Happy Monday, everyone. Baseball took two of three from Ole Miss over the weekend while softball dropped two of three to Tennessee. And, Nate Oats added another key transfer.

Should Mark Sears and Grant Nelson come back and not go pro — an expectation but not a certainty considering how last year went with Charles Bediako and Jahvon Quinerly — Oats and co. will have one of the deepest rosters in the country.

Philon was an offensive force in Alabama. Coaches couldn’t scheme ways to stop him during his junior season (35 points per game). MaxPreps and Gatorade both named Philon the state’s player of the year. He can attack the paint and shoot the 3-pointer, making it hard not to imagine him developing with Holloway in Oats’ system. The Tide could return a starting backcourt with Sears and Latrell Wrightsell, offering both underclassmen cover.

With Sears and Nelson’s spots held for them, Oats still has one open roster spot that will ostensibly go to a big man. Rutgers transfer Cliff Omoruyi was in town over the weekend, but is still taking visits.

Alabama track and field closed the regular season in fine fashion.

Alabama track and field concluded the outdoor regular season at the Desert Heat Classic with four first-place finishes from Corde Long (men’s 400-meter hurdles), Allan Kiplagat (men’s steeplechase), Caelyn Harris (women’s long jump) and Brenda Tuwei (women’s 3,000-meter).

Long highlighted the Crimson Tide’s regular season finale, grabbing a first-place finish in the men’s 400-meter hurdles with the fourth-fastest time in the NCAA this season at 49.26. Shortly thereafter, Kiplagat also returned a first-place finish in the men’s steeplechase with a personal-best 9:21.78.

SEC Championships are this weekend in Gainesville. The men finish the regular season ranked 2nd in the nation behind Texas A&M, while the womens’ team is 15th.

Alabama finished with ten players taken in the NFL Draft. Almost as encouraging: Kalen DeBoer’s former team matched that. From Katie Windham:

If opposing fanbases around the country and SEC were hoping for a dropoff in talent and production going from Saban to Kalen DeBoer, this weekend’s NFL draft proved they could be in for a rude awakening. Saban and DeBoer tied with 10 total selections, trailing only Michigan (13) and Texas (11) for number of players taken in this year’s draft.

DeBoer’s former Huskies also matched Alabama’s first-round total with three apiece (Michael Penix Jr., Rome Odunze and Troy Fautanu), which tied a program record at Washington. It was the first time multiple Huskies were selected in the first round since 2015.

Katie also notes that 27 of the 32 NFL franchises used a first round pick on an Alabama player in Saban’s 17 years. Out of all the other incredible stats, that one may be the most impressive.

It was clear that Saban loved his last team, even if he wondered if they were talented enough to win a national title. They damn near did, but this weekend we got a peek into why he felt the way he did about them.

“We had a couple of Alabama players come through on 30 visits,” Sabo said, “and so every time one came through, I’d make sure I’d peel off and say, ‘Hey, man, what do you think about Will?’ And at first they get kind of shocked, like ‘What’re you talking about?’ And then like, ‘Oh, my God. He’s like’ – I felt he was part of that team. He’s not an isolated player, where in some programs they’re isolated and maybe distant and maybe not necessarily connected to the team. And I never got that from the sources that I talked with at Alabama, the sources our other scouts talked to at Alabama and then (special-teams coordinator Matt) Daniels interviewing him through his processes as well.”

There’s something poetic about the Saban era ending with one of his kickers getting drafted, isn’t there?

Reichard gave Saban a record that will likely never be matched: during his Alabama tenure, someone was drafted at every position on the field, including long snapper, kicker and punter. If that wasn’t enough, Jaylen Key became Saban’s first Mr. Irrelevant.

“It means everything; that’s part of the title,” Key said on a video conference with New York-area reporters. “You just have to take it and lean into it. For me, I’m definitely going to lean into every bit of it. I’m Mr. Irrelevant this year, and we’re going to make something shake, for sure.”

The Jets selected Key with the final pick in the seventh round, No. 257 overall — the franchise’s first Mr. Irrelevant choice since 1969. That year, they picked last after winning Super Bowl III. This time, it was a compensatory selection.

The Mr. Irrelevant title has grown in stature in recent years, thanks, in large part, to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who helped his team to the Super Bowl last season after being the final player drafted in 2022.

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“We’ve got some shoes to fill behind Brock, but I can tell you this: We’re going to make something shake,” he said with a smile.

Last, Kalen and Nate got to experience the FloraBama mullet toss.

You have to wonder what Kalen thought of that, eh? Looks like they had some fun.

That’s about it for today. Have a great week.

Roll Tide.

For the No. 17 Alabama softball team, Sunday’s series finale was an important game for a lot of reasons. In addition to the contest being the Power of Pink game, the Crimson Tide was also hoping to avoid a sweep at the hands of No. 3 Tennessee. Moreover, despite playing in front of raucous crowds at Rhoads Stadium, Alabama had not scored a run in the series.

Thanks to a fifth-inning RBI single from center fielder Kristen White, scoring shortstop Kenleigh Cahalan, the Crimson Tide got the run and rode it all the way to a 1-0 victory.

