Alabama Coaching Staff Recognizes Seven Players of the Week following Texas A&M

9/30/17 MFB vs Ole Miss
Alabama kicker Andy Pappanastos (92)
Photo by Amelia B. Barton

Three selections apiece on defense and special teams with one on offense 

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama coaching staff recognized seven players of the week following the Crimson Tide’s 27-19 SEC road win at Texas A&M last Saturday. Damien Harris on offense, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Anfernee Jennings and Da’Ron Payne on defense, and Andy Pappanastos, Daniel Wright and Fitzpatrick, once again, on special teams.

Harris paced the Tide rushing attack, recording his second 100-yard rushing game of the season. The junior tailback racked up 124 yards and a touchdown on only 14 carries to average 8.9 yards per rush for the game, pushing his season average to 8.47 yards per carry, which ranks third nationally. Harris’ 75-yard touchdown run in the first quarter was a career long and a 27-yard gain late in the second quarter set up another Crimson Tide score at the 1-yard line.

Defensively, Jennings, a sophomore, contributed seven tackles to rank third on the Tide defense, while adding a pair of pass breakups to his totals. Payne accounted for six total tackles and consistently ate up double teams while pushing the pocket all evening. The junior defensive lineman helped the Crimson Tide hold the No. 2 rushing attack in the SEC to just 71 yards on the ground, 184 yards below their season average entering the game. Fitzpatrick seemed to be everywhere in the contest, lining up at safety, cornerback, nickel corner and the money (dime linebacker) position. The junior finished with five tackles, two tackles for loss (-3 yards), a pass breakup and his first interception of the season to thwart an Aggie scoring drive.

Fitzpatrick also earned special teams accolades thanks to a forced fumble on kickoff coverage along with a recovered onside kick to seal the win for UA. Wright continued his steady play in the kickoff game, finishing with a tackle on return coverage to increase his team-leading total for special teams tackles to nine. Pappanastos accounted for nine points, finishing a perfect 5-of-5 kicking, drilling both field goal attempts and all three extra points. He connected on a 34-yard attempt in the second quarter and then split the uprights once again from 44 yards out to provide the Tide with a cushion late in the fourth quarter.