Regardless of a global pandemic, we did have a college football season in 2020.
The much needed distraction from the chaos of today’s society concluded with the University of Alabama winning its 18th national championship in school history. For Nick Saban, the 69-year-old captured his seventh national title — which advanced him over Paul W. “Bear” Bryant for the most by any other coach in the sport.
Whether it was the bowl season or College Football Playoff, the postseason was exciting and ESPN celebrated by creating its 2020 College Football All-Bowl Team.
From bowl games to the #CFBPlayoff, these players capped off the season on 🔥 pic.twitter.com/7LEgcVLtov
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) January 17, 2021
Four players from the Crimson Tide’s roster were recognized.
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The trio of Mac Jones, DeVonta Smith and Alex Leatherwood were honored on offense, while Christian Barmore was the lone defensive player to make the team. Jones and Smith were both Heisman finalists, and Smith became the third player in Alabama history to win the Heisman Trophy. Smith cleaned out the College Football Awards, winning a multitude of individual awards — including Biletnikoff, Maxwell and Walter Camp awards. He was also one of five Unanimous First-Team All-American selections.
Smith finished 2020 with 117 catches for 1,858 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns. He led college football in all three categories.
As for Jones, very few people saw him as 4,000-yard quarterback in the preseason.
He totaled 4,500 passing yards with 41 touchdown passes and set a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) record for completion percentage (77.4). Jones also led all quarterbacks for passing efficiency rating (203.1) and total quarterback rating (96.1).
The 6-foot-3, 214-pounder won the Davey O’Brien Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and garners Consensus All-American honors. Leatherwood anchored the Crimson Tide’s offensive unit to its second Joe Moore Award. He allowed just two sacks all season and won the Outland Trophy. Leatherwood was chosen for Unanimous First-Team All-American, while sharing the SEC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy honor with Landon Dickerson. Barmore was a disruptive force on the defensive line through 13 games. He collected 9.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, six quarterback hurries, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles.
RELATED: ESPN released its All-Saban team, following Nick Saban’s seventh national title
The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder was a first-team All-SEC selection.
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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
