TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Walter Camp Football Foundation announced four University of Alabama football standouts to its 2017 preseason award watch list on Friday. Along with both Maxwell and Bronko Nagurski honors, the Walter Camp award is the third one to have four Crimson Tide players selected to it.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts, running back Bo Scarbrough and wide receiver Calvin Ridley were selected on offense, while junior Minkah Fitzpatrick represented the Tide’s defense on the list. Hurts, a sophomore, returns as the Southeastern Conference’s reigning Offensive Player of the Year. He recorded 2,780 passing yards, 954 rushing yards and 36 total touchdowns a season ago.
Although his 36 scores set a new Alabama single-season school record, Hurts will be more focused on becoming a consistent passer in the upcoming fall. After rehabbing a knee injury from his freshman campaign, Scarbrough emerged down the stretch in the rushing attack. The 6-foot-2, 235-pounder collected 812 yards rushing with 11 touchdowns on 125 carries through 15 games. He registered two 100-yard performances, including a bowl record of 180 rushing yards versus Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal with two touchdowns on 19 attempts.
Despite adjusting his game to a true freshman quarterback, Ridley chimed in with 72 receptions for 769 receiving yards and seven scores in 2016. With him eyeing a potential first-round NFL Draft stock, he will be expecting more touches within the offense. As for Fitzpatrick, the New Jersey native has posted eight career interceptions.
He currently holds the school record for pix-sixes (four), while amassing 111 total tackles, three sacks and 18 pass breakups. Like Ridley, Fitzpatrick projects as an early first-round pick for the 2018 NFL Draft. Named after Walter Camp, who attended Yale University, the Walter Camp Award is presented to college football’s Player of the Year as decided by a group of NCAA Division I FBS coaches.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
