Alabama Football Coaching Staff Recognizes Eight Players of the Week

Eight Alabama players were recognized by the Crimson Tide coaching staff following Saturday’s 29-13 victory over in-state rival Auburn in the newest installment of the annual Iron Bowl. Derrick Henry, Ryan Kelly and ArDarius Stewart were the honorees on offense, while Rueben Foster, Marlon Humphrey and Jonathan Allen represented the defense. Adam Griffith and Keith Holcombe made the special teams list.

Henry had another stellar performance, while making history five times. With 26 seconds left in the game, he busted a 25-yard touchdown run on a 4^th-and-1 play that added to his season total of 22, making him the all-time leader for a single season in Alabama history. He ran for the most rushing yards in a single game against Auburn with 271, which was more yards of offense than Auburn’s entire team collected in the game. The junior is now the first player since 1996 with at least 250-rushing yards in a single game in Alabama history, and his 271 was the third-most yards in a single game in Crimson Tide history. Henry carried the ball 46 times against the Tigers for a career high and a Crimson Tide all-time mark, while recording his fourth 200-plus yard game of the season making him only the third player in Southeastern Conference history to record at least four 200-yard performances in a single season, joining Herschel Walker and Bo Jackson on the elite list.  He leads the nation in rushing touchdowns and rushing yards, while leading the SEC in scoring.

Kelly, who has been honored for back-to-back weeks, continues be an important asset for the offensive line, leading a unit that helped pave the way for 460-yards of total offense against the Tigers. He has not allowed a sack in three consecutive weeks and graded out at 90 percent with one knockdown block.

Stewart hauled in eight receptions for 81 yards, both team highs, while adding one score for the Crimson Tide. He caught two huge receptions: A leaping catch for a 17-yard gain and a first down to put Adam Griffith in position for his fourth field goal of the first half, giving the Tide a 12-6 lead heading into the break, and a 34-yard pass in the end zone from Jake Coker, who successfully escaped the sack of two separate Auburn defenders before throwing the deep pass for the score. Stewart is ranked second in receiving for UA heading into the SEC Championship with 536 yards and is averaging 10.7 yards per catch.

Foster and Humphrey tied for second in tackles for the Crimson Tide, with six. Foster had one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry. Foster helped lead a defense that limited Auburn to just one yard rushing in the entire second half after allowing 90 yards on the ground in the first half of play. Humphrey provided insurance on the outside, notching six tackles most of which came on sweeps and runs. His coverage in the secondary played a huge part in limiting the Tigers to a lowly 3-of-15 on third downs. Allen continued to be a force along the defensive front, recording five tackles of his own, with three of those coming on one drive that led to a missed Auburn field goal.

Griffith put more than half of the Crimson Tide’s points on the scoreboard connecting on all five of his field goals from 26, 40, 26, 50 and 47 yards out. His five made field goals tied for the second most in Alabama single-game history and set the record for the most made field goals in Iron Bowl history. He also made both of his extra point attempts, where he continues to be perfect on the season. The junior averaged 65.0 yards on eight kickoffs with seven touchbacks. Holcombe, who has seen action in every game this season, earned his first nod from the UA coaching staff after recording one tackle on special teams coverage and helping to limit the Tigers to just one punt return.