Alabama coaches select Players of the Week for Arkansas game
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama football is 5-0 (2-0 SEC) after beating Arkansas in a Week 5 road matchup. The Crimson Tide came into last week as the No. 2 team in the country, but after the 49-26 victory, they’re now back on top in the latest AP Poll. The added praise this week has been earned, too.
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Last week, the Alabama coaching staff handed out 11 Players of the Week awards to standouts from the Vanderbilt game. This week, there are eight different players (in nine slots) getting recognition, which includes three on offense, three on defense and three on special teams. Here are those eight players:
Offense
Jahmyr Gibbs
- Rushed for 206 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries while adding a pair of receptions for 29 yards
- Found the end zone on two big runs of 72 and 76 yards while averaging 11.4 yards per rush in the game
- His 206 yards rushing tied for the 15th-most in a single game in Alabama program history
Seth McLaughlin
- Got the spot start at center in Fayetteville
- Did not allow a sack, quarterback pressure or quarterback hit
- Totaled three knockdown blocks, including a huge one that opened a hole for Gibbs’ 72-yard score
Tyler Steen
- Put together another strong performance at left tackle
- Helped Alabama churn out 555 yards of total offense, including 238 yards passing and a season-high 317 on the ground
- Combined with the Tide’s line unit to help the offense average 8.7 yards per play and 7.5 yards per rush
Defense
DeMarcco Hellams
- Totaled six tackles in the SEC road opener
- Forced a key fumble in Alabama territory to help the Crimson Tide retake momentum
- Also added one pass breakup from his safety spot
Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Recorded six tackles against the Razorbacks, including one for loss (-4 yards)
- Added a pair of pass breakups
- Helped the Tide secondary limit Arkansas to only 190 yards passing
Jaheim Oatis
- Notched a career-high eight total tackles in his start along the defensive front
- Posted one sack (-8 yards) as he pushed past the line to get to K.J. Jefferson
Special Teams
Demouy Kennedy
- Contributed to the Tide’s special teams efforts on the road
- Suffered a lower body injury that forced an early exit
Kool-Aid McKinstry
- Continued to make an impact on punt return
- Accumulated 77 yards on three returns with a long of 45
- Also contributed six tackles and a pass breakup on the defensive side of the ball
Quandarrius Robinson
- Helped the Tide special teams units limit the Razorbacks to zero kickoff returns
*This information comes by way of a recent press release from Alabama Athletics.
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