Nine Alabama Football Players Named Semifinalists for National Awards

11/21/20 Alabama vs Kentucky Alabama offensive lineman Landon Dickerson (69) Photo by Crimson Tide Photo

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.

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