Alabama
Who has the most NFL sacks among players from Alabama high schools and colleges?
The top 10 for NFL career sacks by players from Alabama high schools and colleges remained unchanged during the 2023 season – both lists.
The NFL has two sets of sack stats – the official one that dates to 1982 and an unofficial one that dates to 1960.
Sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982. But based on the work of John Turney and Nick Webster of the Pro Football Researchers Association that was published in 2021, “a very thorough accounting” of pass-rushing has emerged that pushes the sack, at least unofficially, back to the 1960 season.
The 10 players from Alabama high schools and colleges with the most NFL sacks officially would not be quite the same as the 10 using the unofficial tabulations that add 22 seasons to the sack stats.
Former Parker High School star and Pro Football Hall of Fame member Buck Buchanan played his whole career with the Kansas City Chiefs before the sack became an official statistic. The research statistics credit Buchanan with 70.5 sacks for the Chiefs from 1962 through 1975.
That total would rank Buchanan ninth on the Alabama list.
On either list, the player from an Alabama high school or college with the most NFL sacks is Kevin Greene with 160. Officially, that’s the third-most in NFL history and the most for a player whose primary position was linebacker. The unofficial totals move Greene to fourth. In addition to trailing Bruce Smith and Reggie White on the official list, the research stats move him behind Deacon Jones, too. Smith, White and Jones played defensive end.
During the 2023 NFL season, the player with Alabama football roots with the most sacks was Jacksonville Jaguars outside linebacker Josh Hines-Allen (Abbeville) with 17.5, which tied for the second-most in the league.
The single-season sack record for a player from an Alabama high school or college is 20, established by Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Derrick Thomas (Alabama) in 1990 and equaled by Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (Auburn High, Troy) in 2008.
The active leader in sacks among the players with Alabama football roots is Cleveland Browns defensive end Za’Darius Smith (Greenville) with 60.
ALABAMA ROOTS: THE 100 GREATEST CAREERS OF THE NFL’S 104 SEASONS
The 10 players with Alabama football roots who have recorded the most official sacks in the NFL include:
Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Kevin Greene sacks San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana during an NFL game on Dec. 18, 1988, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Greene recorded a career-high 4.5 sacks in the game.(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
1. Kevin Greene, Auburn: 160 sacks
Los Angeles Rams 1985-1992, Pittsburgh Steelers 1993-1995, San Francisco 49ers 1997, Carolina Panthers 1996, 1997-1998: The outside linebacker’s sack total is the third-highest in NFL history. He led the NFL in sacks in 1994 and 1996, was a two-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
2. DeMarcus Ware, Auburn High School, Troy: 138.5 sacks
Dallas Cowboys 2005-2013, Denver Broncos 2014-2016: The outside linebacker’s sack total is the ninth-highest in NFL history. He led the NFL in sacks in 2008 and 2010, was a four-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
3. Derrick Thomas, Alabama: 126.5 sacks
Kansas City Chiefs 1989-1999: The outside linebacker ranks 17th on the NFL’s all-time sack list. He led the NFL in sacks in 1990, holds the NFL record for most sacks in a game with seven, was a two-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowler and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
4. Robert Mathis, Alabama A&M: 123 sacks
Indianapolis Colts 2003-2016: The defensive end/outside linebacker led the NFL in sacks in 2013 and ranks 20th in league history. Mathis was an All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler five times.
5. Trace Armstrong, John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham, 106 sacks
Chicago Bears 1989-1994, Miami Dolphins 1995-2000, Oakland Raiders 2001-2003: A defensive end, Armstrong had the biggest season of his long career at age 35, when he turned in 16.5 sacks and earned his only Pro Bowl spot in 2000. His sack total ranks 31st in league history.
6. Osi Umenyiora, Auburn High School, Troy: 85 sacks
New York Giants 2003-2012, Atlanta Falcons 2013-2014: Umenyiora played defensive end for two Super Bowl winners with the Giants and was an All-Pro once and Pro Bowler twice.
7. Tim Harris, Woodlawn High School in Birmingham: 81 sacks
Green Bay Packers 1986-1990, San Francisco 49ers 1991-1992, 1994-1995, Philadelphia Eagles 1993: An All-Pro outside linebacker in 1989, Harris started his prep career at Woodlawn before finishing at Catholic High School in Memphis.
8. Cornelius Bennett, Ensley High School in Birmingham, Alabama: 71.5 sacks
Buffalo Bills 1987-1995, Atlanta Falcons 1996-1998, Indianapolis Colts 1999-2000: The outside linebacker went to five Super Bowls and was an All-Pro once and Pro Bowler five times.
