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2015 SEC All-Freshman Football TeamOFFENSETE – C.J. Conrad, KentuckyOL – William Clapp, LSUMartez Ivey, FloridaRoss Pierschbacher, AlabamaChance Hall, TennesseeC – Zack Bailey, South CarolinaWR – Christian Kirk, Texas A&MCalvin Ridley, AlabamaQB – Kyler Murray, Texas A&MRB – Derrius Guice, LSURawleigh Williams III, ArkansasAP – Christian Kirk, Texas A&MDEFENSEDL – Arden Key, LSUTerry Beckner, MissouriWalter Brady, MissouriCece Jefferson, FloridaLB – Dre Greenlaw, ArkansasGerri Green, Mississippi StateDarrin Kirkland Jr., TennesseeDB – Minkah Fitzpatrick, AlabamaCarlton Davis, AuburnMarlon Humphrey, AlabamaChris Westry, KentuckySPECIAL TEAMSP – Corey Fatony, MissouriRS – Christian Kirk, Texas A&M
Calvin Ridley was a five-star receiver signee for Alabama last winter, while Minkah Fitzpatrick was a five-star Crimson Tide cornerback signee.
They haven’t disappointed.
Ridley, who leads the playoff-bound Crimson Tide in receiving, and Fitzpatrick, who has scored three touchdowns, made the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team that was released Thursday afternoon. The 16th annual collection was selected by league coaches, who were not allowed to vote for their own players.
“Those two guys are special to contribute as much as they’ve contributed this year,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said after last Saturday’s 29-15 win over Florida in the SEC title game. “What happens a lot of time with the young guys on your team is that they can’t sustain the season or have the maturity to stay focused on the next game plan, but those two guys are special, because they’ve never skipped a beat.
“They’ve always been able to focus on what they need to do to do their jobs well in games and make very good plays.”
A day after placing a league-high seven players on the All-SEC first team, Alabama had four make the All-Freshman team, with redshirt freshman guard Ross Pierschbacher and redshirt freshman cornerback Marlon Humphrey joining Ridley and Fitzpatrick. The only other team with four representatives on the All-Freshman team was Texas A&M, which produced the freshman of the year with receiver and return specialist Christian Kirk.
Tennessee had two players on the All-Freshman team – offensive lineman Chance Hall and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. – while Georgia did not have any.
Ridley leads Alabama with 75 receptions for 893 yards and five touchdowns, including an 81-yard score against Arkansas late in the third quarter that put the Crimson Tide ahead to stay in their 27-14 victory.
Fitzpatrick has tallied 41 tackles, including two sacks, and has displayed a knack for the end zone as well. In Alabama’s 41-23 win at Texas A&M on Oct. 17, Fitzpatrick returned an interception 33 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter and another 55 yards for a score in the fourth quarter.
In Alabama’s 38-10 win at Georgia on Oct. 3, the two freshmen scored a minute apart late in the second quarter. Fitzpatrick took a blocked punt 1 yard into the end zone, and Ridley caught a 45-yard strike from Jake Coker.
“Those two guys have been fantastic additions to our team this year,” Saban said, “and their contributions have been very important to us.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.