The Walter Camp Football Foundation kicked it off, but Sporting News has joined in releasing its Preseason All-America Team for this year in college football. According to Bill Bender, the University of Alabama had seven student-athletes – including three first-teamers – named to the list for the publication.
Alex Leatherwood, DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle made first team.
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Leatherwood, a junior from Pensacola, Fla., enters his second season at left tackle after starting all of 2019 at the position.
A former five-star in the 2017 signing class, he filled in admirably for an injured Jonah Williams in the 2018 College Football Playoff National Championship Game versus Georgia. He earned second-team All-SEC honors as a sophomore at right guard and first-team All-American honors via American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for his efforts at left tackle last season.
He graded out at 89 percent on assignments, allowing just two sacks and three quarterback hurries. Leatherwood cleared the way for Najee Harris’s first 1,000-yard campaign (1,224) as a running back, helped Tua Tagovailoa toss for 30 touchdowns (prior to hip injury), and assisted Mac Jones to strong production versus Arkansas, Auburn and Michigan.
He’s made 28 career starts for the Crimson Tide.
Smith, a senior who hails from Amite, La., has been one of the best wide receivers in the sport since hauling in the game-winning touchdown versus the Bulldogs. His numbers have improved each season, especially in 2019 as he led Alabama in receiving yards (1,256) and touchdowns (14) on 68 receptions.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder became the first receiver in school history since Amari Cooper (2014) to total a pair of 200-yard performances in a single-season.
Smith burned the defensive backfields of Ole Miss (274 yards) and Louisiana State University (213 yards).
He was second on the team in yards per catch (18.5) and first in yards per game (96.6).
Smith has 23 career touchdowns, which is eight shy of tying the school record of 31 held by Cooper.
Waddle, a junior from Houston, Texas, took the game by storm as a freshman in 2018 and continued making a name for himself last year.
As dynamic as he is at receiver, Sporting News placed more focus on his abilities in the return game. He averaged 14.6 yards per punt return in his first season, which led the nation.
As a sophomore, Waddle collected 487 yards with a touchdown on an average of 24.4 yards per return. He exploded last season in the kick return game, taking one 98 yards for a score versus Auburn in the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Waddle averaged 35 yards per kick return and is very dangerous in space.
The quartet of Najee Harris, Deonte Brown, Dylan Moses and Patrick Surtain II were all recognized as a second-team honorees.
It provides huge motivation for them as they anticipate showing everyone that they are much better than their counterparts in college football.
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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.
