Alabama Coaching Staff Recognizes Nine for Players of the Week

Nine Alabama players were recognized by the Crimson Tide coaching staff following Saturday’s 41-23 victory at No. 9 Texas A&M. Jake Coker and Derrick Henry were the honorees on offense, while Jonathan Allen, Eddie Jackson, Reggie Ragland and Minkah Fitzpatrick represented the defense. Adam Griffith, Bradley Sylve and Maurice Smith made the special teams list.

Coker finished his day 19-of-25 passing for 138 yards. He also added seven rushes on the day that helped Alabama move the ball on offense.  Henry, a junior from Yulee, Fla., had his first career 200-plus yard game, finishing with 236 yards on the ground. He also added two rushing touchdowns to boost his consecutive games with a score streak to 12. He accounted for 64.1 percent (254 yards) of the Crimson Tide’s offense against the Aggies.

Ragland, who earned his second nod from the coaches in as many weeks, once again led the team in tackles, finishing with nine. This was the sixth time in seven games that Ragland has led Alabama in tackles and ninth overall in his career. He also recorded a tackle for loss and one sack. Allen was explosive off the line, totaling five tackles, including two sacks. Jackson had a career day, finishing with two interceptions and 119 return yards. One of his picks went for a 93-yard score marking the third-longest pick-six in Alabama history. Fitzpatrick, a freshman who has been honored for multiple weeks this season, had two interceptions and returned both for touchdowns.

Griffith connected on both of his two field goal attempts, while also making all five of the extra points for the Crimson Tide. The junior also averaged 63.9 yards on eight kickoffs with five touchbacks. Sylve totaled three tackles and helped limit an Aggie aerial attack that was averaging 292.4 yards per game entering last Saturday’s matchup. Smith, a junior from Sugar Land, Texas, assisted on three tackles on punt coverage that kept the Aggies to just 24 return yards.