Tag: Rolando McClain

Cowboys News: Another player of the week, a big opportunity, and a trip to Brazil?

The Cowboys can clinch a playoff spot while their defense can earn a triple crown. The latest news and notes, from @ArmyCheifW3

To the victor goes the spoils as another league award has been earned b a Dallas player. Although this is not as big as Andrew Jackson’s election win in 1828, the Cowboys have been piling up the hardware en route to what has been a fantastic season. Before people start making postseason arrangements, a few things have to fall in the Cowboys favor to clinch a spot in the postseason.

Part of the reason the Cowboys have been so successful this season is that they own a very good turnover ratio. In fact, it is so good that a crown awaits if they can keep up the pace. Speaking of crowns, the NFL is looking to further its reach and of course Dallas is part of the conversation.

Lastly, the injury to defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins isn’t as significant as originally believed yet he may still miss some time. That should open up opportunities for a couple of guys who have yet to make their mark in this league. That and much more in this version of Cowboys news and notes.

 

Alabama football countdown to kickoff: 25 days

We are now just 25 days away from the start of Alabama football’s 2023 season!

The Alabama Crimson Tide will take the field for the 2023 college football season in 25 days, as Middle Tennessee State visits Bryant Denny Stadium on Sept. 2.

Here at Roll Tide Wire, we will be counting down the days until Nick Saban and his team take the field.

With 25 days remaining we take a look at a former Tide linebacker that wore No. 25, [autotag]Rolando McClain[/autotag].

McClain was one of Coach Saban’s first prized recruits when he arrived in Tuscaloosa. McClain was a three-year starter for Alabama where he accumulated 274 tackles, 31.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and five interceptions.

Freshman defensive Jahlil Hurley and freshman running back Richard Young currently wear No. 25 for the Crimson Tide.

Rolando McClain’s Photo Gallery

Alabama football countdown: 25 days until kickoff

We are 25 days from Alabama football kicking off its season on the road against the Missouri Tigers to start a 10-game, SEC only schedule.

There has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding college football over the last couple of weeks, but as of right now, the season still looks like it’s a go for the SEC, ACC and Big 12.

So, what does that mean? It means that we can continue the Countdown to Kickoff en route to the Crimson Tide — and the rest of the SEC — getting things underway on Sept. 26.

With it now being Sept. 1, we are officially 25 days away from the start!

At this time, no one is currently wearing the No. 25 for Alabama. In the past, it was worn by former running back Josh Jacobs early in his career before he switched the No. 8.

Most notably, former off-ball linebacker Rolando McClain, who eventually became the No. 8 overall pick to the Oakland Raiders in the 2011 NFL Draft, wore the number for the Crimson Tide.

Sep 26, 2009; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks tight end D.J. Williams (45) catches a pass as Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Rolando McClain (25) – linebacker Dont’a Hightower (30) defend at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

2020 Alabama football schedule

  • Sept. 26 at Missouri (Columbia, Mizz.)
  • Oct. 3 vs. Texas A&M (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 10 at Ole Miss (Oxford, Miss.)
  • Oct. 17 vs. Georgia (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Oct. 24 at Tennessee (Knoxville, Tenn.)
  • Oct. 31 vs. Miss State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 14 at LSU (Baton Rouge, La.)
  • No. 21 vs. Kentucky (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Nov. 28 vs. Auburn (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
  • Dec. 5 at Arkansas (Fayetteville, Ark.)

Stay tuned for more updates from Roll Tide Wire, part of the USA TODAY Sports College Wire network!

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Breaking down the Tide’s 29 first-round NFL picks: Rolando McClain

The second player we will focus on today will be former Alabama star linebacker Rolando McClain.

Since Nick Saban’s arrival to Tuscaloosa in 2007, Alabama has not only become a team that has created a dynasty winning national championships, but it also has become a program that sends players to the NFL every year.

With the 2020 NFL Draft happening in less than a month, it’s the perfect time to start a new series in which we will go over all of the Tide’s 29 first-round draft picks. The first player we went over was Andre Smith, who finished his career at Alabama with 15 awards and honors and was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals as the No. 6 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

The second player we will focus on today will be former Alabama star linebacker Rolando McClain.

In 2008, he would record 95 tackles, 3 sacks, and an interception. He would also go on to earn the Associated Press third-team All-American honor, and was a first-team All-SEC selection as a sophomore.
His junior season in 2009 was one for the books. He finished the season not only as a national champion, but he also recorded 105 tackles (14.5 tackles for loss), 4 sacks, 14 quarterback hurries, 2 interceptions, 3 passes broken up, and 1 forced fumble. Simply put, he was unstoppable. He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year, the 2009 Lambert Award winner, and was also named the 2009 Dick Butkus Award winner.
McClain would go on to be drafted by the Oakland Raiders as the No. 8 pick in the 2010 NFL Draft where he would play from 2010 to 2012. He was also part of the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and most recently played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2014-2018.
In his NFL career, he had 412 combined tackles (292 solo), 9.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 INT and 1 TD.
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