Bama Central

Top 10 Performances By an Alabama Athlete in 2022-23

The Alabama Crimson Tide may not have ended the year as national champions but there were still a number of moments worth celebrating.

Joe Gaither

Top 10 Performances By an Alabama Athlete in 2022-23
Top 10 Performances By an Alabama Athlete in 2022-23 /
In this story:

The Alabama athletic calendar year came to a crashing close on Sunday with the Crimson Tide baseball team losing its second game in a row to the top seeded Wake Forest Demon Deacons. 

The year came and went without the Crimson Tide hoisting a national championship in any team competition, but that doesn't mark 2022-23 as a failure at the Capstone.

The women's soccer program saw unprecedented success, winning the Southeastern Conference and making the Final Four. Men's basketball had its second double SEC championship season in three years and made the Sweet 16. Alabama baseball hosted the regional round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 17 years and the list goes on and on. 

What were the most impressive individual performances of the 2022-23 season? 

10. Chris Robinson, June 9, 2023, NCAA Track and Field Championships, Austin, Texas - Sophomore Chris Robinson saved his best for last, serving up an NCAA championship winning and school record setting time in the 400 meter hurdles. Robinson navigated the lap laden with hurdles in just 48.12 seconds.

Robinson's effort, along with teammate Corde Long who finished second in the same event, helped the Tide place eighth in the NCAA Championships

9. Brittany Davis, Feb. 5, 2023, at Missouri - Coming off a loss to the mighty South Carolina Gamecocks, and facing a Missouri team that had beaten Alabama by just one point in the first meeting, the Crimson Tide needed an answer. 

Super senior Brittany Davis delivered that answer, scoring her career high 33 points while bringing in eight rebounds, three assists and three steals. Davis took the Tide from a three-point halftime deficit to a seven-point victory with 23 second-half points. 

The Alabama women's basketball program won three more games in succession before ending the year on a five-game losing streak.

8. Brandon Miller, Jan. 17, 2023, at Vanderbilt - Brandon Miller returned to his hometown of Nashville just days after the tragic shooting that took Jamea Harris's life. The freshman, with the national microscope thrust upon him, scored 30 points, secured 10 rebounds with one assist to help the Tide get to 5-0 in SEC play. 

7. Eli Ricks, Oct. 22, 2022, vs. Mississippi State - After waiting eight weeks on the sidelines learning the Alabama defense and earning Nick Saban's trust, highly touted transfer cornerback Eli Ricks made his first start of the 2022 season. 

Ricks was tested early and often by Mississippi State's passing attack but he showed why fans had been clamoring for him to see the field. Bulldogs quarterback Will Rogers targeted Ricks 10 times but the transfer stood tall, allowing just one catch and recorded four pass breakups. 

His performance earned him National Bednarik Defensive Player of the Week, Saban's praise and most importantly, more playing time. 

6. Bryce Young, Oct. 15, 2023, at Tennessee - On the "Third Saturday in October" junior quarterback Bryce Young wrote his name in Crimson flame, remarkably, in a losing effort. 

Young threw the football 52 times for 455 yards and two touchdowns just 14 days after injuring his shoulder against Arkansas. Alabama struggled to run the football, netting just 114 yards on the ground and the Tennessee defense was particularly physical with Young off his injury. 

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner led the Tide from an 18-point deficit to an even contest with three minutes remaining but unfortunately a dropped pass to Jahmyr Gibbs kept Alabama from sealing the deal in Knoxville. 

5. Louisa Blanco, Feb. 3, 2023, vs. Auburn - Competing against the No. 6 team in the nation, an Olympic gold medalist, your coach's old team and your rival is a particularly vicious recipe served to Alabama gymnastics this past season when Auburn came to town. 

However, with the aforementioned backdrop at play, the Crimson Tide emerged victorious 197.850-197.7 in a come from behind effort. It wouldn't have happened without senior superstar Luisa Blanco. 

Blanco scored her highest all-around score of the year (39.75) including a perfect 10 on the balance beam. She also contributed with a 9.975 on floor, 9.95 on vault and a 9.825 to lead Alabama to a victory. 

4. Jahvon Quinerly, March 1, 2023, vs. Auburn- Alabama senior Jahvon Quinerly got hot for the Crimson Tide down the stretch of the season. The New Jersey native was never better than in the final home game of the season. 

Quinerly scored 24 points, managed six assists and three steals against the Auburn Tigers to clinch the SEC regular season championship.

"JQ" took over the late stages of the game by scoring 15 of his 24 points in the second half, forcing the game into overtime and ultimately resulting in the Alabama victory.

3. Montana Fouts, April 6 & 8, 2023, vs. South Carolina -  Super senior Montana Fouts has been the face of Alabama softball since she arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2019. She exemplified what it means to represent the Crimson and White throughout her time in Tuscaloosa, taking the Tide to the Women's College World Series three times. 

Her strongest outing in her final season arguably came at home as the Alabama team was finding its stride for the year. After starting the season 4-5 in SEC play the Crimson Tide welcomed South Carolina to town. 

Fouts pitched the first two games of the series, striking out 25 batters across 16 innings to ensure the Tide earned a series victory. In her second outing of the weekend the Grayson, Ky., native struck out 10, gave up no hits and allowed just two walks and one hit batter. 

2. Bryce Young, Dec. 31, 2022, Sugar Bowl vs. Kansas State - In retrospect, there was no need for Bryce Young to do what he did for Alabama fans on the final day of 2022. Young not only committed to playing in Alabama's Sugar Bowl contest against Kansas State, but he arguably played his most efficient game in an Alabama uniform. 

The California-native, after a few weeks of finally resting his injured shoulder, went into the Caesars Superdome and gave the Crimson Tide the gift of going 15-of-21 passing for 321 yards and five touchdowns while beating the Wildcats 45-20. 

While it was a jaw-dropping display of quarterback prowess, it was also a bitter-sweet moment as the Alabama faithful said goodby to its first Heisman Trophy winning quarterback. 

1. Brandon Miller, Feb. 22, 2023, at South Carolina - If fans weren't impressed by Brandon Miller's performance on the road at Vanderbilt, he made sure to silence them in February in Columbia. 

Miller, in his first game after reporting placed him on the scene at the Jamea Harris murder, set his career high in scoring with 41 points, he also had eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks and one assist. 

The Crimson Tide needed every single one of Miller's buckets as the team largely played poorly. It took end of game heroics from the freshman to force the game into overtime and then at the end of overtime Miller again put the team on his shoulders and scored the game-winner.

See Also: 

Most Impactful Memory from the 2022-23 Athletic Calendar? Just A Minute

Alabama Baseball Introduces Rob Vaughn as the Program's 33rd Head Coach in Program History

The Joe Gaither Show on BamaCentral: Episode 17, June 13, 2023

Published
Joe Gaither
JOE GAITHER

My name is Joe Gaither, I am a native of Chattanooga, Tenn., and a 2018 graduate of the University of Alabama. I have a strong passion for sports and giving a voice to the underserved. Feel free to email me at joegaither6@icloud.com for tips, story ideas or comments.

Home/All Things Bama