Ad Disclosure
In a year where Alabama has dominated the SEC, and college football in general, ESPN’s 2020 All-American team reflects that Crimson Tide talent.
The Big Three on offense, QB Mac Jones, RB Najee Harris and WR DeVonta Smith all made the team, as ESPN writer Chris Low wrote.
On the offensive line, Landon Dickerson and Alex Leatherwood helped Harris rush for 1,262 yards and for Jones to pass for 3,739 yards.
Jones led the country with a 202.3 passer rating while throwing for 3,739 yards, 32 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Harris rushed for 1,262 yards and 24 touchdowns and also caught 32 passes, including three that went for touchdowns. Harris scored five touchdowns in the SEC championship game win over Florida and ranked third nationally with 40 runs of 10 yards or longer.
Smith caught 98 passes, with 17 going for touchdowns, and had an 84-yard punt return for a touchdown against Arkansas.
On defense, Alabama had a lone selection in CB Patrick Surtain II, who has made 36 consecutive starts for the Crimson Tide. ESPN noted that “opposing offenses stayed away from Surtain’s side of the field most of the season — and with good reason.”
Another SEC star made the list in Florida TE Kyle Pitts. The 6-foot-6, 246-pound junior, as Low wrote, led all tight ends with 12 touchdown receptions. If Pitts wasn’t catching a touchdown pass, he was usually catching one that led to a Florida first down.
LSU kicker Cade York also made the list.
ESPN wrote that, “York was at his best from long distance for the Tigers. He was 8-of-10 on field goal attempts from 40 yards or longer, and that included going 5-of-6 from 50 yards or longer. His biggest field goal of the season was a school-record 57-yarder in the heavy fog to lift LSU to an upset 37-34 victory over Florida. York, a sophomore, made 14 of 17 overall field goals this season and has kicked nine field goals of 50 yards or longer in his career.”
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
