Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts is among the 18 semifinalists for the Maxwell Award and the 15 semifinalists for the Walter Camp Award, with each of those honors given annually to college football’s top player.
Hurts is the surprising and unquestioned star of the Crimson Tide’s 2016 signing class, but he’s not the only one to earn coach Nick Saban’s praise. Right tackle Jonah Williams and running back Josh Jacobs also have provided early results and are among the 16 true freshmen who have played entering Alabama’s game Saturday night against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
“We’ve had quite a few guys who have contributed in some way, and we’re very pleased with the group,” Saban said. “We’ve had very few issues and problems. A lot of guys have contributed, while a lot of other guys are developing nicely. We feel like there will be a significant number of good players that come out of this class.
“It’s all about development, though, because there are several freshmen you always have who can contribute, especially at certain positions, and then there are other guys who develop into really good players over time.”
Hurts erupted in Alabama’s opener, coming off the bench in relief of Blake Barnett and quickly turning a 3-0 deficit against Southern California into a 38-3 lead in an eventual 52-6 humiliation. The following week against Western Kentucky, he became the first Tide true freshman to start at quarterback since Vince Sutton in 1984.
A 6-foot-2, 209-pounder from Channelview, Texas, Hurts has thrown for 2,032 yards and 16 touchdowns while rushing for 735 yards and 11 scores. In last week’s 51-3 trampling of Mississippi State, he became the first quarterback in Tide history to throw for 300 yards (347) and rush for 100 (100) in the same game.
Hurts was the Southeastern Conference’s offensive player of the week after the win at Ole Miss and the league’s freshman of the week following the triumph at Arkansas. The SEC tabbed Williams as its freshman of the week after the USC game and named him offensive lineman of the week after the 49-10 pasting of Tennessee, when he graded at 90 percent on an offense that amassed 594 yards.
Jacobs, who has rushed for 467 yards and 7.0 yards per carry, was SEC freshman of the week after a 16-carry, 100-yard performance early last month at Kentucky.
“Those guys don’t appear like freshmen, and they obviously play on a very good football team with great players surrounding them,” Kentucky coach Mark Stoops said. “They fit in quite well, and I think the key is surrounding them with good players. When you do that and have a good scheme and a good system, it allows you to plug in the right guys.”
Tailback B.J. Emmons (35 rushes for 173 yards), receiver and return specialist Trevon Diggs (nine catches for 78 yards) and tight end Miller Forristall (five catches for 73 yards) also have played their fair share this year, but it’s been a bit tougher to break through on the nation’s most talent-laden defense. Still, defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, linebacker Mack Wilson and defensive back Shyheim Carter each has recorded multiple tackles, whether on defense or special teams.
With UTC the 11th foe of the season, does Saban still forget sometimes that they’re freshmen?
“To be honest with you, once we decide that they’re ready to play, they’re really not freshmen any more,” he said. “Even though you don’t want to overburden them by doing things that they’re not ready to do from a confidence standpoint, you can certainly say that a guy is ready to play effectively regardless of his age or class.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.