It wasn’t a dominant effort by head coach Nick Saban’s standards, but Alabama did beat Western Kentucky 38-10 last week at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The coaching announced 11 players for weekly honors. Three players were named on offense, while defense and special teams each landed four names.
OFFENSE
WR Calvin Ridley
The sophomore had a bounce back performance against the Hilltoppers, after being held to just two receptions for nine yards against Southern California. Ridley led all receivers with nine catches for 129 yards, including a four-yard touchdown grab as time expired in the first quarter.
His nine receptions tied a career-high that he set in 2015 against Arkansas (nine catches, 140 yards, touchdown). Seven of Ridley’s nine catches resulted in first downs for the Crimson Tide.
TE O.J. Howard
Howard built off his outing against the Trojans with a decent performance on last week. He totaled two catches for 29 yards, while helping Alabama’s offense record 475 yards on 81 plays.
OT Jonah Williams
Williams graded out at 85 percent during his second career start at right tackle. He did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure, and secured two knockdown blocks in Alabama’s win.
DEFENSE
DE Jonathan Allen
Allen finished the game with three total tackles, while adding a tackle for loss, a sack, three quarterback hurries and a blocked field goal. He anchored a front seven that limited Western Kentucky to 23 rushing yards, 239 total yards and six third down conversions on 16 attempts.
S Ronnie Harrison
Harrison forced one of two interceptions against the Hilltoppers, returning it for six yards.
He helped Alabama’s secondary contain a lethal passing attack to a 95.91 passer efficiency rating and a 51.4 percent completion clip. Harrison ended the game with three tackles and a pass breakup.
S Eddie Jackson
Jackson was fourth on the team in tackles (four), and recorded his ninth career interception.
He picked off a pass from Mike White and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. It was Jackson’s third pick six of his career, dating back to two he obtained last season.
CB Marlon Humphrey
Humphrey chimed in with two tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble against Western Kentucky. He pitched in for a defensive backfield that allowed just 216 passing yards.
Special Teams
DB Minkah Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick was an enforcer on special teams, making two big hits on kickoff coverage. He forced a fumble on the opening kickoff and limited the Hilltoppers to an average of 20.3 yards per return.
PK Adam Griffith
Griffith averaged 64.8 yards on kickoffs, and had four of his six kicks result in touchbacks. He made a 36-yard field goal in the second quarter, moving him up to ninth place on the Tide’s all-time points scored list.
P JK Scott
After netting 47 yards a punt against USC, Scott totaled 46.4 yards per boot on last week.
He pinned Western Kentucky inside its 20-yard line on three of five attempts, with two of his kicks traveling 57 and 58 yards. Scott has five 50-plus yard punts so far this season.
LB Keith Holcombe
Holcombe laid the wood to Hilltoppers’ return specialist Nacarius Fant on punt coverage. Faunt managed only 13 punt return yards on two tries against Holcombe and the Crimson Tide.
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.
