Alabama
Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs’ Burst Isn’t Hard to Spot
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Nick Saban has a knack for recognizing expertise. Nevertheless, when it got here to evaluating Jahmyr Gibbs’ elite burst out of the backfield earlier this offseason, the pinnacle coach admits it didn’t take a lot experience.
“Does it stand out to you?” Saban mentioned. “Quick is quick, proper? The man attending to prime pace is clear.”
The general public obtained its first take a look at Gibbs throughout Saturday’s A-Day recreation. The Georgia Tech switch didn’t disappoint, operating his method to MVP honors whereas piling up 100 yards and a landing on 9 carries to go together with a 9-yard reception, all in opposition to the first-team protection. Nearly all of Gibbs’ manufacturing got here on a 75-yard landing sprint within the third quarter the place he was in a position to put his signature burst on show, capturing via a gap in the midst of the offensive line earlier than turning on the burners down the left sideline.
“Including him as a part of the crew has been an enormous addition,” quarterback Bryce Younger mentioned. “You noticed that large run, that explosiveness, actually that big-play capability that he brings is one thing that’s actually large. It’s one factor if you get a run and it’s a 5- or 20-yard run, and it’s an entire new factor when it’s a 75-yard run such as you noticed in the present day, like he’s able to on virtually each play. He’s are available, he’s labored actually, he’s slot in very well and to have that explosiveness is large for us offensively.”
Gibbs’ landing marked the lone rating allowed by the first-team protection throughout the scrimmage. The primary-team entrance seven manhandled Alabama’s beginning offensive line on the afternoon, sacking Younger 10 instances whereas limiting the Heisman Trophy winner to 153 yards and an interception on 14 of 29 passing. It additionally held five-star operating again Trey Sanders to only 14 yards on 4 carries. Nevertheless, when it got here to chasing down Gibbs, Crimson Tide defenders discovered corralling the speedy again a bit tougher.
“So far as taking part in in opposition to him on protection, he’s fast, elusive,” linebacker Henry To’o To’o mentioned. “Having the ability to get out and in of cuts, he is aware of when to run the ball, when to place his head down and when to make a transfer. And you bought to see it with that lengthy landing that he had. He’s undoubtedly gonna be an enormous a part of our offense, and it’s as much as him to only preserve his head down, work exhausting as a result of he’ll be an excellent participant.”
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Gibbs led Georgia Tech with 746 yards and 4 touchdowns on 143 carries final season. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound again additionally completed because the Yellow Jackets’ second-leading receiver pulling in 36 receptions for 470 yards and a pair of scores via the air. In keeping with Professional Soccer Focus, Gibbs recorded a 91.5 receiving grade, the second-highest amongst any operating again within the nation.
“I believe he offers us one thing on the operating again place as a result of he’s actually good at urgent the holes, however he has an excellent burst to get to prime pace shortly in establishing blocks,” Saban mentioned. “Excellent operating again, excellent receiver, an excellent third-down again. Excellent addition.”
Whereas Gibbs stood out throughout Saturday’s scrimmage, Alabama ought to have one of many nation’s deepest backfields subsequent season, that includes six backs who all ranked within the prime 100 gamers of their respective recruiting lessons.
With Gibbs and Sanders operating with the Crimson Crew (first-team offense/second-team protection ), early enrollee Jamarion Miller led the White Crew (first-team protection/second-team offense) with 44 yards on 15 carries. Alabama can even usher in fellow four-star freshman Emmanual Henderson, the No. 23 participant on this yr’s SI99, over the summer time. By the point fall camp rolls round, the Crimson Tide will welcome again Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams because the pair of junior backs must be absolutely recovered from season-ending knee accidents.
“I form of like the place we’re at at that place,” Saban mentioned Saturday.
In fact, it doesn’t take an skilled to see that both.
Gallery: Jahmyr Gibbs on A-Day
Alabama
2024 Alabama High School Back and Lineman of the Year Finalists
Winners, Super All-State and Mr. Football to be revealed Jan. 28 at a luncheon banquet at the Montgomery Renaissance.
Class 7A
Back of the year
Anquon Fegans, Thompson
Trent Seaborn, Thompson
Daylyn Upshaw, Central-Phenix City
Lineman of the year
Malik Autry, Opelika
Zion Grady, Enterprise
Jared Smith, Thompson
Class 6A
Back of the year
Corey Barber, Spain Park
KJ Lacey, Saraland
Na’eem Offord, Parker
Lineman of the year
Keenan Britt, Oxford
Jourdin Crawford, Parker
Anthony Jones, St. Paul’s
Class 5A
Back of the year
Conner Nelson, Leeds
Cam Phinizee, Russellville
Jotavion Pierce, Catholic-Montgomery
Lineman of the year
Jabarrius Garrar, Vigor
Kentonio Kelly Jr., Vigor
Ellis McGaskin, Williamson
Class 4A
Back of the year
EJ Crowell, Jackson
Landon Duckworth, Jackson
Gunner Rivers, St. Michael
Lineman of the year
Tristan Brown, Cherokee Co.
Tae Diamond, Cherokee Co.
