Amari Cooper and JK Scott Among Alabama Players of the Week

Eight Alabama players were recognized by the coaching staff following Saturday’s 55-44 victory over Auburn. Amari Cooper, Jalston Fowler and Austin Shepherd were the honorees on offense, while Nick Perry and Geno Smith represented the defense. Shaun Dion Hamilton, Christion Jones and JK Scott made the special teams list.

Cooper tied his school record for receiving yards in a game with 224 on 13 catches with three touchdowns. He is now the school record holder for receiving touchdowns in a single season (14) and career receptions (207). Cooper, who is now second all-time in SEC career receiving yards, was also named the Athlon Sports Player of the Week and the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week. Fowler again did an outstanding job of blocking from his fullback position and had a key eight-yard rush to pick up a first down on a key third-and-one in the fourth quarter. The Tide rushed for 227 total yards which included 127 from T.J. Yeldon and 72 from Derrick Henry. Shepherd led the team with a grade of 92 percent and had no penalties, sacks, pressures or missed assignments. He moved from right tackle to left tackle early in the fourth quarter when Cam Robinson left with an injury and had a key block on Henry’s 25-yard TD run that put UA up 55-36 with 3:46 remaining.

On defense, Nick Perry was second on the team with 13 total tackles (eight solo) with two for loss. He had a key interception in the third quarter at the UA 46 and returned it 23 yards to the Auburn 31. Alabama went on to score on the ensuing drive to go up 42-36 early in the fourth quarter. Smith was third on the tackle chart with 10 stops in the game, including seven unassisted. He also had two tackles for loss.

Christion Jones came up with a couple key returns that gave the Crimson Tide very good field position. He had a 29-yard punt return to the UA 42-yard line that helped lead to a touchdown in the second quarter as well as a kickoff return of 37 yards in the third quarter. Hamilton came up with four knock-down blocks on kickoff return and one knock-down block on punt return. Scott had just two punts in the game and averaged 55.5 with a long of 70. There were no return yards as he had one touchback and one inside the 20. Scott, who leads the nation in highest percentage of punts inside the 20, also handled kickoffs and recorded three touchbacks on eight kicks.

On the season, Landon Collins is the team leader in player of the week honors with eight. He is followed by Scott (seven) and Cooper (six).