The Alabama Crimson Tide’s incendiary 2020 offensive unit continues to gain recognition for its dominant performance in the regular season.
Five players — including Heisman finalists quarterback Mac Jones and wide receiver DeVonta Smith — earned first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press on Monday while offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian was announced as the winner of the Broyles Award for college football’s best assistant coach.
In addition to Jones and Smith, running back Najee Harris, tackle Alex Leatherwood and center Landon Dickerson all earned First Team All-American honors.
“He’s certainly done a phenomenal job for us,” head coach Nick Saban said of Sarkisian at a press conference on Monday.
“No. 1 Alabama is the first team since 1980, when the AP All-America team began featuring two wide receivers and two running backs, to place a quarterback, running back and receiver on the first team,” noted the AP in its story on the selections.
Alabama’s defense had one first-team All-American, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, for a total of six first-teamers.
The Tide added two third-team All-Americans, defensive tackle Christian Barmore and linebacker Dylan Moses, meaning just the Tide’s All-Americans could comprise 36% of a 22 man starting roster.
Alabama’s offensive averaged 49.7 points and 543.9 yards per game in 2020, both marks that led the nation. The Tide have scored 35 or more points in each of their last 24 games, a college football record.
“This is a special group,” tweeted Sarkisisan about his award-winning unit in December.
Sarkisian joins former Alabama coordinators Michael Locksley (2018) and Kirby Smart (2009) as winners of the Broyles Award during Nick Saban’s time at the top of the program.
Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: [email protected] or on Twitter @HenryThornton95.
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