The nine players earned a combined 15 semifinalist selections during this year’s awards cycle
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama football had nine players selected to 11 different semifinalist lists as awards season begins.
The Crimson Tide’s list of semifinalists includes: Landon Dickerson (Outland); Christian Harris (Butkus); Najee Harris (Doak Walker, Maxwell); Mac Jones (Davey O’Brien, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm, Maxwell); Alex Leatherwood (Outland); Dylan Moses (Lott); Will Reichard (Groza); DeVonta Smith (Biletnikoff, Maxwell); and Patrick Surtain II (Bednarik, Lott, Thorpe). In addition, Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban was named as a semifinalist for the George Munger Award, presented annually to the nation’s top head coach.
Landon Dickerson
Outland
- Rated as the No. 1 overall run-blocking center by Pro Football Focus with a 91.3 grade
- Also ranked as the No. 3 overall center by PFF at 89.9
- Graded out at 99.6 percent on all assignments while maintaining a 91.1 grade from the Alabama coaching staff
- Played 583 total snaps with just two missed assignments and only one quarterback pressure allowed
Christian Harris
Butkus
- Paces the Crimson Tide defense in tackles with 64, including a team-high 43 solo stops
- Ranks second on UA in quarterback hurries with six and is third in sacks at 2.5 (-20 yards)
- Added five tackles for loss (-23 yards) to go with two pass breakups
Najee Harris
Doak Walker | Maxwell
- Leads the nation in total touchdowns (20), rushing touchdowns (20) and scoring (120)
- Third nationally in forced missed tackles (64) while sitting at fourth in both rushing yards (1,038) and scoring per game (13.3)
- Totaled two or more rushing touchdowns in six of nine contests with at least one score in eight games this season
- Ranks third in Alabama history for single-season rushing touchdowns with 20 this season and is fourth for career rushing scores at 40
Mac Jones
Davey O’Brien | Johnny Unitas Golden Arm | Maxwell
- One of college football’s top passers who leads the nation in seven separate categories including total QBR, PFF offensive grade for a quarterback, adjusted completion percentage, completion percentage, NFL passer rating, collegiate pass efficiency rating and yards per pass attempt
- Thrown for the most passing yards (3,113) and holds the highest completion percentage (75.7) by an Alabama quarterback through the first nine games of a season
- Totaled 13 touchdowns and 1,154 yards with a 232.75 passer rating against ranked opponents (Texas A&M, Georgia, Auburn)
Alex Leatherwood
Outland
- Made 37 consecutive starts along the Alabama offensive line
- Played 539 snaps and missed only two assignments
- Averaging an overall blocking grade of 90.8 by the Alabama coaching staff and has graded out at a team-high tying 99.6 on all assignments
Dylan Moses
Lott
- The leader of the Crimson Tide defense
- Paces UA in assisted tackles (27) while ranking second in total tackles (59) and third in solo stops (32)
- Added 5.5 tackles for loss (-30) to go with an interception and two pass breakups
Will Reichard
Groza
- Tied for the national lead in consecutive made field goals with 11 dating back to last season
- Owns a perfect field goal percentage to tie for the lead in Division I
- Has gone 69-of-69 on all kicks, including 10 made field goals and 59 consecutive PATs
- Also contributing on kickoffs, totaling 2,038 yards on 36 boots with seven touchbacks
DeVonta Smith
Biletnikoff | Maxwell
- The national leader in receiving touchdowns (15), receiving yards (1,305) and yards after the catch (677)
- Pro Football Focus’ top-rated wide receiver this season and in the history of the site at 94.9
- Ranks second in the Alabama single-season ranks for receiving scores while sitting at third in the Tide record books for receptions (80) and receiving yards
- Totaled four 200-plus yard receiving games for his career, including two this season, to set the Alabama career mark
Patrick Surtain II
Bednarik | Lott | Thorpe
- Rated as the nation’s top corner and No. 7 overall defender by Pro Football Focus
- Maintains a coverage grade of 88.1 according to PFF, the third-best grade in the country
- Allowed 25 yards receiving or fewer in eight of the Tide’s nine games this season
- Targeted just 36 times all season and allowed only 14 completions (1.56 cpg) and 156 yards (17.3 ypg)
Finalists for awards will be announced in the coming weeks.