The Crimson Tide is 7-1 (4-1 SEC) and No. 6 in the AP Top 25 and Coaches polls with seven games left.
Alabama has the weekend off before playing No. 18 LSU.
Alabama’s Best of 2022 According To BamaOnLine (so far)
- Best Performance
- Unsung hero
- Top freshman
- Best Lineman
- Offense/Defense Most Improved
- Offensive, Defensive, and Special Teams MVPs
Best Performance
Gibbs boosted Alabama’s offense after Young’s shoulder injury in Fayetteville. On 18 carries, the running back gained 206 yards and two touchdowns versus Arkansas. His two fourth-quarter touchdowns covered 72 and 76 yards, and his 11.4 yards-per-carry average was the greatest since Shaun Alexander in 1996. Gibbs had 226 all-purpose yards after two catches.
Unsung Hero
Branch has done a bit of everything for the Crimson Tide defense this autumn. He has two sacks and six tackles for loss, tying for third on the team. The junior defensive back has 45 tackles, five pass breakups, and a punt return touchdown. The branch isn’t getting enough attention for his play on the field, and he may leave the NFL at the end of the season.
Top-Freshman
Oatis started five straight games as the Tide’s nose guard before getting hurt against Mississippi State. Oatis has 20 tackles, 1.5 for loss, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hurries, and 1 pass breakup before his first absence. Other freshmen like wide receivers Kobe Prentice and Isaiah Bond and offensive lineman Tyler Booker were considered, but Oatis is the pick.
Best Lineman
Latham has started all eight games at right tackle after being a backup last year. According to Pro Football Focus, he has not allowed a sack and leads all FBS tackles in an allowed pressure rate (0.7 percent). He got 89.8 in pass-block (second among FBS tackles). Latham has been the Tide’s left and right tackle through eight games.
Offensive and Defensive MVPs
Heisman winner last year passed for 1,906 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions (66.1 percent). Despite missing 1.5 games with a shoulder injury, Young still ranks among the top quarterbacks in the SEC in multiple categories: second in throwing touchdowns, third in attempts per game (31.6), fourth in passing yards and passer rating (162.67), and fifth in passing yards per game (272.3). Young has similar statistics with a new supporting cast, thus he wins. Anderson leads the league in negative plays. The junior linebacker has 36 tackles, 12 for loss, 6 sacks, 10 QB hurries, 1 blocked punt, and 1 interception versus ULM. Anderson ranks second in the SEC in sacks behind Arkansas’ Drew Sanders (6.5) and fourth in tackles for loss. Anderson has led the defense outside of the Tennessee game.
Best Offensive and Defensive Player
Alabama lost two 1,000-yard receivers and sought replacements. Brooks has made a case to be Alabama’s No. 1 receiver in November. The sophomore has 21 catches for 376 yards and 4 TDs. His 376 yards lead the team, and he averages 17.9 yards per catch, eighth in the SEC. Brooks is the only Alabama wideout with a 100-yard game and has already topped his 2021 totals. McKinstry has been one of Alabama’s more consistent defensive and special teams performers this season. McKinstry has 23 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1 sack, and 11 pass breakups at cornerback. 11 PBUs lead the team, SEC, and nation. McKinstry is getting “avoid that side of the field” treatment in Year 2 in Tuscaloosa. He’s been on the boundary as three others fight for the slot opposite him.
Related Articles:
- While a Huge Seventh Inning Helped Auburn to A 6-4 Victory Against Alabama, an Arkansas Victory Might Have Been More Significant!
- Alabama’s Soccer Team Wins Iron Bowl and Goes Undefeated in SEC Play
- The Tax Foundation’s 2023 State Business Tax Climate Index ranks Alabama as the worst in the Southeast!
