Before it takes the practice field for its fourth practice of fall camp, the University of Alabama football program had six of its student-athletes named to USA TODAY Sports’ 2020 preseason All-America team.
The list was announced on Wednesday, as the quartet of Devonta Smith (wide receiver), Alex Leatherwood (offensive line), Dylan Moses (linebacker) and Jaylen Waddle (return specialist) all were selected as first-teamers.
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Smith, a senior from Amite, La., led the team in receiving yards (1,256) and touchdown catches (14) in 2019.
Leatherwood, a senior from Pensacola, Fla., started all 13 games at left tackle last season.
He surrendered just two sacks and three quarterback pressures, while missing seven assignments in 752 snaps (99.1 percent success rate). Leatherwood blocked for the nation’s No. 2 scoring offense (47.2 ppg), No. 3 passing offense (342.2 ypg) and No. 6 total offense (510.8 ypg).
Moses, a redshirt junior from Baton Rouge, La., missed all of 2019 with a knee injury.
He returns as the leader of the Crimson Tide’s defense.
Waddle, a junior via Houston, Texas, totaled 1,227 all-purpose yards with eight touchdowns a year ago.
The duo of Najee Harris (running back) and Patrick Surtain II (cornerback) were named to the second team.
Harris, a senior from Antioch, Calif., recorded his first career 1,000-yard campaign in 2019 — tallying 1,224 yards rushing with 13 touchdowns on 209 carries. He also caught 27 passes for 307 yards receiving and seven scores.
Surtain, a junior from Plantation, Fla., had 42 tackles, eight pass breakups and two interceptions in 2019.
He is set to lock down the right side of the field in the fall, and prove he is a first-round value at defensive back.
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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.
