TIDE, TAKE THREE
1. Alabama and Kent State have met once before, with the Crimson Tide rolling to a 48-7 win in the 2011 season opener.2. The Crimson Tide have won 61 straight games against unranked teams, a streak that began after a 17-10 loss to Auburn in the 2007 Iron Bowl.3. Alabama coach Nick Saban is a 1973 graduate of Kent State, where he was a business major. He earned his master’s degree in sports administration from Kent State in 1975.
SEC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
OFFENSE: Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts, who threw for 158 yards and ran for 146 at Ole Miss. Hurts produced seven first downs rushing and seven through the air. DEFENSE: Texas A&M safety Justin Evans, who recorded 12 tackles and one tackle for loss in the 29-16 win at Auburn that resulted in the Aggies improving to 3-0. CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: Alabama punt returner Eddie Jackson, who returned the first punt of his career 85 yards for a score in the second quarter of the 48-43 win in Oxford. CO-SPECIAL TEAMS: LSU punter Josh Growden, who averaged 49.2 yards on five punts, including a career-best 65-yarder, in the 23-20 victory over Mississippi State. FRESHMAN: Texas A&M running back Trayveon Williams, who had an 89-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter and finished with 127 yards on eight carries (15.9). OFFENSIVE LINEMAN: Arkansas right guard Frank Ragnow, who moved from center and earned a career-best grade of 92 percent on an offense that amassed 507 yards. DEFENSIVE LINE: LSU defensive end Arden Key, who had five tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, a forced fumble and a quarterback hurry in the win in Baton Rouge. - David Paschall
One true road game.
One Southeastern Conference player of the week honor for Jalen Hurts.
Alabama's true freshman quarterback was recognized by the league Monday after showing his athletic ability, maturity and resilience during Saturday's 48-43 win at Ole Miss. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder from Channelview, Texas, accounted for 304 total yards, throwing for 158 and rushing for 146 as the Crimson Tide won a game they trailed by 21 points for just the second time in program history.
"He's showing that he's not your typical freshman," Tide junior linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said. "We were down, but he led the team back. At halftime, he was like, 'Hey, guys, we're still in it.' I liked how he was looking when we were down 24-3."
Ole Miss took its 21-point lead when Rebels defensive end Marquis Haynes leveled Hurts in the backfield, causing a fumble that John Youngblood returned 44 yards for a touchdown. On Alabama's next two plays from scrimmage, Hurts threw a 22-yard pass to Calvin Ridley and had a 22-yard keeper to set up a 6-yard scoring run by Ridley that stopped the bleeding at 24-10.
Ridley's score ignited a 45-6 surge by the Crimson Tide that resulted in a 48-30 lead, with Hurts guiding the rally just as he did in the opener against Southern California, when Alabama scored 38 straight points in a 52-6 rout.
"Jalen is very focused," Tide coach Nick Saban said Monday during his weekly news conference. "Nothing affects him. Nothing bothers him. Nothing bothered him in the game."
Hurts became the first Alabama quarterback to rush and pass for more than 100 yards in a game since Tyler Watts in 2001. His 146 rushing yards were the fifth most in school history by a quarterback, and he produced seven first downs through the air and seven on the ground.
There was a time when Saban would discuss read-option offenses only when breaking down opponents, but that is no longer the case.
"It certainly adds an element to what you try to defend, and I also think it can complement other things that you do," Saban said. "I think all those things work hand in hand in having a productive offense. We want to do what a quarterback can do, but I also feel like we need to get better at throwing the ball.
"We've left a lot of money on the table these last two weeks. We're not throwing the ball to the open guys, and we've got to get better at that."
Saban declined to make an announcement Monday when asked if Hurts has won the starting job once and for all over redshirt freshman Blake Barnett, who didn't play against Ole Miss. He didn't feel the need given not only the performance Hurts displayed in Oxford but the admiration he has of his teammates.
"Jalen is a great player and a great talent, and he has really turned into a great leader," sophomore running back Damien Harris said. "He does a great job of settling down the offense and keeping us calm, cool and collected."
Said senior safety Eddie Jackson: "Jalen has taken up a leadership role, and the things he does in a game he does in practice. He's not afraid to put guys on his back, and we respect him."
Upon further review
Saturday's Alabama-Ole Miss contained a slew of reviews from the replay booth that resulted in a CBS-televised game that lasted four hours and two minutes.
"I'm for getting it right," Saban said Monday, "and I appreciate the new system where we have a command center, where we have the best people reviewing those things."
Tide tidbits
Saban on Ridley when Ole Miss recovered its onside kick: "He let the ball play him instead of playing the ball."... Next week's home game against Kentucky will be televised by ESPN with a 7 p.m. EDT kickoff.... Saban reiterated Monday that redshirt junior receiver ArDarius Stewart would be out this week with a sprained right knee but said Jackson and fellow defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick would be fine. Saban said junior receiver Cam Sims would get the first crack at replacing Stewart.... The Crimson Tide took Monday off from practice but went through their normal meetings and stretching.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.