Can Alabama have its first defensive coordinator since Kirby Smart (2009) win the Broyles Award?
After an announcement on Monday from the Broyles Foundation, it is a possibility. Pete Golding, a fourth-year coach on Nick Saban’s staff, has been nominated for the Broyles Award. The honor, named after legendary Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, is presented annually to the top assistant coach in college football. Since 1996, nineteen of the 25 assistant coaches to win the honor have become head coaches. Kirby Smart is at Georgia, Michael Locksley is at Maryland, and Steve Sarkisian is now at Texas.
Congratulations to the 2021 Broyles Award nominees!@ESPNCFB @CFBONFOX @CBSSports pic.twitter.com/02RoKBxqK1
— BROYLES AWARD (@BroylesAward) November 15, 2021
All three earned the Broyles Award under Nick Saban. Sarkisian won the honor in 2020 for his high-flying offense.
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Golding, 37, is in his third season as Alabama’s defensive play-caller. Despite an injury to Christopher Allen and some struggles, the Crimson Tide has played better as of late.
He has the group ranked fifth in the nation for total defense (288.3 ypg), third for run defense (81.5 ypg), twelfth for scoring defense (18.2 ppg), and sixth for sacks (34, 3.4 sacks per game).
Alabama is second in the Southeastern Conference for third-down defense, allowing 44 conversions on 139 attempts (31.7 percent).
Texas A&M is the lone team to score 30+ points (41) on the Tide. Golding has a player in sophomore linebacker Will Anderson that is getting Heisman consideration. Anderson leads the nation for sacks (12.5) and has a team-high 23.5 tackles for loss.
He has been highly disruptive all season, especially in marquee games.
Golding looks to have the Tide prepared to handle the Razorbacks on Saturday.
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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.
