Raekwon Davis
Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn reacts to a call during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Samford, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
No. 5 Alabama visits No. 16 Auburn in Iron Bowl

By The Associated Press Nov. 27, 2019 05:14 PM EST

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) grabs a wide snap from the shotgun position during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Western Carolina, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Jones, No. 5 Alabama rout Western Carolina, 66-3 without Tua

By John Zenor Nov. 23, 2019 03:13 PM EST

Alabama running back Najee Harris (22) evades Mississippi State safety C.J. Morgan (29) on his way to a 19-yard touchdown pass reception during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Alabama won 38-7. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Mac Jones leads No. 5 Alabama against Western Carolina

By John Zenor Nov. 22, 2019 10:05 AM EST

Mississippi State running back Kylin Hill (8) shakes Arkansas defender Andrew Parker (28) as he runs for a gain during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
No. 5 Alabama hosts Western Carolina minus injured star

By The Associated Press Nov. 21, 2019 02:47 PM EST

Alabama sive lineman Alex Leatherwood (70) checks on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) after he was injured in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. Alabama won 38-7. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Alabama star Tua Tagovailoa set for hip surgery in Houston

Nov. 17, 2019 07:05 PM EST

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) throws a pass against Mississippi State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
Tagovailoa out for season after hip injury vs Mississippi St

By Paul Jones Nov. 16, 2019 04:01 PM EST

Vanderbilt tight end Jared Pinkney (80) is brought down by Missouri safety Joshuah Bledsoe (18) in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
SEC showing off most promising crop of 1st-round NFL talent

By Mark Long Oct. 23, 2019 01:20 PM EDT

Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) passes against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Tennessee trying to snap 12-year losing streak vs Alabama

By John Zenor Oct. 17, 2019 02:42 PM EDT

Alabama defensive lineman LaBryan Ray (89) hits New Mexico State quarterback Josh Adkins (14), causing a fumble, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Alabama could start 4 freshmen on defense vs Southern Miss

By John Zenor Sep. 19, 2019 01:02 PM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 10, 2018, file photo, Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald (7) is sacked by Alabama linebacker Dylan Moses (32) and linebacker Anfernee Jennings (33) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The hits keep on coming for Alabama’s defense in 2019. The latest blow to the second-ranked Crimson Tide defenders was Tuesday’s, Aug. 27, 2019, knee injury to star middle linebacker Dylan Moses. (AP Photo/Butch Dill, File)
No. 2 Alabama's defense absorbs tough hits before opener

By John Zenor Aug. 29, 2019 02:33 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 6, 2019, file photo, Clemson's Trevor Lawrence drops back to pass during Clemson's annual Orange and White NCAA college football spring scrimmage in Clemson, S.C. After leading Clemson to a national championship as a freshman, Lawrence was selected an AP preseason All-American by poll voters. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Clemson QB Lawrence leads AP preseason All-America team

By Ralph D. Russo Aug. 20, 2019 12:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 3, 2019, file photo, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) talks with the media prior to Alabama's fall camp fan-day college football scrimmage, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Two constants remain at Alabama: coach Nick Saban and championship expectations. Now, just add in a Heisman Trophy candidate at quarterback and a national title game humbling that provided ample offseason motivation. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
Tagovailoa, Alabama retain same old championship hopes

By John Zenor Aug. 12, 2019 11:35 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 1, 2019, file photo, LSU quarterback Joe Burrow attends warmups before the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football game against UCF in Glendale, Ariz. This year, a group of talented and experienced quarterbacks could help the Southeastern Conference produce a little more drama. Georgia’s Jake Fromm, LSU’s Burrow, Florida’s Feleipe Franks and Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond are among the biggest reasons all those teams feel they have a realistic chance of knocking Alabama off its title perch. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)
Talented group of QBs hope to give SEC hierarchy a jolt

By David Brandt Jul. 15, 2019 02:21 AM EDT

FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2018, file photo, Missouri defensive lineman Jordan Elliott, left, hits Arkansas quarterback Ty Storey, right, causing him to fumble the ball, during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Columbia, Mo. Elliott is expected to emerge as one of Missouri’s top defensive players in 2019. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson, File)
14 SEC players who could have breakthrough seasons

By The Associated Press Apr. 22, 2019 10:53 AM EDT

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2018, file photo, Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown (5) stops Alabama State running back Tallesin Farmer (32) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, in Auburn, Ala. The SEC, a conference that prides itself on producing great defensive linemen and linebackers, must find candidates to replace all the guys heading into the pros. Alabama’s Raekwon Davis and Auburn’s Derrick Brown both enter the summer as legitimate All-America candidates as they attempt to lead their teams. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt, File)
SEC teams look to find defensive stoppers after draft exodus

By Steve Megargee Apr. 22, 2019 10:46 AM EDT

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones (10) throws a sideline pass during the first half of Alabama's A-Day NCAA college football scrimmage, Saturday, April 13, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Nick Saban reloading defense with youthful Alabama team

By John Zenor Apr. 13, 2019 03:02 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 3, 2019, file photo, Team Flash running back Jerrion Ealy, left, gets snagged by a defender during the Under Armour All America Game in Orlando, Fla. Some drama on signing day might be drummed up around the few remaining unsigned five-star prospects. Darnell Wright, an offensive lineman from West Virginia, is expected to choose between Tennessee and Alabama. Ealy, a running back from Mississippi, will pick between Clemson and Ole Miss. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, File)
The Latest: Tennessee finishes strong with 2 top-50 recruits

By The Associated Press Feb. 06, 2019 09:22 AM EST

FILE - At left, in a Nov. 17, 2018, file photo, Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. (82) carries the ball in for a touchdown against Citadel during the second half of an NCAA college football game, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. At right, in a Dec. 29, 2018, file photo, Alabama running back Josh Jacobs (8) runs the ball, during the first half of the Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Oklahoma, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Four Alabama players are skipping their final seasons to enter the NFL draft, including Smith Jr. and Jacobs. (AP Photo/File)
4 Alabama players announce they are declaring for NFL draft

By John Zenor Jan. 11, 2019 11:40 AM EST

Alabama head coach Nick Saban reacts after the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Clemson, Monday, Jan. 7, 2019, in Santa Clara, Calif. Clemson beat Alabama 44-16. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)
Alabama, Saban face big offseason challenges after loss

By John Zenor Jan. 08, 2019 05:01 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 15, 2018, file photo, Clemson's Clelin Ferrell (99) rushes into the backfield during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Georgia Southern in Clemson, S.C. Clemson’s defensive line came into the season with a ton of hype after Christian Wilkins, Austin Bryant and Ferrell all bypassed the chance to go to the NFL after 2017. Ferrell, an explosive pass rusher, has the most NFL upside. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro, File)
Bama-Clemson loaded with NFL draft picks along D-line

By Ralph D. Russo Jan. 05, 2019 02:40 AM EST