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How the Lions’ ‘Bama Boys’ are guiding an Alabama DB’s NFL path

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How the Lions’ ‘Bama Boys’ are guiding an Alabama DB’s NFL path


INDIANAPOLIS — Alabama’s Malachi Moore wasn’t shy about his respect for former college teammate Brian Branch and the rest of his fellow “Bama Boys” playing for the Detroit Lions.

Speaking to reporters Thursday morning, the 23-year-old defensive back pulled back the curtain on the bond he formed with Branch and Terrion Arnold, both of whom he stays in weekly contact with.

The two Lions defenders have been instrumental in Moore’s preparation for this year’s combine, sharing insight and experiences while also comparing and contrasting the differences between the college and NFL games.

While Moore has yet to meet with the Lions in Indianapolis, Detroit could be in the market for safety depth in this year’s draft. The Alabama defender shared he would embrace the chance to reunite with his “brothers” in Detroit’s secondary.

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“It would be great to play with my guys Terrion and BB on the defensive side of the ball. We already had that great chemistry, and we come from the same lineage in college football, playing under Coach Saban,” Moore said. “So, all of us are like-minded, and we’re still brothers to this day. Like I said, our relationship is great.”

Moore said he and Branch are like “two peas in a pod,” having entered Alabama together as freshmen in 2020.

Attached at the hip since then, Moore said both players share a similar mindset, refusing to limit themselves in terms of what they can contribute to a team anywhere in the secondary.

“Whatever the team needs me to do — if you need me to be deep in the post or in the deep part of the field, I can do that. If you need me to come down, fill the box, and play the run, I can do that as well,” Moore said. “If you need me to cover down on the slot or cover speed at three, I’m comfortable doing that as well.

“I think that just comes from my experience. When I first came into school, I was a star for the first four years, and now I’ve moved to safety. So, I feel like I have an advantage in being versatile while also being comfortable doing new things. This year was my first year playing safety, and I feel like it was the best year I’ve had in college.”

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Despite taking pride in his versatility, Moore said he’s at his best in man coverage, where he can utilize the instincts he developed playing star — a hybrid defensive role — in previous seasons.

That experience, he believes, sets him apart from the other safeties in this draft class when it comes to guarding opposing receivers.

“Freshman year, I was guarding Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith every day at practice, and I don’t think there are a lot of guys better than those two out there,” Moore said. “So, Alabama definitely prepared me for that.”

Another player Moore lined up against daily in practice at Alabama: Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams.

“Jamo — he’s got a different type of speed, and you see that, but seeing it every day at practice is a little different,” Moore said. “You definitely get acclimated and used to guarding people that fast, and when you get to the game and guys aren’t that fast, it makes things easier.”

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Moore’s wealth of experience in multiple roles for the Crimson Tide led to him earning first-team All-SEC honors in his final season at Alabama. He recorded 70 tackles (40 solo), eight passes defended, two interceptions, two forced fumbles (one recovered), and one sack.

Modeling his game after Jessie Bates III, Derwin James Jr., and even Branch — whom he considers his NFL comparison — Moore said he studies different players.

“(Me and Branch) were just on the phone the other day, talking about life and football, and I always ask him about little techniques that he uses or what he’s picked up in the league that’s different from college,” Moore said. “He’s always giving me little gems—definitely about man-to-man coverage, the slot, and just his physicality.”

But what about when it comes to his own playing style?

“I’m an aggressive, instinctive player. I’m a player who really takes pride in my preparation, which allows me to go out there and play fast,” Moore said. “But I’m also a great communicator. Coming into Coach Saban’s defense, especially playing star, you’re almost the quarterback of the defense, so to speak.

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“So, I’m very used to talking, being loud, and communicating. And even when I moved back to safety this year, my communication was, I would say, even better.”



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Alabama named in Paul Finebaum’s head-turning CFP prediction

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Alabama named in Paul Finebaum’s head-turning CFP prediction


The Alabama Crimson Tide had a lot of nerves awaiting the committee’s decision on their College Football Playoff fate, but they ended up getting into the field as the No. 9 seed and will face off against No. 8 Oklahoma.

Kalen DeBoer and company did not have a good showing against the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship game. They lost that matchup by a final score of 28-7. However, they’ll have a chance to prove that they belong.

While many have already written Alabama off as a potential national championship contender, there is one notable analyst who believes that the Crimson Tide still have a path to winning it all.