9. Mario Addison, Tarrant High School, Troy: 68 sacks
Chicago Bears 2011, Indianapolis Colts 2011-2012, Washington Redskins 2012, Carolina Panthers 2012-2019, Buffalo Bills 2020-21, Houston Texans 2022: The defensive end reached a career high with 11 sacks in 2017, and from 2016 through 2019, he had at least nine sacks in each season.
10. Justin Tuck, Central High School in Rockford: 66.5 sacks
New York Giants 2005-2013, Oakland Raiders 2014-2015: The defensive end was an All-Pro once, a Pro Bowler twice and a teammate of Osi Umenyiora on two New York Giants teams that won Super Bowls. Tuck’s official sack total doesn’t include four sacks made in those two Super Bowl victories.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.
Alabama
Alabama’s Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spanish Fort recognized as one of the best | WKRG.com
SPANISH FORT, Ala. (WKRG) — Beneath thousands of headstones, a life of service and sacrifice is honored at the Alabama State Veterans Cemetery in Spanish Fort.
“It is pretty profound the sense of pride in the work,” said cemetery director Joe Buschell.
“The beauty is just overwhelming, and there is so much honor here for our veterans for the community,” said Commissioner of Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs Jeff Newton. “It’s just a solemn place.”
Buschell accepted the Excellence in Veterans Cemetery Operations recognition, but he says it is a team effort.
“We’re going to do whatever it takes. When the day starts, our obligation is to honor that veteran and their family,” Buschell said.
The only state veterans cemetery in Alabama is the final resting place for almost 5,000 veterans and their spouses.
“They truly care for the veterans of the state of Alabama,” said Glenn Powers, Deputy Under Secretary of Cemetery Operations for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs that sets the standards for all 124 state veterans cemeteries across the U.S. “They do exactly what we want them to do, what the American citizens want them to do, take care of our veterans, honor them in perpetuity.”
Established in 2013, the 130-acre property off Highway 225 has room to expand for generations to come.
“They gifted everybody at least a part of their life, said Buschell. “At this cemetery, we have at least a couple that gifted the whole thing, so that means a lot.”
A debt of gratitude that can never fully be repaid.
Alabama residents will make their choice for U.S. Congress during the May 19 primary, and officials are urging people to vote despite an ever-evolving situation surrounding the state’s congressional maps.
Currently, there are legal disputes surrounding the Congressional districts map in use in Alabama. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in late April on a redistricting case in Louisiana, Alabama asked for the preliminary injunction which barred them from redrawing their maps until 2030 to be lifted, which the courts have granted as of May 11.
Though there’s been some confusion in the face of ongoing legal motions regarding the maps, what is certain is that primary elections will go on as planned despite Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey calling for a special election in August for the affected congressional districts — Districts 1, 2, 6 and 7.
The Northern District Court of Alabama, which originally issued the injunction, still has to reconsider the case. The court asked state officials in a May 12 order to explain the plan for the 2026 elections and to explain how they plan to “ensure that all Alabamians may timely and efficaciously exercise their constitutional right to vote.”
There are two more elections after the primaries this month. On June 16, the state will hold primary runoff elections, and on Nov. 3, the state will host the general election. Additional candidates could come up after the primaries conclude, so once the names are finalized, the ballots may appear differently in November.
The special election in races affected by new congressional maps is currently planned for Aug. 11, though officials — including Ivey — have encouraged all voters to cast their ballots in the regular May 19 primary.
Who’s running for U.S. Senate?
The seat currently held by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville is up for election. Tuberville, who has thrown his hat in the governor’s race, will not be returning to the position, so all candidates listed would be new to the Senate. The other seat is held by U.S. Sen. Katie Britt and won’t be open until her term expires in 2028.
Republican candidates
- Seth Burton
- Dale Shelton Deas Jr.
- Jared Hudson
- Steve Marshall
- Barry Moore
- Rodney Walker
Some names on this list are already serving in federal and Alabama state government positions, with Marshall currently serving as the state’s Attorney General, and Moore currently representing Alabama’s 1st District in the House of Representatives and previously representing the 2nd District. Of the candidates, President Donald Trump has endorsed only one, which is Moore.
Hudson is the only candidate who has attempted to run for another position, albeit unsuccessfully — he ran for sheriff of Jefferson County in 2022, but lost to incumbent Sheriff Mark Pettway.
