Former Alabama Football players continue to show-out in the NFL, and Week 2 was no different. The Crimson Tide is always well represented on Sundays, and any time you flip the channel you are bound to see a former ‘Bama player making plays on both sides of the ball.
An Alabama player scored a touchdown for the 86th consecutive week, h/t to Alabama Pro Updates on twitter for tracking that. I have no idea if that is an NFL record, but it’s gotta be.
Calvin Ridley scores on an end-around to extend the touchdown streak to 86 weeks.
Narrowng down to five performances is never easy, and it certainly wasn’t this week. Marlon Humphrey, Xavier McKinney, and Brian Branch all picked off passes, but they fell just short of the list this week. Will Reichard is another honorable mention after hitting his first field goal in the NFL and finishing 3/3 on the day.
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Of course, there’s still Monday Night Football to be played, and Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith might have something to say about this list, but for now:
5. Derrick Henry
It was a losing effort for the Ravens as Baltimore fell to a disappointing 0-2 on the young season, but Derrick Henry did what Derrick Henry does. He carried the ball 18 times and gained 84-yards and scored his second touchdown of the season against the Raiders.
He had a highlight reel run in the third quarter where he hit his patented stiff-arm and sent a Raiders defender flying:
Henry looks to be getting more comfortable in Baltimore, and the Ravens should figure things out soon enough and get back to looking like the AFC contender they typically are.
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4. Will Anderson Jr.
In his first opportunity in a primetime spot this season, the Terminator once again showed why he’s one of the best young edge rushers in the NFL. The reigning defensive rookie of the year helped lead a dominant defensive effort for the Texans against No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams and the Bears.
Will Anderson Jr. didn’t miss this sack.
The reigning DROY racks up the @HoustonTexans 4th sack of the night!
Anderson finished with 1.5 sacks on the night and should’ve gotten one more, but the elusive Williams evaded it. Led by former Alabama LB DeMeco Ryans at head coach, the Texans are off to a 2-0 start, and Anderson will continue tormenting quarterbacks the rest of the season.
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3. Josh Jacobs
With Jordan Love injured, the Packers had little choice but to lean on Josh Jacobs as they looked to avoid an 0-2 start in a home game against the Colts. Most pundits didn’t give them a chance, but Jacobs put the team on his back and helped deliver Green Bay a key victory, likely with a few Alabama fans in attendance who made the trip to Green Bay on Sunday after watching the Tide roll over Wisconsin on Saturday.
Jacobs carried the ball 32 times and picked up 151 yards in the process. He’s up to 235 yards rushing through two weeks to begin his Green Bay tenure on a high note. He’s yet to find the endzone in two weeks, but the Jacobs signing is paying immediate dividends for the Packers so far.
2. Brian Robinson Jr.
It was a career day for Brian Robinson as he helped lead the Commanders to a 21-18 win over the division rival Giants. Robinson turned 17 carries into 133 yards, setting his career high on the ground in the process. He also pulled a houdini act on a career-long 40-yard rush on a 3rd-and-1:
Brian Robinson Jr. just pulled off a magic trick 👀
It was the most carries Robinson has received since November 19th last season, a fact he was well aware of in the postgame. It was also the first 100-yard rushing game Robinson has had since his rookie season in 2022 when he eclipsed the century mark in a November win over the Falcons.
Hopefully Robinson continues to see his role expand and he remains a focal point for Washington.
1. Calvin Ridley
After a year-long suspension from the NFL in 2022, Ridley made his return last season for the Jaguars and played well enough to earn a 4-year, $92 million contract with the Titans. In his second game as a Titan, Ridley delivered.
Ridley scored the first rushing touchdown of his NFL career on a 10-yard end-around. Late in the third quarter, Ridley hauled in a 40-yard touchdown that tied the game.
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CALVIN RIDLEY. Elite 40-yard TD grab to tie the game!
The Titans ultimately would fall 24-17 to the Jets to drop to 0-2 on the young season, but Ridley had the only multi-touchdown game of the week from a former Tide player.
Jalen Milroe is making the leap. dark. Next. Jalen Milroe making the leap
Additional performers include Chuck Leavell, Act of Congress, Roman Street, Will McFarlane and the Muscle Shoals All-Stars, Anthony Crawford and Savana Lee, the Montevallo Community Band and numerous other artists representing Alabama’s diverse musical traditions.
Beyond the music, visitors will find historical reenactments, military encampments, battle demonstrations and the popular America’s Stories presentation series, where historians and costumed interpreters bring pivotal moments from American history to life.
The festival will also showcase Alabama’s culinary heritage through America’s Kitchen, featuring live cooking demonstrations and competitions from chefs across the state, including Columbiana native Jonathan Harrison.
Families can expect a full lineup of children’s activities, hands-on educational experiences, games, crafts, puppet shows and performances by Perondi’s All-Star Stunt Dogs.
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One unique addition to the July 4 schedule will be a screening of “Sgt. Stubby: An American Hero” at 6:30 p.m. inside the West Wing Theatre. The animated film tells the true story of America’s most decorated war dog and is designed as a family-friendly tribute to service, courage and patriotism.
Organizers say Sweet Home 250 will also place special emphasis on Alabama’s role in the nation’s story.
In addition to exploring America’s founding, the event will highlight Alabama’s contributions to 250 years of American history through music, art, education and cultural programming.
