Alabama is screaming toward history this college football season with quarterback Mac Jones, receiver DeVonta Smith and running back Najee Harris each ranking among the top five nationally in their respective categories.
Jones is averaging 345.9 passing yards per game and leads all Power Five quarterbacks with a 210.8 efficiency rating through the top-ranked Crimson Tide’s 9-0 start heading into Saturday’s game at Arkansas. Smith leads the nation with 1,305 receiving yards, while Harris has 1,038 rushing yards and is just 100 away from matching the Southeastern Conference lead held by South Carolina’s Kevin Harris, whose season is over.
The Crimson Tide are on pace to set a program standard with 548.3 yards per game against a schedule that will contain no FCS opponents and likely no Group of Five foes, and each of these eye-popping numbers are being compiled behind an amazing yet often overshadowed offensive line.
“Our offensive line has done a great job this year, and they’re definitely one of the best offensive lines in the country and need to get the recognition that they deserve,” Jones said this week. “They’ve earned that on the field and in practice, and that group of guys – I just love those guys. I think I got hit maybe one time in this last game.
“For them to be protecting the way they’ve been protecting is just a huge hats off to them. With it being the Holiday season, I’ll have to come up with something to give them, but right now we can’t really go out to eat like we did in the past. We’ll figure out something for those guys.”