Minkah Fitzpatrick now joins an elite group.
As of Wednesday, the junior safety from New Jersey was selected a first-team All-American from the American Football Coaches Association.
This makes the fifth publication to recognize him, joining Walter Camp, Football Writers Association of American, Associated Press and Sporting News – all of which also named Fitzpatrick an All-American first team honoree.
While Fitzpatrick and Rashaan Evans picked up first team honors from the AFCA, Bradley Bozeman, Da’Ron Payne, JK Scott and Jonah Williams were named to the second-team.
Having six honorees from the University of Alabama equals the most for one team in the 73-year history of the AFCA All-American Team, dating back to Oklahoma’s 2003 squad.
The Crimson Tide has had 70 players honored a total of 74 times, the most for a program in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Before earning unanimous All-American status, Fitzpatrick was the recipient of Jim Thorpe (nation’s top defensive back) and Chuck Bednarik (nation’s top defensive player) awards.
He is responsible for 52 total tackles (fifth on team), six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, seven pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and one interception through 12 regular season games.
Along with being a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year, Fitzpatrick was chosen as a first-team All-SEC selection on defense via Pro Football Focus.
Alabama has 17 unanimous All-Americans in 11 years under Nick Saban – including Andre Smith (2008), Mark Ingram and Rolando McClain (2009), Trent Richardson, Mark Barron and Barrett Jones (2011), Dee Milliner and Chance Warmack (2012), C.J. Mosley (2013), Amari Cooper (2014), Landon Collins (2014), Derrick Henry (2015), Reggie Ragland (2015), Cam Robinson, Reuben Foster and Jonathan Allen (2016), and now Fitzpatrick joins the list.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