AJ Rice, Madison Academy
Class 3A
Back of the year
Caden Chandler, Mars Hill Bible
Kadyn Mitchell, Houston Academy
Rollie Pinto, Piedmont
Lineman of the year
Myles Johnson, T.R. Miller
Billy Neill, Bayside Academy
Tucker Wilks, Fyffe
Class 2A
Back of the year
Chris Clemons, Winston Co.
Luke Gilbert, Pisgah
Preston Lancaster, Tuscaloosa Aca.
Lineman of the year
JJ Faulk, Highland Home
Clete O’Bryant, Coosa Christian
Grayson Gulde, Vincent
Class 1A
Back of the year
Alvin Henderson, Elba
Ziquayvion Jackson, McKenzie
Jaquez Wilkes, Wadley
Lineman of the year
Fred Curry, Georgiana
Hayes Farrell, Donoho
Tim Parnell, Leroy
AISA
Back of the year
Julian Curry, Wilcox Academy
Gerrell Perry, Banks Academy
Luke Tarver, Chambers Academy
Lineman of the year
Jackson Boykin, South Choctaw Academy
Ashton Yelder, Lowndes Academy
Asher Young, Fort Dale Academy
The Alabama Sports Writers Association is a professional organization for sports writers and editors throughout the state, or any person involved in disseminating sports information or publicity in Alabama including but not limited to sports information personnel, publicists of professional organizations or facilities, or publicists of non-profit organizations sponsoring or governing sporting events. The ASWA is a non-profit organization.
The ASWA prep committee’s primary responsibilities include conducting regular top-10 rankings of a variety of high school sports, and select all-state teams in those sports as well. The committee will determine the winner of a variety of annual awards including the annual Mr. Football winner, and the Jimmy Smothers Courage Award. For more information, check out: ASWA
See Also 2024 Alabama High School All-State Football Selections
Alabama
3 former Alabama high school stars return to NFL rosters
Three Alabama high school alumni will wake up on Christmas morning on NFL rosters after starting Christmas eve out of the league.
On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills signed linebacker Nicholas Morrow (Huntsville High School) to their active roster, the Atlanta Falcons signed linebacker Rashaan Evans (Auburn High School, Alabama) to their practice squad and the Miami Dolphins signed defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr. (Murphy High School) to their practice squad.
Each of the players rejoined a team they had played for this season.
An eight-year veteran with 105 NFL regular-season games and 58 starts in his career, Morrow played in 11 games for Buffalo before the Bills released him on Dec. 7.
A seven-year veteran with 87 NFL regular-season games and 68 starts in his career, Evans played in two games for Atlanta before being waived on Saturday. This is the third time the Falcons have signed Evans for their practice squad this season. He joined the team on Oct. 1, was released on Oct. 12, re-signed on Oct. 21 and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 1.
A three-year veteran with 19 NFL regular-season games in his career, Farrell played in seven games for Miami before being waived on Saturday. Farrell joined the Dolphins’ practice squad on Sept. 26 and moved up to the active roster on Nov. 11.
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.
Alabama
How to Watch the ReliaQuest Bowl: No. 11 Alabama vs. Michigan
Alabama and Michigan played in a bowl game on the first day of 2024 and will play in another on the final day of 2024, there’s just not as much as statke this time. The Crimson Tide and Wolverines are becoming familiar postseason foes, meeting in a bowl game for the third time in the last six seasons with this year’s matchup in the ReliaQuest Bowl in Tampa, Florida.
Both teams will be without several players because of injuries and the transfer portal, but it will be another game between two of the most storied programs in college football history. Alabama and Michigan both had disappointing seasons relative to their standards but are coming off wins over bitter rivals in the final game of the regular season.
Here’s what you need to know about the seaon finale in Year 1 for Kalen DeBoer at Alabama:
Who: Alabama (9-3, 5-3 SEC) vs. Michigan (7-5, 5-4 Big Ten)
What: ReliaQuest Bowl
When: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 11 a.m. CT
Where: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
TV: ESPN
Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Play-By-Play: Chris Stewart, Color: Tyler Watts).
Sirius XM: Away 191, Home 372
Series: Tied, 3-3
Last meeting: The two teams met last postseason in the Rose Bowl as the semifinal for the College Football Playoff. Michigan won 27-20 in overtime and went on to win the national championship. Alabama led for almost the whole fourth quarter, but let Michigan go on a 75-yard drive in the final few minutes of regulation to tie the game up. The Wolverines got the ball first in overtime and were in the end zone two plays later. Jalen Milroe was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 3 to give Michigan the win.
Last time out, Alabama: Alabama handled business in the Iron Bowl against Auburn with a 28-14 victory despite turning the ball over four times. Milroe had 256 yards through the air and another 104 on the ground with three more rushing touchdowns.
Last time out, Michigan: The Wolverines had one of the biggest upsets of the college football season, knocking off bitter rival No. 2 Ohio State on the road. Michigan stifled the Buckeye offense on the way to the 13-10 win. Dominic Zvada hit the game-winning field goal with 45 seconds left for the Wolverines.
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