The University of Alabama football team continued to collect All-America honors Wednesday, as six players earned American Football Coaches Association All-America choices. Linebacker Will Anderson Jr. and offensive lineman Evan Neal have landed first team selections, while defensive back Jordan Battle, defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis, wide receiver Jameson Williams and quarterback Bryce Young made the second team.
With the announcement of the AFCA All-America choices, Anderson Jr. is a unanimous All-America, while Neal and Young earned consensus All-America recognition.
Alabama’s roster features four first team All-Americans, including Anderson Jr., Neal, Williams and Young, who earned a combined 14 first team All-America honors. Since the establishment of the team in 1892, Alabama has had 175 First Team All-America honors, 40 of which were unanimous selections.
Will Anderson Jr.
First Team
- One of the most dominant pass-rushers in Alabama program history
- First among all Division I defenders in tackles for loss with 32.5 (-136 yards), a total that ranks second all-time in Crimson Tide single-season records
- Totaled 15.5 sacks (-96 yards) to lead the nation and rank third in program history for a single season behind only Derrick Thomas who owns the Nos. 1 and 2 spots
- Accumulated 92 total tackles, good for second on the Alabama defense, while adding a team-high nine quarterback hurries and two pass breakups
Jordan Battle
Second Team
- The leader of the Alabama secondary and first team All-SEC selection
- Co-leader for the Crimson Tide in interceptions with three (111 return yards)
- Third on the team in tackles with 75, including 42 solo stops
- Added three pass breakups, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry
Phidarian Mathis
Second Team
- Veteran leader on the defensive side of the ball who was named one of the Crimson Tide’s permanent team captains this season
- Selected to All-SEC Second Team by league coaches and a Reese’s Senior Bowl All-American
- Made 46 tackles and recorded 10 tackles for loss (-49 yards) and eight sacks (-46 yards) to rank second on the Tide defense in each category
- Added six quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries and a forced fumble to his senior totals
Evan Neal
First Team
- Played 927 snaps over 13 games
- Anchors an Alabama offensive front that is opening holes and providing time for the nation’s No. 4 scoring offense (42.5 ppg), No. 5 pass efficiency offense (175.5), the No. 2 unit in third-down conversion percentage (53.6), the No. 7 passing offense (347.9 ypg) and the No. 11 red zone offense (.918)
- Accounted for a team-high 30 knockdown blocks
Jameson Williams
Second Team
- Leads the team in receiving yards (1,445) and receiving touchdowns (15)
- Ranks second in the SEC and fifth nationally for yards per reception at 21.25
- Caught his 10th and 11th reception of at least 50 yards this season against then-No. 1/1/1 Georgia on Dec. 4, connecting with Bryce Young on 67- and 50-yard touchdown passes
- Caught his fourth reception of at least 75 yards this season against then-No. 25/21/22 Arkansas on Nov. 20, becoming the first player in Alabama history to have four receiving touchdowns of 75-plus yards in the same season, which also leads the nation
- The 12th Alabama wideout to go over 1,000 yards in a single season in program history and the 10th under head coach Nick Saban
Bryce Young
Second Team
- The Heisman Trophy winner is completing 68.0 percent of his passes (314-462) for 4,322 yards with 43 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions
- Second nationally and first in the conference for passing touchdowns
- Third nationally in points responsible for (284), while ranking fifth in the country in passing efficiency (175.5)
- Guided the Alabama offense to the No. 2 third-down conversion percentage in the nation (53.6 percent), completing 71.7 percent of his third-down pass attempts (81-113) for 1,329 yards and 14 touchdowns
**This information was acquired from a recent press release from Alabama Athletics.**
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