“The Semiquincentennial gives us a rare opportunity to pause and consider the remarkable journey of our country,” Steed said. “We can honor the courage of those who came before us while also thinking about the kind of nation we want to continue building together.”
The celebration will culminate with a fireworks display over Independence Hall on the evening of July 4, providing a fitting finale to Alabama’s largest America 250 event.
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For organizers, however, the festival’s lasting impact will extend beyond concerts, exhibits and fireworks.
“We hope people leave inspired,” Miller said. “We want families talking on the drive home about what they saw, what they learned and what it means to be part of this ongoing American story.”
As America approaches its 250th birthday, Sweet Home 250 offers Alabamians an opportunity not only to celebrate the nation’s past but also to reflect on the principles that continue to shape its future.
“America’s story is still being written,” Miller said. “Every generation adds its own chapter. Sweet Home 250 is a chance for all of us to celebrate the chapters that came before us and consider what we will contribute to the next ones.”
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night.
Philon is the first pick of the Mike Gansey era after he replaced Daryl Morey as the team’s president of basketball operations.
Who is Labaron Philon Jr.?
Philon, 20, led the Crimson Tide in scoring last season, averaging 22.0 points on nearly 40% shooting on 3-pointers. He was the focal point of one of the nation’s most potent offenses, as Alabama led the country in points per game in the 2025-26 season. The Crimson Tide (No. 16) finished the season with a 25-10 record and went 13-5 against conference opponents.
Philon, who helped lead Alabama to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, earned Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors in his sophomore season.
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In 33 games last season for Alabama, Philon scored 725 total points, which is ranked third-most by a player in a single season in program history.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Labaron Philon Jr. after he is drafted twenty-second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
Arturo Holmes / Getty Images
Philon was the 34th-ranked basketball recruit in the country entering his freshman season at Alabama, according to 247sports. The four-star guard initially committed to playing at Auburn, but decommitted. He then signed a letter of intent to play at Kansas, but didn’t play there, either. He then committed to the Crimson Tide in April 2024.
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Philon impressed as a freshman at Alabama and averaged 10.6 points in 37 games. He declared for the 2025 NBA draft but then withdrew and returned for his sophomore season, where he saw his scoring average jump more than 10 points.
Philon is a Mobile, Alabama, native and played at Baker High School in Mobile County, where he scored 2,334 points in three seasons. He was named the Class 7A Player of the Year twice.
As a junior, he averaged 35 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists and was named Alabama Mr. Basketball, which is given to the best high school boys’ basketball player in the state. Philon transferred to Link Academy, a boarding school in Missouri, for his senior year of high school.
Philon now joins a backcourt headlined by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe heading into the 2026-27 season. Quentin Grimes could return to Philadelphia next season and add even more depth, but he’s an unrestricted free agent.
The pick the Sixers used to pick Philon was acquired in the deal that sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline.
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Labaron Philon Jr. scouting report
CBS Sports had Philon ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the 2026 NBA draft.
Here are his strengths and weaknesses, according to CBS Sports:
Strengths
On-ball creator who made an extreme leap as a sophomore, ranking in the 99th percentile in isolations (was 24th percentile as a freshman) and 94th as a pick-and-roll handler (was 32nd percentile as a freshman). Combines smooth attack with sudden change of speed and direction, dexterity, and finishing craft in the lane.
Shot-maker who can make tough shots off both the catch (36% on contested catch-and-shoot 3-pointers), dribble (38% from deep), and has extreme gravity when he’s spacing the floor (46% on unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers).
Shown pliability to thrive in different roles over the years and is a similarly versatile creator, because he’s a scoring threat at multiple levels and also an accurate, and somewhat creative, passer with both hands off the dribble.
Weaknesses
Inconsistent defensive approach. Showed more engagement and potential as a freshman, but couldn’t maintain that as a sophomore when taking on a bigger offensive role.
Lacks overwhelming physicality or highest level explosiveness, and didn’t add any notable muscle mass between his freshman and sophomore seasons (175 pounds at 2025 combine and 176 at 2026 combine).
Unclear how well his creation scales to the NBA level when he will have less usage and volume coupled by more physicality in opposing defenders.
Alabama football hosted a hometown kid for an official visit last weekend when it got Jeremiah Beverley on campus for an official visit.
Beverley attends Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and ESPN currently has him rated as a four-star recruit. He is considering Alabama, Cincinnati, Wake Forest and others.
The Crimson Tide offered Beverley earlier this month and got him on campus for an official visit last weekend. The Alabama target told Touchdown Alabama he used the visit to learn what the Tide has planned for him if he commits.
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“I’m truly happy that I went on that official visit,” Beverley said. “Blessed for that. All I was talking about was the next step, what I got to do? So, just knowing what they have planned for me, knowing what they have set for me.”
At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Beverley makes plays for Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa as a defensive end. Alabama has plans to use him similarly at the next level.
“They’re going to have me at wolf mostly,” Beverley said. “I know coach (Kane) Wommack and coach (Christian) Robinson, I think they see me at other positions, but I know it is guaranteed they’re going to see me at Wolf and me working my way up on special teams, and they expect that out of me.”
Beverley is expected to announce a commitment decision on Friday.
Watch Jeremiah Beverley’s Highlights Below:
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Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
