Alabama Football 2016: Crimson Power Ranking-Week One

With one game of action under their belts, we now have a better feel for who are truly the best players on the team. Actually playing a game will do that, oddly enough. Despite that, it seems like the preseason rankings were actually fairly accurate, with only two players making it onto the list since just last week.

New to the list this week is a number in parentheses beside each name. This number represents that player’s position in the rankings from the week before.

The Crimson Power Ranking: Week One

1. DE-Jonathan Allen (1)
2. WLB-Reuben Foster (3)
3. CB-Marlon Humphrey (5)
4. WR-Calvin Ridley (2)
5. SLB-Ryan Anderson (8)
6. P-J.K. Scott (11)
7. SS-Eddie Jackson (4)
8. JACK-Tim Williams (6)
9. CB/STAR-Minkah Fitzpatrick (10)
10. WR-Ardarius Stewart (14)
11. RG-Ross Pierschbacher (7)
12. TE-O.J. Howard (12)
13. LT-Cam Robinson (9)
14. MLB-Shaun Hamilton (NR)
15. DE-Dalvin Tomlinson (13)
16. RB-Damien Harris (NR)

The best of the bunch

Last week, Jonathan Allen was an easy choice for the top player on the team. He defended both the field and his hold on the top spot with a two sack performance, but linebacker Reuben Foster came really close to topping him. Foster played phenomenally, showing his new "ferrari" speed, without losing any of the soul-crushing hitting power that he’s made his name with.

New faces

While many expected the athletically superior Rashaan Evans to supplant much of Shaun Hamilton’s playing time, Hamilton instead stepped up and played an outstanding game.

Sophomore running back Damien Harris also makes his debut after rushing for over 100 yards in his first game as a starter for Alabama.

In place of these two, left guard Lester Cotton and wide receiver Robert Foster both fell off the list. Foster, though nabbing quite a few snaps, was never even targeted. Cotton, for his part, did okay for his first start in college. At times, he looked like an absolute monster in the run game, but it was all-in-all an inconsistent performance.

Biggest risers

Punter J.K Scott was ranked 11th last week, but after booming multiple punts over 50 yards (including one that bounced out of bounds on the two yard line), he jumped five whole places to 6th overall.

Wide receiver ArDarius Stewart got open for two long touchdowns, plus took a jet sweep for 17 yards at the beginning of the game. The performance bumped him up four spots from 14th to 10th.

So close...

Rashaan Evans, Ronnie Harrison, and Lester Cotton are the next three in line after the list. With a good performance next week, any of these three could very likely make an appearance.

Freshmen?

Quite a few true freshmen got significant playing time in week one. Right tackle Jonah Williams has locked down the starting job and showed some talent, though with the expected freshman mistakes, and stands a good shot of getting onto the list sooner, rather than later.

Quarterback Jalen Hurts just may have won the starting job after pulling the team out of a first quarter offensive funk en route to a 52-point explosion. He showed some prowess in the running game while making two very impressive throws on his way to four total touchdowns. However, he also gave up two turnovers and only attempted 11 total passes. He looks to have the talent, but we need to see more from him before he gains a spot on the list.

Come back next week for the next installment in the Crimson Power Ranking series.

And vote below on who was left off the list that you think should be there.