Democratic candidates
- Dakarai Larriett
- Kyle Sweetser
- Everett Wess
- Mark S. Wheeler II
Who’s running for House of Representatives?
U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell is running unopposed in District 7. Voters in every district have candidates from both sides of the aisle to consider.
Considering the special election that is now on the horizon, candidate names may appear differently on ballots in August if different maps are approved. For the May 19 primaries, the following is how candidate names will appear.
District 1 Republican Candidates
- Jerry Carl
- James (Jimmy) Dees
- Rhett Marques
- Joshua McKee
- John Mills
- James Richardson
- Austin Sidwell
District 1 Democratic Candidates
Senate candidate Moore currently holds the District 1 position, so no candidates are incumbents. A few of the candidates in this race have previous political experience. Carl is a former member of the U.S. House and used to represent District 1, with his tenure in office lasting from 2021-25. Marques is a current Alabama State House representative.
District 2 Republican Candidates
District 2 Democratic Candidates
U.S. Rep. Figures currently holds the District 2 position.
District 3 Republican Candidates
District 3 Democratic Candidates
U.S. Rep. Rogers currently holds the District 3 position.
District 4 Republican Candidates
- Robert B. Aderholt
- Tommy Barnes
District 4 Democratic Candidates
- Amanda N. Pusczek
- Shane Weaver
U.S. Rep. Aderholt currently holds the District 4 position. His one Republican opponent, Barnes, has a history in public service, serving as a Colbert County Commissioner.
District 5 Republican Candidates
District 5 Democratic Candidates
- Jeremy Devito
- Candice Dollar Duvieilh
- Andrew Sneed
U.S. Rep. Strong currently holds the District 5 position.
District 6 Republican candidates
District 6 Democratic candidates
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer currently holds the District 6 position.
How do I check my voter registration status?
To vote in the primary election, voters need to have been registered to vote in Alabama for 15 days before the election is scheduled to happen.
To check your registration status, visit vote.gov.
Sarah Clifton covers business for the Montgomery Advertiser. You can reach her at sclifton@montgome.gannett.com or follow her on X @sarahgclifton and TikTok @sarahgclifton. To support her work, please subscribe to the Montgomery Advertiser.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A bipartisan bill is making its way through Washington that would preserve and possibly restore a famous piece of naval aviation history.
The F-14 Tomcat was in service with the Navy for more than 30 years and was famously used in the original “Top Gun” movie.
But when the aircraft retired in 2005, the U.S. government destroyed a majority of the airplanes that were here in the U.S. This made the prospects of the jet returning to the skies next to impossible.
The “Maverick Act” hopes to bring a jet that inspired a generation back to life.
“The Maverick Act got a lot of support,” “It passed the Senate unanimously. It now heads to Congress for a final vote.”
Pensacola Navy veteran Dan McCort can still feel the raw power the F-14 Tomcat brought to naval aviation.
“It was a blast to fly. I gotta tell you I got it,” McCort said. “I love the airplane. I love the missions because it came with a huge mission set.”
The only country in the world flying the jet was Iran. The jets were given to Iran in 1979. But when the government was overthrown, the jets fell into the hands of an anti-American government.
Because of that, when the jet retired in 2006, the U.S. ordered most of the aircraft and its parts be destroyed.
During Operation Epic Fury, American and Israeli pilots destroyed Iran’s entire Air Force, including all the remaining flyable F-14s.
“We had to take them out, but boy that was hard for me to watch,” McCort said.
A bill dubbed the “Maverick Act” was introduced through a bipartisan effort. The legislation would preserve and restore three F-14s sitting in our nation’s boneyard.
“That airplane inspired an entire nation, partly because of the movie, partly because of the times it was hard Cold War, and it represented frankly American air power,” said McCort.
“A fantastic piece of equipment that served our country well,” Congressman Jimmy Patronis said. “But I can’t help but poke fun at it simply because of what Tom Cruise has done with the most recent ‘Top Gun’ movies.”
The bill calls for the Navy to donate the Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where they will be restored. If there’s enough spare parts, the bill calls for one of them to be restored to flight status to be flown at airshows across the country.
All of this would be funded by private donors, and not American taxpayers.
“If there’s no taxpayer dollars being used to restore these things then put it on the table,” said Patronis.
McCort says restoring the airplane will cost millions of dollars.
“A foundation that could generate some donations to defer the costs of making this thing fly because it will not be inexpensive,” said McCort. “I believe we’ll pay dividends down the road, both for the museum as well as a recruiting opportunity… as well as a recruiting opportunity for the country in general, and for the Navy frankly.”
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