It’s not waiting on other sports media outlets, as Athlon Sports continues to blaze the offseason conversation with projections that whet taste buds for next season. In its latest work, the publication dropped its all-conference list Tuesday for the Southeastern Conference.
While 11 student-athletes from the University of Alabama were selected, rising sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa spearheads the list as one of six first-team candidates.
After leading the Crimson Tide to a dramatic overtime victory in the second half of the College Football Playoff National Championship matchup versus Georgia, much is expected from the Hawaiian native in the fall.
He has a lot of talent around him – including senior running back Damien Harris, who decided to forgo this year’s NFL Draft and return to earn his degree.
Harris joins Tagovailoa on the first team offense and has a chance to make history in becoming the first back to record three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Despite its struggles at times in 2017, Alabama’s offensive line has a chance to be a dominant force.
Ross Pierschbacher (center) and Jonah Williams (left tackle) return as experienced leaders, and both cracked the first team list. Pairing the duo with Lester Cotton, Josh Casher, Alex Leatherwood and Jedrick Wills makes for a standout group under position coach, Brent Key.
Defensively, the 2018 season is a money year for defensive end Raekwon Davis and inside linebacker Lyndell “Mack” Wilson. Both guys project as high-end draft picks and for Davis, having Craig Kuligowski as the Tide’s defensive line coach means more sacks for him.
For the other five players, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy graced Athlon Sports’ list as a second team selection and cornerback Trevon Diggs was a third team honoree at punt return. The trio of running back Najee Harris, linebacker Dylan Moses and punter Skyler Delong were fourth-team selections.
Alabama and Georgia were tied for most first-team honorees (six) and while most expect these two schools to face-off in the SEC Championship Game, the Tide has to get through its conference and non-conference schedule – which starts with Louisville on Saturday, Sept. 1.
*First team guys bolded*
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 @CoachingMSmith.
