Alabama Footballās Bozeman, Payne and Williams Named to Outland Trophy Watch List
Crimson Tide trio among candidates for national interior lineman of the year honors
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ā Alabama senior center Bradley Bozeman, junior defensive tackle DaāRon Payne and sophomore offensive lineman Jonah Williams have been named to the 2017 Outland Trophy Watch List announced today by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
The trio are among 81 candidates from around the country named to the preseason list. Four Crimson Tide players have won the award previously, including Chris Samuels (1999), Andre Smith (2008), Barrett Jones (2011) and Cam Robinson (2016).
A versatile lineman who has shown the ability to play at numerous spots along the offensive line, Bozeman moved to center at the start of the 2016 season after spending parts of his first two seasons at the tackle and guard positions. He started all 15 games during his junior campaign and helped the Tide rank 16th nationally and first in the SEC in scoring offense (38.8 ppg), as well as 12th nationally and second in the league in rushing offense (245.0 ypg). The Roanoke, Ala., native blocked for 11 100-yard rushing games a season ago ā four from Damien Harris and Jalen Hurts along with two from Bo Scarbrough and one by Josh Jacobs.
One of the key cogs along the Crimson Tideās vaunted defensive front, Payne totaled 36 tackles, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2016. He added 3.5 tackles for loss (-13 yards) and 1.5 sacks (-10 yards) from his nose guard spot on one of the top defenses in Alabama history. The Birmingham, Ala., native scored a key touchdown in Alabamaās come-from-behind victory at Ole Miss last season with a three-yard return early in the third quarter to highlight his sophomore campaign.
Williams secured a starting job at right tackle for the Crimson Tide in 2016 and earned a reputation as one of the top true freshmen in the nation, not only on the offensive line but across all positions. He was selected as a Freshman All-American by USA Today and ESPN and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team by the conference coaches while earning second team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press last season. The Folsom, Calif., native helped the Tide rank 16th nationally and first in the SEC in scoring offense (38.8 ppg), 12th nationally and second in the league in rushing offense (245.0 ypg) and 34th in the nation in total offense (455.3 ypg). He finished with 29 knockdown blocks on the year.
The Outland Trophy has been presented annually since 1946 by the Football Writers Association of America to recognize the top interior lineman in college football. The award is named in honor of All-America offensive lineman John Outland of Penn. The 2017 winner will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
Alabama Footballās Evans, Fitzpatrick, Harrison and Payne Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Foursome among candidates for national defensive player of the year honors
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ā Alabama senior linebacker Rashaan Evans, junior defensive backs Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison and junior defensive tackle DaāRon Payne have been named to the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List announced today by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
The four are among 103 candidates from around the country named to the preseason list. Jonathan Allen became the first Alabama recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2016.
Evans spent his first season at inside linebacker in 2016 after playing on the outside as a freshman and sophomore and provided critical depth to the Tide linebacking corps. He started the final two games his junior campaign ā the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the College Football Playoff Championship Game ā and totaled 53 tackles with four sacks (-16 yards), 4.5 tackles for loss (-17 yards), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He added six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups to his season totals in 2016.
The leader of the Crimson Tide secondary after a pair of standout seasons in his first two years in Tuscaloosa, Fitzpatrick made the move to safety midway through the season in 2016 and will once again direct the Tide secondary in 2017. He has returned four interceptions for touchdowns during his career to set the Alabama all-time mark for pick-sixes. The Old Bridge, N.J., native was a first team All-American by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Pro Football Focus in 2016 and earned second-team honors from Walter Camp and The Sporting News. He led the team in interceptions (6) and interception return yards (186) as a sophomore and his 186 return yards ranked near the top nationally while his six picks tied for seventh in the FBS.
Harrison totaled 86 tackles to rank second on the team, and added two interceptions - one of which he returned for a touchdown - two fumble recoveries, including one that was returned for a 55-yard score, and two quarterback hurries. The Tallahassee, Fla., native also had 1.5 tackles for loss (-8 yards) and seven pass breakups. He blocked one field goal on the season, tied for the team lead with eight tackles on kickoff coverage and tied for third on the team with eight stops overall on special teams.
One of the key cogs along the Crimson Tideās vaunted defensive front, Payne totaled 36 tackles, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2016. He added 3.5 tackles for loss (-13 yards) and 1.5 sacks (-10 yards) from his nose guard spot on one of the top defenses in Alabama history. The Birmingham, Ala., native scored a key touchdown in Alabamaās come-from-behind victory at Ole Miss last season with a three-yard return early in the third quarter to highlight his sophomore campaign.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented annually since 1993 by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America to recognize the top defensive player in college football. The award is named in honor of college and NFL Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski. The 2017 winner will be announced at the Charlotte Touchdown Clubās annual awards banquet in December of this year.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
Crimson Tide trio among candidates for national interior lineman of the year honors
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ā Alabama senior center Bradley Bozeman, junior defensive tackle DaāRon Payne and sophomore offensive lineman Jonah Williams have been named to the 2017 Outland Trophy Watch List announced today by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
The trio are among 81 candidates from around the country named to the preseason list. Four Crimson Tide players have won the award previously, including Chris Samuels (1999), Andre Smith (2008), Barrett Jones (2011) and Cam Robinson (2016).
