Alabama- The studs that got them there

by Jeff Dantzler

Alabama #75 Barrett Jones, C

The reigning Outland Trophy Award winner as the nation’s premier trench stalwart, Jones
is the centerpiece of college football’s most dominant offensive line. He’s been a standout
at tackle, guard and now center. Jones is very smart and a great football player. He may
not even be the best player on the offensive line. Guard Chance Warmack is an absolute
beast – a bulldozer and tremendous athlete who gets to the second level, creating long
gainers. And Bama’s tackle duo of D.J. Fluker and Cyrus Kouandjio are incredible specimens.
This offensive front is the heart and soul of Alabama’s football team. They set the
tone physically and lets a superb cast of skill personnel flourish. Jones is the front-man.
For a school that has produced some of the greatest offensive linemen in the history of
the sport, like all-time NFL legends John Hannah and Dwight Stephenson, Jones, an integral
part of two national championship teams already, has a place in Bama’s “Big Ugly”
Hall of Fame.

Alabama #10 A.J. McCarron, QB

Putting together one of the better seasons of any quarterback in Alabama annals, McCarron
is the triggerman for a juggernaut offense that has put up a slew of points. As a
sophomore and first year starter last season, McCarron got the ball to Trent Richardson
and was charged with distributing the football and not turning the ball over. This season,
Tide coach Nick Saban has been able to lean on McCarron to lead the offense. There’s a
great offense line and tremendous backs to work with. Now he’s got Bama’s next great
receiver to throw to, the sleek freshman blue-chipper Amari Cooper. His touchdown to interception
ratio is off the charts and McCarron has proved to be a stellar big game performer.
The hit-list with McCarron at quarterback over the last two years includes LSU,
Auburn, Tennessee (twice each), Florida and Michigan. He was behind center for last
year’s national championship game victory over the Bayou Bengals, and now eyes Georgia’s
defense and an SEC crown.

Alabama #28 Dee Milliner, CB

Almost all of Alabama’s defense from last season’s national championship squad is in
the National Football League. Four of the top 35 picks in the draft were Crimson Tide
defenders. But half of that tremendous secondary secondary is back, with Milliner, the
SEC’s top corner, and fellow All-SEC performer, Robert Lester, a stellar safety. Milliner is
physical, fast, tough, agile and has a nose for the ball. One of the signature plays of
the season came in the opener against Michigan, as he picked off Dennard Robinson
and then when the Wolverine signal caller tried to tackle Milliner on the return, he got
knocked flat backwards. There are few corners who can jam receivers on the line,
make sure tackles on premier tailbacks and run down the field with the league’s burners
at receiver. Just like fellow corner Dre Kirkpatrick, a first-rounder from a year ago,
he’s coveted by pro scouts.

Alabama #4 T.J. Yeldon, TB

What a year it has been for freshmen tailbacks in the SEC. Todd Gurley of Georgia,
LSU’s Jeremy Hill and Yeldon have established themselves as some of the elite tailbacks
in college football. Yeldon and junior Eddie Lacy are one of the country’s best
one-two tailback punches – if not the best. Lacy has power, breaks tackles, sniffs the
goal line in the red zone and can bust the long one. Yeldon is the total package. He is
shifty, breaks through arm-tacklers, has excellent speed – even through cuts, is elusive,
fast and has body lean. With Bama’s bruising backs and powerful offensive line,
the pile always seems to move forward when the Crimson Tide runs the football. Yeldon
burst onto the scene in Alabama’s 41-14 season-opening pounding of Michigan in
Dallas, topping the century mark. Bama had the premier tailback in America last year,
Trent Richardson, the third pick in the draft. And the running game hasn’t missed a
beat, thanks in large part to Yeldon

Tagged: jeff dantzler, sec football, alabama crimson tide, nick saban, barrett jones, aj mccarron, dee milliner, tj yeldon