Another winner has joined the party for the University of Alabama in terms of national football awards and it is defensive lineman, Quinnen Williams.
The man who earned the nickname “300-pound bar of soap” won the Outland Trophy on Thursday at the College Football Awards show in Atlanta. For the honor given to the nation’s most outstanding interior lineman for either offense or defense, Williams’ performance this season served as a pleasant surprise for Crimson Tide fans as well as media personnel.
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Listed at 6-foot-4 and 295 pounds, one of the smallest defensive tackles of the Nick Saban era was highly disruptive – totaling 66 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 11 quarterback pressures through 13 games. While his output in tackles ranked him third on the team, the sophomore was second in both sacks and quarterback hurries. He was first in tackles for loss.
Behind Williams, Alabama is fourth in the nation in scoring defense (14.8 ppg), ninth in total defense (295.4 ypg) and seventh in sacks with 42. His consistent pressure to quarterbacks has forced 14 interceptions, with four returned for touchdowns. He joins former Tide stars Chris Samuel (1999), Andre Smith (2008), Barrett Jones (2011) and Cam Robinson (2016) as a Outland Trophy winner. Offensive tackle Jonah Williams was a finalist for the honor.
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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.
