Category: alabama football

Alabama WR Mac Hereford seeks new home in final year of eligibility

Hereford is set to graduate from the University of Alabama in May. He has entered his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal in hopes of fi…

Former Alabama wide receiver Mac Hereford joined the Crimson Tide as a preferred walk-on after attending Woodberry Forest high school in Birmingham, Alabama, but his time in the state is likely coming to an end as he looks to play elsewhere with his final year of collegiate eligibility.

Hereford graduated from the University of Alabama in December, he has since entered his name into the NCAA’s transfer portal in hopes of finding a new home at program where he can immediately showcase his talents for one more season.

Hereford has joined elite company in the Alabama wide receiver’s room, as he’s played alongside names such as Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs and other big-name talent.

His lack of appearances in the regular season tell a different tale than the videos he released on Twitter amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.

His name is known by many Crimson Tide fans, as he has been an active voice of Alabama football on social media.

In a time where the mass public is under quarantine and sports are at a standstill, Hereford gave the people some film to watch – all recorded pre-Coronavirus, of course.

He posted a series of clips of him performing drills that are run by former Alabama wide receivers coach, Josh Gattis, who now works as the offensive coordinator at Michigan.

He also posted a video of him putting one-on-one work with the Crimson Tide’s likely next starting quarterback for the 2020 season, Mac Jones.

Hereford also worked with Pittsburgh Steeler’s quarterback, and Samford University alum, Devlin Hodges.

There’s no word yet on potential landing spots for the former Alabama receiver, but Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on his journey through the transfer portal!

Bleacher Report lists two Alabama alum as ‘Heisman snubs’ from last 10 years

In a list filled with high-level collegiate talent that ultimately became NFL superstars, two Alabama products found their way onto the l…

Every year the Heisman trophy is awarded to the best player in college football. This award is cause for celebration and debate.

Not all winners are universally agreed upon, this often causes college football fans to divide into sides and begin arguing as if the award recipient will be the President for the next four years.

Sometimes it’s generally agreed upon that the winner of the award is not necessarily the most deserving.

Bleacher Report’s David Kenyon broke down the biggest Heisman snubs from the last ten years.

In a list filled with high-level collegiate talent that ultimately became NFL superstars, two Alabama products found their way onto the list.

Amari Cooper:

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

In 2013 Amari Cooper had an absolutely career season with the Crimson Tide. He tallied 1,727 receiving yards off of 124 catches and 16 touchdowns.

This insanely impressive stat-line led him all the way to New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist, but fell flat on the voting as he finished behind Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota.

This hasn’t seemed to slow down Cooper at all as he just re-signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a pretty healthy contract worth $100,000,000.

Tua Tagovailoa:

Tua Tagovailoa
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Kenyon opens up his piece about Tua Tagovailoa’s snub by claiming he likely would have made a second trip to New York as a finalist in 2019 if it wasn’t for his hip injury late in the season.

Tagovailoa made the trip in 2018 alongside Oklahoma’s quarterback, Kyler Murray, and Ohio State’s quarterback, Dwayne Haskins.

Murray won the whole thing – beating out Tagovailoa, who came in second place.

Tagovailoa’s Heisman-finalist season was highlighted by 245 completions for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns and only six interceptions.

The next chapter of his career has yet to be written, as the 2020 NFL Draft takes place in just over a week.

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Nick Saban speaks on uncertainty regarding 2020 CFB season

In a media conference call Alabama head coach Nick Saban answered questions regarding his thoughts on the current state of college footba…

In a media conference call Alabama head coach Nick Saban answered questions regarding his thoughts on the current state of college football amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

While Saban answered questions regarding his new strength and conditioning staff, as well as changing the current system of preseason training for the future.

However, as reported by Paul Kasabian of Bleacher Report, the head coach did not want to answer a question about if he thought the 2020 season would take place.

“I never really answer hypothetical questions,” said Saban. “I’m sure that everybody’s going to want me to speculate on what’s going to happen in the future, and nobody really knows. It’s very uncertain. It’s uncertain times.

“I think we have to fight through the process of what we need to do on a day to day basis to make good choices and decisions, to the right thing at the right time regardless of the circumstance.”

At this point no one is all too sure what the future holds for the 2020 season. It could mean an abbreviated season, an earlier season or just a shorter preseason workout/practice schedule.

Regardless of what happens to this upcoming season, Saban still has his players on a strict plan – while still under quarantine, of course.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama football and what will happen as we get closer to the 2020 season!

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Sports Illustrated posts a heartfelt tribute called “Meet Jerry Jeudy”

Sports Illustrated posted an incredible and heartfelt piece on Jeudy.

