Before it takes the practice field on Tuesday for its first session of the bye week, Alabama football had eight players named to Pro Football Focus’ SEC Team of the Week after its victory over Arkansas at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The honor is sponsored Eckrich Meats.
Six players were named on offense and two received the honor on defense.
In Mac Jones’ first career start, Najee Harris, Jerry Jeudy, Jedrick Wills, Alex Leatherwood, Deonte Brown and Emil Ekiyor all excelled in helping the Crimson Tide notch a 48-7 win.
If not for an injury, Harris would have had his fourth 100-yard rushing performance and third marquee game versus a Southeastern Conference school. He totaled 86 yards rushing on 13 carries with a pair of touchdowns. After going through a terrible slump, Jeudy posted his first 100-yard outing since week two (New Mexico State) and first touchdown since Sept. 21 against Southern Mississippi. The junior at receiver caught seven passes for 103 yards with two scores.
As for the quartet of Wills, Leatherwood, Brown and Ekiyor, the group didn’t allow a sack or quarterback pressure to Jones as he completed 18 of 22 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns.
It blocked for 459 total yards – including 179 yards rushing and blocked for eight of 13 conversions on third down.
Christian Harris and Patrick Surtain II were chosen on defense.
Harris, a freshman linebacker, shared the team lead in tackles (six), recovered a fumble and limited Rakeem Boyd of the Razorbacks to 50 yards rushing. Surtain collected three tackles – including one for loss – and chimed in with one pass breakup and one interception.
Surtain shut down the right side of the field and rendered the duo of Nick Starkel and John Stephens Jones to a 42.3 percent completion rating (11-for-26).
Alabama will have a showdown next week versus LSU at home.
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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.
