Four selections apiece on offense and special teams with two on defense
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama coaching staff selected 10 players of the week following the Crimson Tide’s 47-23 win at South Carolina last Saturday to open the Tide’s Southeastern Conference slate. Landon Dickerson, Najee Harris, Henry Ruggs III and Tua Tagovailoa on offense; Trevon Diggs and Anfernee Jennings on defense; and Slade Bolden, Josh Jobe, Ale Kaho and Jaylen Moody on special teams all earned the nod for their standout efforts in Columbia against the Gamecocks.
OFFENSE
Landon Dickerson
- Started at right guard and played 58 snaps on the afternoon
- Did not allow a quarterback hurry, pressure or sack
- The redshirt junior did not miss an assignment for the day and helped the Crimson Tide roll up 576 yards of total offense against the Gamecocks.
Najee Harris
- Put together a huge day at tailback, with the junior catching five passes for 87 yards and a team-high tying two touchdowns
- Added 36 yards on seven carries in the run game
- His day was punctuated by a highlight-reel play for the Tide’s final touchdown of the first half. Harris caught a pass, broke a tackle, hurdled a defender and then powered into the end zone for a 42-yard touchdown to give Alabama a 24-10 lead going into halftime.
Henry Ruggs III
- Had a career day in Columbia, finishing with six catches for 122 yards and a touchdown
- The 122 yards were a new career-high total with the six receptions matching the junior’s career-best mark
- Ruggs III joined DeVonta Smith in going over 100-plus yards receiving. It was the ninth instance in Alabama history that two wideouts eclipsed the 100-yard marker in the same game
- The touchdown catch was the 19th of his career to move him into a tie with Calvin Ridley (2015-17) for third place on the Alabama career touchdown receptions list, just behind junior Jerry Jeudy’s 20.
Tua Tagovailoa
- Finished his day 28-of-36 for 444 yards and five touchdowns
- Tagovailoa set a new career high for passing yards with 444, a total that ranked as the third-most in a single game in Alabama history. The junior signal-caller added a career-high tying five touchdown passes, matching his output from the Auburn matchup in 2018.
- Became the first quarterback in school history to throw for 400-plus yards and five touchdowns in the same game
DEFENSE
Trevon Diggs
- Recorded three tackles on the afternoon
- The junior helped lock down his side of the field from his starting corner spot
Anfernee Jennings
- The third consecutive player of the week nomination from the Crimson Tide coaches for the redshirt senior
- Was dominant up front once again, finishing with six tackles, two for a loss (-7 yards), including a strip sack (-6 yards)
- The strip sack led to an SC fumble that Alabama recovered to thwart the Gamecock drive
- Added one quarterback pressure by day’s end
SPECIAL TEAMS
Slade Bolden
- Recorded a key tackle on punt coverage
- Stopped the Gamecock up-back from getting a first down on a fake punt midway through the second quarter
Josh Jobe
- Finished with eight tackles on the day, two of which came on kickoff coverage
- Helped hold South Carolina returners to 62 yards on kickoffs with his two stops
Ale Kaho
- Notched one tackle on kickoff coverage, pairing with Jobe to limit the Gamecock returner to a 14-yard return and place SC deep in its own territory
Jaylen Moody
- Set the tone early, laying a big hit on the Tide’s first kickoff of the game