Not to be missed are the contributions of ace pitcher Kayla Beaver, who tossed a complete game shutout against one of the best teams in the country. Sunday was Beaver’s second outing of the weekend series. The game was Alabama’s ninth SEC win of the season.

Today’s Crimson Tide Schedule:

Crimson Tide Results:

• Softball: defeated No. 3 Tennessee, 1-0.

Did You Notice?

• Former Alabama quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who put up big numbers under the tutelage of Mike Locksley at Maryland, was invited to the Seattle Seahawks’ rookie minicamp. Tagovailoa is the brother of former Crimson Tide standout and current Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Taulia Tagovailoa had his request for an extra year of college eligibility denied by the NCAA.

• Former Alabama baseball pitcher David Robertson, now with the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, has still got it.

Countdown to Crimson Tide’s 2024 Football Season Opener:

On This Day in Crimson Tide History:

• April 29, 1970: Mark McMillian, also known as “Mighty Mouse,” was born in Los Angeles.

• April 29, 1986: Defensive tackle Jon Hand was the fourth-overall selection in the NFL draft by the Indianapolis Colts.

• April 29, 1993: Justin Thomas was born in Louisville, Ky. 

Crimson Tide Quote of the Day:

“The toughest [teammate I ever had] was Eddie Lowe at Alabama.  He was an undersized linebacker who would hit any opponent in the mouth.  He was a great player for us.”– Jon Hand to colts.com

Check out:

Follow us on Facebook @AlabamaonSI, Twitter/X on @BamaCentral and Instagram at bamacentralsi

Kayla Beaver held Tennessee to a season-low two hits and zero runs as Alabama softball avoided the series sweep vs. No. 3 Tennessee, winning the series finale 1-0.

With the win, Alabama was able to avoid being swept in conference play for the first time since 2013. The Crimson Tide dropped the series opener on Friday night by a score of 5-0 followed by a 2-0 loss on Saturday, before bouncing back and taking the series finale.

Here are takeaways and observations from Alabama softball’s (32-14, 9-12 SEC) series vs. Tennessee (37-9, 16-5 SEC):

Alabama softball vs. Tennessee pitching staff

Tennessee’s pitching staff ranks first in the country with a 1.33 ERA. Individually, Lady Vols pitchers Payton Gottshall (1.07 ERA) and Karlyn Pickens (1.12) each rank within the top-10 in the country in individual ERA.

Alabama faced Gottshall in the series opener and finale. In the series opener, Gottshall held Alabama scoreless and allowed three hits across 7.0 innings, one hit apiece by Kali Heivilin, Kristen White and Bailey Dowling. In the series finale, Gottshall allowed four Alabama hits — two from Kenleigh Cahalan one from White and Lauren Esman — and one run across 4⅔ innings pitched.

On Saturday, Pickens started in the circle for the Lady Vols and held Alabama scoreless and to a season-low one hit. Its the second time with one hit this season, the first time coming in a 2-0 loss vs. Florida on March 9. Kristen White got the lone hit for the Crimson Tide, coming off of a sixth inning bunt single to break the possible no-hitter, which would have been Alabama’s first no-hit loss since April 20, 2004.

Freshman pitcher Jocelyn Briski throws second-straight complete game

Jocelyn Briski started in the circle for Alabama on Saturday in her third SEC start. It was another strong performance from the freshman after her outing vs. Arkansas last week, allowing just one earned run for the second-straight game over seven innings pitched. It was also her fourth complete game of the season in her eighth career start.

Tennessee’s first run on Saturday was unearned, coming from a two-out RBI single in the second inning. Its second run came from a solo home run in the fourth inning. Briski also struck out two batters and did not allow a walk.

“Jocelyn Briski gave us a great start,’ coach Patrick Murphy said after Saturday’s game. “She has been excellent over the past few weeks and she gave us a good enough start to win the game tonight.” 

Briski has begun to emerge as the No. 2 pitcher on the Alabama staff, alongside ace pitcher Kayla Beaver. Over the last two conference series, Beaver has gotten the start in the series opener and finale, with Briski starting in the second game of the series.

NICK SABAN COMMEMORATIVE BOOK: Relive Nick Saban’s epic Alabama football coaching career with our special book! Preorder here.

2024 SCHEDULE: Alabama softball schedule 2024: Here’s a list of every game with dates, times and locations

27 scoreless innings drought ends in series finale

Prior to Sunday’s fifth inning run, the Crimson Tide had been held scoreless for 27-straight innings, its last run dating back to their April 20 contest at Arkansas which they won 5-1.

Kristen White broke the Crimson Tide’s scoreless drought in the series finale with an RBI single that brought home Kenleigh Cahalan, who had reached base on a two-out triple. It was White’s second RBI of the year, and she finished the game 2-for-3 from the plate for the Crimson Tide.

“I’m glad that I could get the job done in that moment” White said after Sunday’s game. “There was not a doubt in my mind that I could get it done for my team, so I am glad that I did.”

What’s next?

Alabama closes out regular season play next week in a three-game conference series at Auburn, with the series starting on Thursday and ending Saturday. The SEC softball tournament is slated for the week after next, going May 7-11 in Auburn.

Anna Snyder covers high school sports and University of Alabama softball and football recruiting for The Tuscaloosa News. Reach her at asnyder@gannett.com. Follow her on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, @annaesnyder2