We are 60 days away from Alabama versus Miami to open the college football season.
With the SEC Football Media Days coming in two weeks, a national media outlet has unveiled its Preseason All-American team for the upcoming season. Sporting News put out its first-team and second-team players, and it included four athletes from the Crimson Tide. Evan Neal and Will Anderson Jr. made first-team, while Josh Jobe and Will Reichard are second-teamers.
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Neal, a junior, started all 13 games at right tackle in 2020. He allowed only 1.5 sacks in 810 snaps, helping Mac Jones secure a single-season school record for passing yards (4,500). His protection allowed for DeVonta Smith to have a Heisman-winning campaign and guided Najee Harris to 1,466 rushing yards with 26 touchdowns.
The 6-foot-7, 360-pounder will transition to left tackle and protect sophomore Bryce Young in the fall.
Neal projects as a first-round selection for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Anderson, a sophomore, had a great freshman year. He made Alabama’s defense one of the best in the nation as an explosive edge rusher.
Anderson posted 52 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, eight quarterback hurries, and one forced fumble.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder was awarded Freshman All-SEC, Freshman All-American, and Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year via Football Writers Association of America. He is expected to produce bigger numbers this season.
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Jobe, a senior, paced a secondary that had nine interceptions last year. He finished second on the roster for pass breakups (11) and 55 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, one quarterback hurry, and two forced fumbles. Jobe returns as the leader for the Tide in its defensive backfield.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pounder has an opportunity to create value as an early-round draft pick.
Reichard, a junior, made it refreshing for Tide fans to have a reliable kicker. He was perfect through 13 games in 2020, making all 14 of his field goals and 84 PAT attempts. Reichard nailed a 52-yarder versus Georgia and made a pair of kicks in the SEC Championship Game against Florida. He is ready to continue his run of perfection in wanting to repeat as a national champion.
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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.