Read more: Texas, Arch Manning Dealt More Bad News After Missing CFP

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Paul Finebaum still believes that there’s a chance Alabama could make a stunning run to a title.

During an appearance on “Get Up” on Monday morning, Finebaum revealed the pathway that he sees for Alabama to win a championship.

“The pairings could have been a lot worse. I, frankly, think if Alabama can get past Oklahoma, at least on paper, they have a path. It may not be that great for anybody who watched Indiana play on Saturday night,” Finebaum said. “But I think a lot of Alabama people would feel pretty good about it.”

Beating Oklahoma will be no easy task. The Sooners have had an up-and-down season at times, but they are loaded with talent on both sides of the football. Should the Crimson Tide pull off a win over Oklahoma, a much tougher test would await.

As Finebaum mentioned, Alabama would then have to take on the No. 1-seeded Indiana Hoosiers. Led by head coach Curt Cignetti, Indiana is fresh off of beating the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship game by a score of 13-10. They’re legit and they have arguably the best quarterback in the nation with Fernando Mendoza.

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No one can count out any top-tier team at this point in time. There is a chance that the Crimson Tide could make a shocking run to a national championship win. That being said, DeBoer and company will have to fix a lot of weaknesses to do that.

Read more: Ohio State’s Ryan Day Sends Warning Ahead of College Football Playoff

One weakness that Finebaum sees has been the recent play of quarterback Ty Simpson and Alabama’s running game.

“Anything I say about Ty Simpson, it will be articulated 1000 times more,” Finebaum said. “But something is wrong. Is it the lack of running game? Is it problems up front? But he just doesn’t seem to be the same quarterback he was eight weeks ago. I think that has to be a major concern going into Norman.”

The Crimson Tide will face off against the Sooners on December 19. Fans can only wait and hope that the team can fix the issues that were clearly present against Georgia.

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For more on the Alabama Crimson Tide and college football news, head to Newsweek Sports.



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University of Alabama alumni launch fundraiser to save student magazines

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University of Alabama alumni launch fundraiser to save student magazines


University of Alabama alumni have launched a fundraising campaign for two print magazines that were shut down.

Masthead, a nonprofit dedicated to “diverse, anti-racist and equitable student media at the University of Alabama,” opened a $25,000 fundraising campaign for Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six, two student-led print magazines focused on women’s lifestyle and Black culture.

The university shuttered the magazines after U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives may violate federal anti-discrimination laws.

The alumni group said it doesn’t think the magazines violated federal regulations.

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“Even if their subject matter is specific, Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six have always been by anyone, for everyone,” Masthead said in a news release. “The editors-in-chief of both magazines said their staff are ready to continue their work, with or without UA.”

The nonprofit the university’s decision silences viewpoints “disfavored by the government because they dared to write about those topics at all.”

The fundraiser will go towards printing costs, equipment and student salaries. Masthead president Victor Luckerson told AL.com it costs about $7,500 to print 1,000 copies.

“This fundraising drive is the first step in ensuring the staff at Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six receive the mentorship, advice and support they need during this tumultuous time,” Masthead said.

Masthead will post updates about the campaign in their newsletter.

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“Even if the university says that Nineteen Fifty-Six is suspended, this proves that there is no suspension of the stories that we’re going to tell,” Nineteen Fifty-Six editor-in-chief Kendal Wright said. “It takes away a space for us to be able to tell our own stories and for everyone to read our stories. But I think this experience has taught our community and our staff that there is always another way. We will always have a space to tell our stories, and we will always make one. We cannot be silenced.”

The University of Alabama has not responded to requests for comment.



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College Football Playoff committee absolutely blew it

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College Football Playoff committee absolutely blew it


College football lost on Sunday. 

It lost because a team, Notre Dame, capable of winning a national championship was left out.

It lost because the College Football Playoff selection committee ignored the downward spiral of another team, Alabama.

It lost because of the committee’s inconsistencies in the ranking process, dropping one team (BYU) that was crushed in its conference tournament, but not treating the Crimson Tide the same way even though they performed in the exact same manner on Saturday night in a 28-7 drilling at the hands of Georgia. It lost because the committee ranked Notre Dame ahead of Miami all year, then flipped the two based on a head-to-head Week 1 result after ignoring the matchup in the previous five editions of the rankings.

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