Two Alabama Players Land SEC Player of the Week Honors

Crimson Tide players win weekly honors following Alabama's tight victory at Ole Miss

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The Alabama Crimson Tide's Will Reichard and Byron Young both earned weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference on Monday morning. 

Reichard was named the league’s Special Teams Player of the Week while Young was the Defensive Lineman of the Week.

In addition to the announcement of Reichard and Young, the Alabama coaching staff also selected 11 Crimson Tide players to be honored as Players of the Week following the team's 30-24 win at Ole Miss over the weekend.

On offense, offensive lineman Emil Ekiyor Jr., running back Jase McClellan and quarterback Bryce Young were the three players selected. 

On defense, five players were selected: outside linebacker Will Anderson Jr., linebacker Henry To'oTo'o, lineman Byron Young and defensive backs Brian Branch and DeMarcco Hellams were named.

On special teams, the Crimson Tide coaches selected punter James Burnip, placekicker Will Reichard and defensive back Malachi Moore, who was selected for his efforts in kickoff coverage.

Here are the accomplishments of the SEC Players of the Week, followed by the full press release from the 11 Alabama Coaches Players of the Week:

SEC Players of the Week - Alabama

Special Teams Player of the Week

Will Reichard

• Second SEC weekly award this season
• Totaled 12 points to help the Tide come away with the victory over the 11th-ranked Rebels
• Connected on all three PATs along with a trio of field goal attempts, hitting from 39, 23 and 49 yards
• All three field goals game in the second half with the final two accounting for the only points between both teams in the fourth quarter
• Also kicked off seven times for 430 yards with two touchbacks

Defensive Lineman of the Week

Byron Young

• First career weekly award from the league office
• Dominated up front in the return to his home state
• Tied for the team lead in tackles with a career-high 11
• Collected two sacks (-9 yards) in the game, doubling his season total to four (-16)
• Also added two quarterback pressures, a pass breakup and a forced fumble to his stat line

Alabama Coaching Staff Selects 11 Players of the Week following Top-15 Win at Ole Miss

Three apiece on offense and special teams along with five on defense were recognized.

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama coaching staff selected 11 players of the week following the Crimson Tide’s comeback win at then-No. 11/11/9 Ole Miss last weekend. Emil Ekiyor Jr., Jase McClellan and Bryce Young on offense; Will Anderson Jr., Brian Branch, DeMarcco Hellams, Henry To’oTo’o and Byron Young on defense; and James Burnip, Malachi Moore and Will Reichard on special teams were all selected for their efforts in Oxford.

OFFENSE

Emil Ekiyor Jr.

• Helped the Crimson Tide control the line of scrimmage for the final two-and-a-half quarters of play in Oxford
• Did not allow a sack or quarterback hit on 33 pass attempts
• Recorded a team-best three knockdown blocks in the running game

Jase McClellan

• Took on the lead running back role for the Tide and excelled against the Rebels
• Rushed a career-high 19 times for 84 yards, including a tone-setting 12-yard run where he broke tackles and carried defenders for a first down
• Added one reception out of the backfield

Bryce Young

• Orchestrated an Alabama comeback on the road, overcoming a 10-point deficit at two separate points on the day for the eventual win
• Threw for three touchdowns and 209 yards on 21-of-33 passing
• Also rushed seven times for 27 yards, converting a pair of first downs across his four true rushes
  
  

DEFENSE

Will Anderson Jr.

• Provided consistent pressure up front all afternoon
• Finished with four tackles, including one sack (-7 yards)
  

Brian Branch

• Was flying all over the field against the Rebels
• Totaled eight tackles, including a team-high tying two for loss (-6 yards)
• Also added a game-saving pass breakup on Ole Miss’ fourth down play with under a minute to go

DeMarcco Hellams

• Made numerous key stops in the run game to stop the Rebels from big gains
• Tied for the team lead in tackles with 11 by day’s end

Henry To’oTo’o

• Recorded seven tackles from his middle linebacker post
• Directed an Alabama defense that limited the high-powered Ole Miss offense to just seven points after half
  

Byron Young

• Dominated up front in the return to his home state
• Tied for the team lead in tackles with a career-high 11, including two sacks (-9 yards)
• Added two quarterback pressures, a pass breakup and forced a fumble to his stat line
  
  

SPECIAL TEAMS

James Burnip

• Called on to punt four times for 176 yards
• Averaged 44.0 yards per boot with a long of 51
• Dropped one kick inside the Rebels’ 20 and did not allow a return on any of his kicks

Malachi Moore

• Posted one tackle on kickoff coverage, downing the Ole Miss returner at the 15-yard line just before half to send the Tide to the locker room with momentum
• Also saw time in the defensive secondary on the afternoon
  

Will Reichard

• Totaled 12 points to help the Tide come away with the victory over the 11th-ranked Rebels
• Connected on all three PATs along with a trio of field goal attempts, hitting from 39, 23 and 49 yards
• Also kicked off seven times for 430 yards with two touchbacks