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.
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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 police lieutenant killed while directing traffic outside church: 'True public servant'
An Alabama police lieutenant died on Monday after he was hit by a car while directing traffic at a church.
Irondale police Lt. Mark Meadows, 60, was setting out cones at an intersection outside the Church of the Highlands’ main campus when he was hit by a man driving a Chevrolet Colorado, local outlet AL.com reported. The driver immediately stopped.
The incident took place before 7 a.m. on Monday as the church’s popular “21 Days of Prayer” event, which runs from Jan. 5 to Jan. 25, was preparing to end for the day.
Meadows was taken to nearby Grandview Medical Center, where he died from his injuries, according to Irondale police.
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Irondale police Lt. Mark Meadows died on Monday after he was hit by a truck while directing traffic outside an Alabama megachurch. (Irondale Police Department / Facebook)
Irondale Mayor James Stewart Jr., described Meadows as a “treasured member” of the city’s family for decades.
“He was a man of few words but always led by example and embodied the heart of a true public servant,” Stewart said in a statement. “Lt. Meadows will be dearly missed by his brothers and sisters at the Irondale Police Department, as well as by all of our City employees and citizens. We are comforted in knowing that he is with his heavenly father, and we will continue to cover his family in prayer as they grieve this great loss.”
The police department announced that grief support is available for officers and others in need following Meadows’ death.
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Meadows was an Army veteran and had worked in law enforcement for decades when he was killed. (Irondale Police Department / Facebook)
Church of the Highlands lead pastor Chris Hodges said Meadows had worked with the church since its main campus at Grants Mill opened almost 18 years ago.
In a statement to AL.com, Hodges said “our hearts are heavy beyond measure,” adding that Meadows was considered family.
“All our thoughts and prayers are with his wife, daughter, son, family members, fellow officers and the many who loved him,” Hodges said. “Even in the most difficult and trying times, we know our God will provide comfort, strength and reassurance based on the promise of heaven. We as a church will do all we can to care for his family.”
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey expressed condolences to Meadows’ loved ones and church family following his death in a post on X on Monday.
“My heart is heavy as I have learned of the tragic loss of Irondale Police Lieutenant Mark Meadows, a veteran and true public servant. I join all Alabamians in lifting up his family, the Irondale Police Department and the Church of the Highlands community in prayer,” Ivey wrote.
Irondale Lt. Mark Meadows helped direct traffic at Church of the Highlands since it opened nearly 18 years ago, according to lead pastor Chris Hodges. (Irondale Police Department / Facebook)
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., also said he was “saddened to hear of the loss” and thanked Meadows for his service to Alabama as a police officer and the United States as an Army veteran.
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Meadows began his law enforcement career in 1992 with the nearby Mountain Brook Police Department before transferring to Irondale.
He was an FBI instructor certified in pistol and rifle, and an NRA instructor certified in pistol, according to AL.com. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is leading the investigation into the deadly incident.
A man was arrested Tuesday after authorities said he sexually abused a child two years ago at a daycare run out of a private home in north Alabama.
Kevin Dewayne Franklin, 50, was charged with first-degree sodomy and sexual abuse of a child less than 12, according to the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office.
Franklin is being held without bond in the Marshall County jail pending an Aniah’s Law hearing.
Deputies finished their investigation into Franklin in October 2023 following allegations he sexually abused a child at a daycare in a private home in the Nixon Chapel community.
Franklin was related to the owner of the daycare, who also lived at the home.
The daycare has since closed, authorities said.
The Marshall County District Attorney’s Office along with sheriff’s office investigators presented the case to a grand jury in November.
Franklin was arrested Tuesday by patrol deputies.
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