Former Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy not only broke records while at Alabama, he also captivated the hearts of football fans all over the country. Jeudy, the 2018 Biletnikoff winner, became a leader on and off the field. He helped other teammates improve, stayed late after practice to work more, and set out a mission to prove himself.

Jerry Jeudy
Jan 1, 2020; Orlando, Florida, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) makes a catch against the Michigan Wolverines during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

But there’s a lot about Jeudy that many people don’t know about. Like the death of his younger sister, his close bond with former Alabama and current Atlanta Falcons’ wide receiver, and why he was such a silent person in Tuscaloosa.

Sports Illustrated posted an incredible and heartfelt piece on Jeudy.

“That was the curiosity buzzing through the Crimson Tide’s receivers room in September 2017, a few days before the fourth game of what would become a national championship season. A true freshman, Jeudy had already earned a reputation for being reserved since arriving on campus. “Mysterious,” cornerback Patrick Surtain says. “That’s the word.” Even by those standards, though, this week was different. “Everybody tried to talk to him,” remembers receiver Henry Ruggs, another projected 2020 first-round pick, “but he wouldn’t say nothing at all.”

The truth was that Jeudy had sworn himself to silence in frustration over his limited role in Alabama’s offense, having caught only one pass, for eight yards. “I just said to myself, ‘Don’t say a word. Just outwork everybody,’” he says. “Coach [Nick Saban] came up to me, asked me why I was being so quiet. I was like, ‘Nothing. I’m just working.’” While curious to his teammates, the approach brought immediate results. “He was at a different speed in practice,” Ruggs says. “A speed that we’d never seen before. He was just killing it.” That Saturday at Vanderbilt, Jeudy recorded a season-high three receptions for 68 yards and his first touchdown.”

Simply put, Jeudy will forever be a legend in Tuscaloosa.

As a junior, he recorded 77 receptions for 1,163 yards and 10 TDs. In his career, he finished with 159 receptions for 2,742 yards and 26 Touchdowns.

Jerry Jeudy
Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) breaks away from Michigan defensive back Daxton Hill (30) on his early touchdown reception in the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday January 1, 2020.

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Is Tua Tagovailoa’s draft stock falling because of the coronavirus?

Over the past few months, many mock drafts have him going in the top 5, majority of them saying the Dolphins will draft him. But will they?

When the 2019 season season started, no one ever imagined that Tua Tagovailoa would’ve endured a season ending injury, Alabama wouldn’t make it to the CFB Playoff, and that the coronavirus would’ve taken the world by storm. But here we are.

Only a few weeks away from the start of the 2020 NFL Draft and so many questions still remain, including where will Tua end up?

Over the past few months, many mock drafts have had him going in the top 5, majority of them saying the Dolphins will draft him. But will they?

Since the coronavirus, not only were pro-days cancelled, but so were in-person visits, which means teams never had a chance to visit with Tua in person since the Combine, and they were never able to see him at a pro-day.

Nov 3, 2018; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) celebrates his 44-yard touchdown against the LSU Tigers during the third quarter at Tiger Stadium. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

According to NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller, Tua Tagovailoa’s draft stock could take a hit due to his past with injuries and unknowns.

Simply put, Miller sees that multiple teams now prefer Justin Herbert over Tagovailoa because there are non issues or questions with injuries.

But even NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci had the same opinion in an interview with NFL Now:

“I’ve had Tua No. 2 for a long time, I love the kid … but as I get closer and I keep thinking deeper with this, the dislocated hip injury (that required late-November surgery) — he’s healthy now, but he hasn’t taken a snap. So we start talking about the other guy, Justin Herbert from Oregon, there’s a lot of positive things about him. I’m not sure if I’d put him in the second tier. I think I’d put him up in the first tier because there’s a debate, in my mind, if Tua would go second because of those health reasons.

Keep in mind, Justin Herbert’s a 6-6 quarterback — he runs a 4-6-8. This guy can run and he’s got a lot of rushing yards. He’s a smart guy. He’s got the highest Wonderlic score of all the quarterbacks in this draft, OK? There’s something to be said about smarts and the William Campbell Trophy. That’s something (Jeremiah) and I would never win because that’s the best scholar-athlete in the country. So Justin Herbert is a guy that I think has to have some consideration for that No. 2 pick at quarterback because he’s got the size and speed and smarts and wits and all those kinds of things I’m telling you about.”

But Mariucci also had this to say:

“I would just add one thing on (Herbert vs. Tagovailoa) … I want to see (Herbert) just cut it loose and be a little more free, see,” Jeremiah said. “And that’s why putting Tua, the more instinctive, natural player and that’s why I have a little bit of a gap between those two.”

There’s still time for Tagovailoa to create confidence in teams as he continues to release videos, but this is certainly concerning.

