In a 10-game, conference-only schedule, Alabama football is the program to beat this year.
National media pundits are predicting the Crimson Tide to win a College Football Playoff National Championship and on Tuesday, Chris Low of ESPN released his 2020 preseason college football All-America team. The University of Alabama had the most student-athletes (six), including the trio of DeVonta Smith, Alex Leatherwood and Deonte Brown on offense.
Smith, a senior from Amite, La., returns as one of the top wide receivers in the nation.
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He led the Tide in receiving yards (1,256), touchdown catches (14), yards per catch (18.5) and yards per game (96.6) last season on 68 receptions. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder totaled three 100-yard performances and a pair of 200-yard games versus Louisiana State University and Ole Miss of the Southeastern Conference. After the program graduated Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III to the National Football League, Smith is back as someone ready to continue the frustration of defenses.
Leatherwood, a senior via Pensacola, Fla., enters his second year at left tackle.
He started all 13 games at the position in 2019 and graded out at 89 percent. The former five-star only missed seven assignments in 752 snaps and allowed two sacks with three quarterback hurries. He set the tone for one of college football’s most explosive offenses, as Alabama was No. 2 in scoring (47.2 ppg), No. 3 in passing offense (342.2 ypg) and No. 6 in total offense (510.8 ypg). Despite an injury to Tua Tagovailoa, Leatherwood guided Mac Jones to 897 passing yards and 10 scores to three interceptions in meetings against Arkansas, Auburn and Michigan. The Tide was victorious in two of the three games.
He returns with an opportunity to secure a high first-round NFL Draft stock.
Brown, a redshirt senior from Decatur, Ala., has transitioned from right guard to left guard.
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He missed four games last season, due to a suspension, but played in the final nine matchups — including eight starts at right guard. Upon his return, the Tide’s rushing attack improved tremendously. Najee Harris would record his first career 1,000-yard rushing campaign (1,224) with 13 touchdowns on 209 carries. Brown set him up for five 100-yard outings, with three coming against SEC schools. The 6-foot-4, 350-pounder is one of four experienced players on the offensive line, and he is excited to propel a group to the Joe Moore Award this season.
Jaylen Waddle, a junior wide receiver from Houston, Texas, was honored as an all-purpose player.
He tallied 1,227 all-purpose yards with eight scores a year ago. Waddle collected 560 yards receiving, 487 punt return yards, 175 kick return yards and five rushing yards. Despite being known as a speciality player, the former SEC Freshman of the Year was still highly explosive. According to Steve Sarkisian, Alabama’s offensive coordinator, Waddle will be an ‘every down’ player in the fall and the team is working on ways to feature him more naturally. All in all, he is very potent with the ball in space.
Defensively, Dylan Moses (linebacker) and Patrick Surtain II (cornerback) round out the six names.
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Not having Moses last year caused a huge struggle on defense. His return at middle linebacker puts the Tide back at having strong communication and production. Prior to missing the 2019 season, he carried a team-high 86 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2018 — en route to the team winning an SEC Championship. As for Surtain, he is responsible for 79 total tackles, 15 pass breakups and three interceptions in 28 games. He possesses all the tools to be an exceptional outside, coverage cornerback; however, Alabama fans want to see him turn in an All-American type of season at the position.
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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.