A versatile lineman who has shown the ability to play at numerous spots along the offensive line, Bozeman moved to center at the start of the 2016 season after spending parts of his first two seasons at the tackle and guard positions. He started all 15 games during his junior campaign and helped the Tide rank 16th nationally and first in the SEC in scoring offense (38.8 ppg), as well as 12th nationally and second in the league in rushing offense (245.0 ypg). The Roanoke, Ala., native blocked for 11 100-yard rushing games a season ago ā four from Damien Harris and Jalen Hurts along with two from Bo Scarbrough and one by Josh Jacobs.
One of the key cogs along the Crimson Tideās vaunted defensive front, Payne totaled 36 tackles, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2016. He added 3.5 tackles for loss (-13 yards) and 1.5 sacks (-10 yards) from his nose guard spot on one of the top defenses in Alabama history. The Birmingham, Ala., native scored a key touchdown in Alabamaās come-from-behind victory at Ole Miss last season with a three-yard return early in the third quarter to highlight his sophomore campaign.
Williams secured a starting job at right tackle for the Crimson Tide in 2016 and earned a reputation as one of the top true freshmen in the nation, not only on the offensive line but across all positions. He was selected as a Freshman All-American by USA Today and ESPN and was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team by the conference coaches while earning second team All-SEC honors from the Associated Press last season. The Folsom, Calif., native helped the Tide rank 16th nationally and first in the SEC in scoring offense (38.8 ppg), 12th nationally and second in the league in rushing offense (245.0 ypg) and 34th in the nation in total offense (455.3 ypg). He finished with 29 knockdown blocks on the year.
The Outland Trophy has been presented annually since 1946 by the Football Writers Association of America to recognize the top interior lineman in college football. The award is named in honor of All-America offensive lineman John Outland of Penn. The 2017 winner will be announced at the ESPN Home Depot College Football Awards Show in December.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
Alabama Footballās Evans, Fitzpatrick, Harrison and Payne Named to Nagurski Trophy Watch List
Foursome among candidates for national defensive player of the year honors
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ā Alabama senior linebacker Rashaan Evans, junior defensive backs Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ronnie Harrison and junior defensive tackle DaāRon Payne have been named to the 2017 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List announced today by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
The four are among 103 candidates from around the country named to the preseason list. Jonathan Allen became the first Alabama recipient of the Bronko Nagurski Trophy in 2016.
Evans spent his first season at inside linebacker in 2016 after playing on the outside as a freshman and sophomore and provided critical depth to the Tide linebacking corps. He started the final two games his junior campaign ā the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl and the College Football Playoff Championship Game ā and totaled 53 tackles with four sacks (-16 yards), 4.5 tackles for loss (-17 yards), a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He added six quarterback hurries and two pass breakups to his season totals in 2016.
The leader of the Crimson Tide secondary after a pair of standout seasons in his first two years in Tuscaloosa, Fitzpatrick made the move to safety midway through the season in 2016 and will once again direct the Tide secondary in 2017. He has returned four interceptions for touchdowns during his career to set the Alabama all-time mark for pick-sixes. The Old Bridge, N.J., native was a first team All-American by the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association and Pro Football Focus in 2016 and earned second-team honors from Walter Camp and The Sporting News. He led the team in interceptions (6) and interception return yards (186) as a sophomore and his 186 return yards ranked near the top nationally while his six picks tied for seventh in the FBS.
Harrison totaled 86 tackles to rank second on the team, and added two interceptions - one of which he returned for a touchdown - two fumble recoveries, including one that was returned for a 55-yard score, and two quarterback hurries. The Tallahassee, Fla., native also had 1.5 tackles for loss (-8 yards) and seven pass breakups. He blocked one field goal on the season, tied for the team lead with eight tackles on kickoff coverage and tied for third on the team with eight stops overall on special teams.
One of the key cogs along the Crimson Tideās vaunted defensive front, Payne totaled 36 tackles, three quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery for a touchdown in 2016. He added 3.5 tackles for loss (-13 yards) and 1.5 sacks (-10 yards) from his nose guard spot on one of the top defenses in Alabama history. The Birmingham, Ala., native scored a key touchdown in Alabamaās come-from-behind victory at Ole Miss last season with a three-yard return early in the third quarter to highlight his sophomore campaign.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been presented annually since 1993 by the Charlotte Touchdown Club and the Football Writers Association of America to recognize the top defensive player in college football. The award is named in honor of college and NFL Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski. The 2017 winner will be announced at the Charlotte Touchdown Clubās annual awards banquet in December of this year.
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaFTBL on Twitter and Facebook and AlabamaFBL on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
