36 Days Away from Bama Kickoff: Mac Hereford

Each day counting down to Alabama's Week 1 matchup with Utah State, I will highlight one former player whose jersey number coincides with the amount of days until the game. The Crimson Tide takes the field in only 36 days, so let's take a look at a recent a Bama fan favorite that wore the number, Mac Hereford. 

Mac Hereford was never a major contributor to the team in his time with the program from 2016-19, but was a fierce competitor that Crimson Tide fans came to love greatly. A preferred walk-on from Birmingham, AL, Hereford played wide receiver for the Tide and worked hard to help the team anyway he could from his role.

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In his first season with Alabama, Hereford did not see the field, and the Tide finished 14-1, losing the national title game to Deshaun Watson and the Clemson Tigers.

Heading into his sophomore year, 2017, the receiver saw time in just one game, but contributed off the field, helping his teammates develop and hone their skills in practice. Alabama bounced back and finished Hereford's second year with a memorable win over Georgia in the National Championship.

The wideout earned a starting spot in the 2018 A-Day Game, joining forces with then-redshirt freshman quarterback Mac Jones. Hereford hauled in three passes on the day and he received the Bear Bryant Most Outstanding Non-Scholarship Player Award for his performance.

In his junior season, Hereford again would not find his way onto the field, but continued to work hard behind the scenes and even earned the Heart of Service Award, given to a Alabama athlete who goes above and beyond to help their community. The Tide ended the season in heartbreak, earning a spot in the National Championship, but losing in embarrassing fashion to Clemson, 44-16.

In Hereford's final season with the Tide, he saw time in just one game, but was named the recipient of the Derrick Thomas Community Service Award. The Tide again ended the season in disappointment, dropping games to LSU and Auburn and missing out on a return to the national title game.

After his senior season in Tuscaloosa, Hereford made the decision to use his final year of eligibility at Vanderbilt as a Commodore. Though he looked to be a contributor in his last season, Hereford would not finish the year after stepping away from football following the passing of two of his grandparents.

Now, Hereford owns his own business, Herf Media, and is a well-known social media personality with nearly 400,000 followers across his various accounts. The former wideout can be seen frequently interacting with Crimson Tide fans and speaking openly on his time with the team.

Stay locked in to Tide1009.com for the countdown to Alabama football. Check out the rest of the list here.