Will teams pick Herbert, a safe choice due to lack of injuries? Or will there be a team (Miami for example) who is willing to take a chance on Tagovailoa early in the first round?

For the season, Tagovailoa threw for 2,840 yards, 33 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. In his career at Alabama, Tagovailoa racked up 7,442 yards passing, 87 TDs, and 11 INTs.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be held from April 23-25.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you up to date on the very latest.

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Former Alabama DB Jared Mayden tweets out video to replace Pro-Day

In 2019 Mayden posted 59 total tackles in 11 games played with three pass deflections and four interceptions. These numbers were good eno…

Since Alabama football’s Pro Day is canceled due to the CoronaVirus pandemic, the focus has shifted towards the Crimson Tide alum and the 2020 NFL Draft.

One issue is, while Tua Tagovailoa, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs are already large names in the spotlight and had the NFL Combine to attend, other players are left with nothing more than tape from their time in college.

Former Alabama defensive back Jared Mayden didn’t let the lack of a Pro-Day slow him down on his quest to continue playing the game he loves on a professional level.

Mayden took to Twitter to post a series of clips that served as a replacement for the drills he would have ran at the event.

The 45-second video may not be as helpful to NFL scouts as an entire day of monitoring his every move, but the initiative he took certainly helps his case.

In 2019 Mayden posted 59 total tackles through 11 games with three pass deflections and four interceptions. These numbers were good enough to earn the Nick Saban product a draft grade of rounds No. 2 or 3 by TDAlabamamag.com.

This may be a growing trend among players who need the extra exposure. There’s certainly a chance that more Alabama players try this out as well in order to gain some attention from any and all NFL franchises.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you updated on all things Alabama and the 2020 NFL Draft!

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Alabama football: Breaking down the Tide’s 29 first-round NFL picks

With the upcoming draft happening, it’s the perfect time to start a new series where we will go over the Tide’s first round draft picks.

Since Nick Saban’s arrival to Tuscaloosa in 2007, Alabama has not only become a team who has created a dynasty in winning national championships, they’ve also become a program that has continued to send players to the NFL each and every year.

With the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft happening in less than a month, it’s the perfect time to start a new series where we will go over all of the Tide’s 29 first round draft picks, starting with Alabama offensive tackle, Andre Smith.

Smith began a big name for the Tide, even as a freshman. As a freshman, he started all 13 games at left tackle, becoming only the fourth true freshman offensive lineman to start for the Crimson Tide. In 2007 as a sophomore, he was chosen to be on the first team All-SEC team after starting every game at left tackle. But that was truly just the beginning of Smith’s success.

In 2008, he voted an unanimous All-American in 2008, and was also chosen as the 2008 Outland Trophy winner.  

He finished his career at Alabama with 15 different awards and honors.

He was the No. 6 overall draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft after being drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals where he played from 2009-2015, again in 2017, and then finally from 2018-2019.

He also played for the Minnesota Vikings in 2016, Arizona Cardinals in 2018, and most recently for the Baltimore Ravens where he has been since 2019.

In his NFL career, he has played in 116 games, starting in 98 of them.

Sep 8, 2019; Seattle, WA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals offensive tackle Andre Smith (71) blocks Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Seattle defeated Cincinnati 21-20. Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

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NFL analyst has Chargers get Tua at No. 3,Dolphins get Burrow at No. 1

NFL media draft analyst Lance Zierlein, has a different thought on how the 2020 NFL Draft will go. 

Over the past few months, Roll Tide Wire has continued to keep you updated with all of the NFL Mock Drafts that have changed over time.

With the Reese’s senior bowl. NFL Combine, and the cancellation of Pro Days and visits, there are a lot of elements that have continued to change the mock drafts every week.

But I have to say, after all of the many mock drafts I’ve seen, this one takes the cake, so to say.

NFL media draft analyst Lance Zierlein, has a different thought on how the 2020 NFL Draft will go.

Most people believe that the Cincinnati Bengals drafted Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick, but according to Zierlein, he sees the Dolphins trading up to the No. 1 pick and drafting Burrow themselves.

Here is what he has to say about that idea:

“If there is any sense in Cincinnati that Burrow doesn’t want to be a Bengal long-term, then the team should listen to offers. An NFL executive I consulted with felt that including all three of Miami’s first-round picks in this deal would be too much, so I’m sending Cincy Pick Nos. 5 and 18, as well as second-round selections.”

But that’s not all. Zierlein also believes the Los Angeles Chargers drafts Tua Tagovailoa after a trade with the Detroit Lions with the 3rd overall pick.

“The Chargers are headed into a new stadium without much fanfare at the QB position, unless they move up three spots and secure this talented lefty, who should become the face of their franchise by 2021.”

