The following is a press release from Alabama Athletics.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama football team returned to practice on Monday afternoon inside the Hank Crisp Indoor Facility. The Crimson Tide took the practice field in helmets and shorts for a two-hour practice session.
The workout was the 17th practice in a series of 27 for the Crimson Tide, and 12 days before the team travels to Atlanta, Ga., to square off against Miami (Fla.) on Sep. 4. The two teams will meet inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, with the meeting set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
Brian Robinson
Before Monday’s practice, five Alabama football players were selected to the preseason Associated Press All-American teams. Junior offensive lineman Evan Neal and sophomore linebacker Will Anderson Jr. were featured on the first team, while redshirt junior offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr., junior linebacker Christian Harris and junior wide receiver John Metchie III lined the second team.
WILL ANDERSON JR.
Linebacker, Sophomore
- An elite edge defender who made his presence known across college football in 2020
- Returns for his second season with the Crimson Tide after being selected as the Shaun Alexander-FWAA Freshman of the Year and earning multiple Freshman All-America honors a season ago
- Started every game as a freshman, totaling 52 tackles including 10.5 for loss (-52 yards) and seven sacks (-39 yards), to go with a forced fumble and team-high eight quarterback hurries
- Ranked third in the SEC in sacks and tackles for loss at season’s end
- Applied 60 pressures (according to Pro Football Focus) through his 13 starts to lead the nation and more than double the next-closest freshman defender
EMIL EKIYOR JR.
Offensive Lineman, Redshirt Junior
- Won the starting job at right guard as a sophomore and started in all 13 games for the Crimson Tide last season
- Played 835 snaps in 2020, missing only one assignment and committing just one penalty
- Earned time in eight games of the 2019 campaign, working as a reserve guard
- Played in four contests as a true freshman and split time between guard and center
- Came to Tuscaloosa as the No. 1-rated player in Indiana and one of the nation’s top center/guard combos in his recruiting class
CHRISTIAN HARRIS
Linebacker, Junior
- Looking to etch his name on the Tide’s list of standout linebackers now in his junior season
- Earned Freshman All-America honors in 2019 and retained his starting role in 2020, finishing second on the Tide defense in tackles with 79
- Totaled seven tackles for loss (-31 yards) and 4.5 sacks (-28 yards) while adding six quarterback hurries, two pass breakups and an interception in 2020
- Selected to the Freshman All-SEC Team to go with his Freshman All-America honors in 2019 after playing in all 13 games with 12 starts
- Led the SEC’s first-year defenders in tackles for loss at 7.5 (-14 yards) as part of his 63 tackles that finished seventh among the league’s freshmen
JOHN METCHIE III
Wide Receiver, Junior
- Steps into the Tide’s No. 1 receiver role for his junior season after a solid 2020 campaign
- Totaled 916 yards and six touchdowns on 55 catches as a sophomore
- Averaged 16.7 yards per catch to rank seventh in the SEC
- Converted a first down or found his way into the end zone on 35 of his receptions in 2020
- Played in 13 games as a freshman, accumulating 23 yards on his four receptions that season
EVAN NEAL
Offensive Lineman, Junior
- Has proven to be one of the Tide’s top lineman from day one, starting every game since stepping foot on campus in 2019
- Started at right tackle as a sophomore after beginning his career at left guard
- Played 810 snaps with just six missed assignments and three penalties a season ago
- Credited with 1.5 sacks allowed while surrendering just four quarterback hurries and three pressures in 2020
- Totaled 13 starts in his first season on the way to Freshman All-America accolades from multiple outlets to go with a spot on the Freshman All-SEC Team
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.
