2016 SEC All-Freshman Team
OffenseTE - Isaac Nauta, GeorgiaOL - Jonah Williams, AlabamaOL - Jawaan Taylor, FloridaOL - Greg Little, Ole MissOL - Logan Stenberg, KentuckyC - Erik McCoy, Texas A&MWR - Dimetrios Mason, MissouriWR - Van Jefferson, Ole MissQB - Jalen Hurts, AlabamaRB - Benny Snell Jr., KentuckyRB - Trayveon Williams, Texas A&MAP - Jonathan Johnson, MissouriDefenseDL - Jabari Zuniga, FloridaDL - Marlon Davidson, AuburnDL - Ed Alexander, LSUDL - McTelvin Agim, Arkansas*DL - Jeffery Simmons, Mississippi State*LB - Leo Lewis, Mississippi StateLB - Devin White, LSULB - De’Jon Harris, ArkansasDB - Javaris Davis, AuburnDB - Nigel Warrior, TennesseeDB - Ronnell Perkins, MissouriDB - Jaylon Jones, Ole MissSpecial TeamsPK - Rodrigo Blankenship, GeorgiaP - Josh Growden, LSURS - Jonathan Johnson, Missouri* tied for the position
Looking back, it makes a lot of sense.
One of the most overlooked stars on this season's 13-0 Alabama Crimson Tide is right tackle Jonah Williams. A 6-foot-5, 296-pounder from Folsom, Calif., Williams claimed a first-team spot in spring practice and never let go, making a splash in the 52-6 opening blowout of Southern California and starting all 13 games for the Southeastern Conference champions.
"It's been great, and any time you can go 13-0, you're pretty happy for the team," Williams said in the locker room after last Saturday's 54-16 trampling of Florida. "I'm happy about the way things have gone for me. Each week, I was just trying to do my job. We faced some really good defenses this year and a couple of really good defensive lines these past couple of games with Auburn and Florida, and I was happy to have the success that we did and just be a part of it.
"It's been very rewarding."
Williams was a top-25 national prospect according to ESPN, Rivals.com, Scout.com and 247Sports.com, but how did he adjust to college opposition so quickly? In his debut, Williams graded out at 83 percent, had two knockdown blocks and helped pave the way for 242 rushing yards against a USC team that is now in the Rose Bowl.
The SEC recognized Williams as freshman of the week for his performance against the Trojans, and Williams credits his productivity in that and every other game due to the competition he faced throughout the 15 spring practices as an early enrollee and then again in August camp.
"I went against the best defense in the country every day, so you really can't get any better experience than that," said Williams, who along with quarterback Jalen Hurts was named Thursday to the SEC's all-freshman squad for the top-ranked Tide. "I went up against all of them - Tim Williams, Ryan Anderson, Jonathan Allen, Dalvin Tomlinson, Da'Shawn Hand - you really don't get a break going against them, because there is so much talent and depth.
"They're all great guys who were constructive in helping me learn, too. There is a lot of mutual respect. You come in quietly, and you work."
Alabama's first-team offense was smothered by the first-team defense in April's A-Day game, but Williams could tell through preseason practices that he was doing a better job of holding his own against several surefire 2017 NFL draftees.
By midseason, Williams was making impressive outings routine. He was named SEC offensive lineman of the week after the 49-10 win at Tennessee on Oct. 15, when he graded at 90 percent and tallied four knockdown blocks on an offense that rushed for 409 yards and 8.5 yards per attempt.
In Alabama's toughest offensive game of the season, the 10-0 win at LSU on Nov. 5, Williams did not allow a sack or quarterback hurry for a unit that eventually compiled 216 rushing yards.
"Jonah is an incredible player, and I am so happy for him," junior left tackle Cam Robinson said. "He's an extremely hard worker and has really earned this. I tried to take him under my wing a little bit to teach him what I could.
"We both came in, started as true freshmen and have started every game. I'm very proud of him."
While Robinson has been Alabama's most dominant offensive lineman, Williams arguably has been the most consistent. He graded out at 89 percent against Auburn, when he racked up four knockdown blocks, and had grades of 87 against Mississippi State and 86 against Texas A&M.
Alabama's offense lost its starting quarterback and Heisman Trophy-winning tailback from last season's national champs, but the Crimson Tide enter their Peach Bowl national semifinal with Washington averaging 471.3 yards and 40.5 points per game. Hurts has received much of the praise for this season's attack, and deservedly so, but Williams quickly proved his value, first to his defensive teammates and then to the rest of the college football world.
"There wasn't a big shock for me going into the season," Williams said. "When you get to practice with those guys, it's a case of iron sharpening iron. Having nine months to work and grind every day is huge if you want to compete at this level.
"You get thrown into the fire, and you either make it or don't."
Quarterback update
Alabama coach Nick Saban said during Thursday's news conference promoting the four-team playoff that redshirt junior quarterback Cooper Bateman and redshirt sophomore quarterback David Cornwell would remain with the team through the end of the season before transferring.
"Cooper is a graduate, so he'll be a graduate transfer, and we're very supportive of these guys," Saban said. "They've done a fantastic job for us, and we hope that they get a good opportunity and a chance to play someplace, but they will be with our team, and they're anxious to finish the season with us."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.