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College football players who produce big statistics or highlight reel plays get all the love. Last season, Derrick Henry, Reggie Ragland and Nick Saban earned most of the spotlight.
Why? Because Henry has deceptive speed and is harder to bring down than an ox, Reggie Ragland amassed an obscene amount of tackles while calling plays at inside linebacker and Saban hoisted the championship trophy with the grin of a kid collecting his birthday present.
Given all of that, who are the ones this season lurking in the shadows doing the dirty work for the benefit of the team? We look at three such members of Alabama’s 2016 team, one on offense, one on defense and one among the assistant coaches.
OFFENSE
On offense, the unsung hero is ArDarius Stewart. Of course most fans know about him, but he doesn’t get the same kind of attention Calvin Ridley gets, or for that matter, the same attention as O.J. Howard after the tight end shone brightest on the national stage in the title-clinching win against Clemson.
Does Stewart have the speed of Ridley or the size of Howard? Of course not, but he shows up in critical moments.
When Alabama was trailing Tennessee 14-13 in the fourth quarter, Alabama opened a drive by allowing Jake Coker to be sacked. On the following play, Stewart had the longest reception of the game for the Crimson Tide, a 29-yard strike that moved the ball to the Tennessee 44-yard line. The team went on to score a touchdown, one that sealed the game, 19-14.
During the third quarter of the Iron Bowl, Stewart scored on a 34-yard touchdown reception that helped open Alabama’s lead to 19-6 and effectively put the team’s state rival in the rearview mirror. Stewart also had good games against Ole Miss (8 catches, 73 yards, TD) and Florida in the SEC Championship Game (4 catches, 64 yards, TD).
He finished the year with 63 catches (second on the team and 25 more than the next-best pass-catcher) and 700 yards with 4 TDs. During the offseason, Stewart has been the most outspoken leader of the wide receivers, representing the group in interviews and being vocal at practices.
DEFENSE
On defense, Minkah Fitzpatrick gets the selection. With Cyrus Jones gone, safety Eddie Jackson becomes the leader of the secondary. Fitzpatrick stepped in as a true freshman last season, earning a starting spot in the secondary.
After earning 10 starts and playing in all 14 games, Fitzpatrick finished tied for third in the secondary for tackles with 45, led the team overall with 11 passes broken up, and also had two interceptions. Fitzpatrick also had the same number of sacks as linebacker Reuben Foster: two. Two sacks don’t constitute a flashy stat but demonstrate what a disruptive presence Fitzpatrick can be to opposing offenses.
Fitzpatrick changed the complexion of last season’s game against Texas A&M, returning two interceptions for touchdowns of 33 and 55 yards. Fitzpatrick should be able to do even greater things with a year of experience knowing he will be the starter from Day 1 heading into the 2016 season.
Saban praised his versatility in being able to play on the outside, play as a nickel back or rush the passer if needed. His versatility is part of what makes him so valuable to the team.
COACHING STAFF
For the coaching staff, it is an admittedly odd selection: Jeremy Pruitt. The head coach is the star in the spotlight, the spokesman for the team. The head coach is the person who gets credit for the great wins and must answer to every little mistake during the losses.
Even among the coordinators, Pruitt is every bit as fiery as Lane Kiffin but not nearly as flashy. Pruitt is new in the position of defensive coordinator, which is what makes this an odd selection. However, the fact that he is replacing a long-time, beloved defensive coordinator is part of his value. Fans are able to rest easy knowing the defense is in the hands of a top-notch coordinator after losing someone of Kirby Smart’s caliber.
Pruitt has four national championships to his résumé, three of them with Alabama as the secondary coach. Last season, Pruitt’s Georgia defense was ranked seventh in the NCAA in pass efficiency defense, one spot ahead of Alabama.
Also, Pruitt is an ace recruiter, so the team may be in better shape over the long haul.