Tua Tagovailoa
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

With so many unknowns surrounding the draft, there is one thing that is for sure: this draft is going to be nothing short of fascinating to watch.

In this mock draft, Zierlein has a total of 5 Crimson Tide players going in the first round (including Tua). Here is where he sees the other 4 Alabama players being drafted:

No. 7 pick- OL, Jedrick Wills Jr., Carolina Panthers 

Jan 7, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide tackle Jedrick Wills Jr (74) pulls against the Clemson Tigers during the 2019 College Football Playoff Championship game at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

“Wills is an instant plug-and-play starter at right tackle — and sources at Alabama believe he has the ability to switch to left tackle if called upon to help protect Teddy Bridgewater.”

No. 12 pick- WR,  Jerry Jeudy, Oakland Raiders

Oct 19, 2019; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) runs with the ball against Tennessee Volunteers defensive back Bryce Thompson (20) during the first half of an NCAA football game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports

“Pristine route runner with good speed and explosiveness. He can be a field stretcher or a volume target, depending on the matchup.”

No. 15 pick- WR,  Henry Ruggs III, Denver Broncos

Aug 31, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Henry Ruggs III (11) runs away from Duke Blue Devils safety Dylan Singleton (16) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

“Now Drew Lock has a legitimate field stretcher to back safeties up and create even more room for emerging WR1 Courtland Sutton.”

No. 31 pick- CB,  Trevon Diggs, San Francisco 49ers

Trevon Diggs
Alabama defensive back Trevon Diggs (7) intercepts the ball the play was reversed because of a penalty on Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019. LSU leads Alabama 33-13 at halftime.

“Diggs didn’t test at the combine, but his size, length and ball skills could still be enticing for the 49ers, even if they never get to time him in the 40-yard dash.”

Latest NFL Mock Draft has 7 Alabama players drafted in first round

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz from USA Today, has 7 Alabama players going in the first round in his most recent mock draft.

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz from USA Today, has 7 Alabama players going in the first round in his most recent mock draft for the 2020 NFL Draft.

As Schwartz notes, “Attempting to compile a mock draft amid the start of free agency in the NFL is a bit like building a house of cards while staring down the barrel of a leaf blower. Neither exercise lends itself to a final product with much staying power.

But with a flurry of trades and signings reshaping the NFL landscape, the outlook for the first round has shifted dramatically in the last few days. Two teams — the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills — have already parted with their top picks in order to obtain high-end veteran talent.

Yet Tom Brady’s agreement to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was not only the biggest news of the week but also the move that sent the most ripples through the top of the draft order. That, along with many other agreements, helped provide a degree of clarity on where several teams stand after the marquee players found their landing spots.”

Clearly there is a lot that can change. Actually, a lot has changed. Several Alabama players chose not to participate at the combine and were hoping to showcase their talents at Alabama’s pro day, but since the SEC cancelled the rest of the spring season, the SEC championship games, and all pro days, the mock drafts have shifted a little bit.

So, with all that said, let’s take a look and see who he believes will be going from the Crimson Tide to the NFL in the first round.

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Tua Tagovailoa odds favored to be drafted third in 2020 NFL Draft

According to BETMGM, he had the odds favored to be drafted as the No. 3 overall pick. 

There is no doubt that Tua Tagovailao has been one of the most talked about players regarding the 2020 NFL Draft. When he endured his season ending injury against Mississippi State, people wondered if he would be able to recover in time to potentially play this fall. Once news broke that Tagovailoa had completely healed, questions then shifted to where he would end up, and when he would be drafted.

Jan 7, 2019; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) reacts during the first quarter in the 2019 College Football Playoff Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at Levi’s Stadium. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

According to BETMGM, he had the odds favored to be drafted as the No. 3 overall pick.

The OVER 2.5 (-303) – for Tagovailoa to be selected third overall or later – is the play. A $10 bet will return a profit of just $3.29 if Tua is not selected either first or second overall.

A recent mock draft by Pete Prisco has Tagovailoa being drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the sixth overall pick. Some have him being drafted in the No. 5 spot.

Since he didn’t participate in drills at the 2020 NFL Combine, and won’t get to have a pro day due to the coronavirus, we will see how this plays out. He has been checked out medically, and continues to be on track to be ready for this season.

Roll Tide Wire will keep you up to date on the very latest on Tagovailoa, and where he’ll end up.

For the season, Tagovailoa threw for 2,840 yards, 33 TDs, and 3 INT. In his career at Alabama, Tua racked up 7,442 yards passing, 87 TDs, and 11 INT.

Aug 31, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) throws a pass against the Duke Blue Devils in the third quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.  Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

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