registered a pick six against the Trojans, it was safety Eddie Jackson that answered the bell last week. He finished the game with four tackles and recorded his first interception of the season. Jackson’s pick came in the second quarter and was returned for a 55-yard touchdown, pushing Alabama’s lead to 17-3—which was the score at halftime.
#Pick6 @EJackson_4 #BamavsWKentucky pic.twitter.com/uHG3h3Yy7G
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) September 10, 2016
The Fort Lauderdale, Florida native has nine career interceptions, including three returned for scores. Jackson, a senior, accounted for six of the team’s 19 picks during the 2015 season.
College football analyst Phil Steele has Jackson listed at No. 3 on his top 28 draft eligible strong safeties for 2017. He was one of five juniors on defense that decided to forgo this year’s NFL Draft.
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 @Smsmith_TDALMag.
