RBR Alabama Football A-Day Spring Game Awards

Alabama fans were treated to an entertaining spring A-Day game as the Crimson defeated the White 27-24 on a 30-yard field goal by punter JK Scott as time expired. Many players had outstanding performances. Below are the Roll Bama Roll writers' picks for the best.

VOTING

MVP

JALEN HURTS

Winner: Hurts played a solid game against the #1 Bama defense. He was 16-25 for 301 yards with 2 TDs and an INT. He added 29 rushing yards on 11 attempts but that yardage number may have been much higher in a real game where two-hand touch does not stop play.
Runner-ups: Jerry Jeudy, Minkah Fitzpatrick
Comments: Cyndee sez - MVP: the group of NFL players and recent soon to be NFL grads who showed up to watch the game and support the team. How good does that look to recruits?
OWB sez - Hurts showed marked improvement in his downfield passing as advertised. Though he still struggled with moving on to his second and third reads at times, there was definite progress.
DoctorWhosOnFirst sez - I don't fully blame the pick on Hurts.  It was on the money to Forristall, who just wasn't expecting the pass.  He threw the downfield ball well, completing three passes of at least 50 yards.  He checked down instead of forcing passes.  He also reminded everyone how much of a threat he is on the ground.

Offensive Player of Game

JERRY JEUDY

Winner: Not only did true freshman wide receiver catch 5 balls for a game-high 134 yards and 2 TDs, he did so in spectacular fashion.
Runner-ups: Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa.
Comments: Erik sez - The last freshman receiver we saw in Crimson that was this polished won the Biletnikoff and finished 3rd in Heisman balloting. Jeudy's hands, body control, speed and route running were known, but he also flashed a surprising bit of power.

Thank goodness there is no QB tackling at #Alabama A-Day. Keith Holcombe would've put Tua Tagovailoa in the hospital on that play.

— C B (@CB969onRBR) April 22, 2017

Defensive Player of Game

MINKAH FITZPATRICK & KEITH HOLCOMBE (tie)

Winner: Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (5 solos, 2 asst, TFL, PassBrkUp) patrolled the defensive backfield while linebacker Keith Holcombe (3 solos, 7 asst, 2 sacks) was a magnet to the football.
Runner-ups: Quinnen Williams, Terrell Hall, Rashaan Evans, Christian Miller.
Comments: Ben sez - Hard to say as the Defense was constrained, but Minkah was always where he needed to be. Can't ask for much more.
OWB sez - Rashaan Evans was all over the place (seven tackles, two sacks). Saban used him on the edge as a rusher, he played well in coverage (aside from a PI call), and he was solid enough against the run in the middle. Evans, along with Shaun Dion Hamilton, will be Bama’s bell cow ‘backers, and the super-talented Evans proved today that he can be counted upon.

Freshman Player of Game

JERRY JEUDY

Winner: The true freshman receiver turns 18 years old on Monday.
Runner-up: Tua Tagovailoa
Comments: OWB sez - Jeudy was explosive and impressive in his first public performance in Tuscaloosa. He was billed as an Amari Cooper-type talent, and with several circus catches, he proved he has the kind of hands that made Coop the best in the business. But he also showed a physical streak not unlike another Tide receiving legend, Julio Jones.
Erik sez - Tua Tagovailoa looked immortal against a second team defense handicapped by Spring game rules. Facing an SEC starting defense, the southpaw freshman looked more like a Freshman, including his time with the starters with two three-and-outs and a pick-six. Ouch. Still, he is going to be a superstar and will see the field this year.
CB sez - Definitely Jeudy but Najee Harris (17 rushes 70 yds, no negative plays) quietly had a solid outing despite running behind the second team O-line. He was impressive catching the ball as well (3 rec, 37 yds). Get him in space behind a first team offense and watch him go.

Most Improved

JALEN HURTS & KEITH HOLCOMBE (tie)

Winner: Holcombe is looking more like a starter than a special teams player. After an outstandinf freshman year, Hurts seeks to improve his game.
Runner-ups: Matt Womack, Mack Wilson, Jonah Williams
Comments: OWB sez - Holcombe has always been a gritty, hard-nosed role player who contributed on special teams and wherever he was asked to play. But this year, with so many veterans leaving the Tide defense for the NFL, Holcombe will have a chance as a starter on the Tide’s interior linebacking corps. Holcombe is smart and physical, and he is rarely out of position. He is poised to become a leader in the middle, and he has the style of play to become a stabilizing force in the heart of the Tide’s young defensive interior.
Erik sez - Jonah Williams. How does one exactly improve upon a Freshman All-American campaign? By moving to the left side of the line, routinely taking on two defenders in run blocking and keeping Jalen Hurts' jersey cleaner than a nun's mouth. This is your 2017 Outland Trophy winner.
DrWho sez - With Shaun Dion Hamilton out, Holcombe got to run with the first team defense at inside linebacker, and he exceeded expectations.  As I mentioned above, he led the team with 10 tackles; and he showed off some pass-rushing ability with two sacks.  He also rushed several other times that didn't result in sacks but did generate pressure.  Hamilton should be back for the fall, but Holcombe is showing he's ready to step up if needed.

Business as usual at Alabama. pic.twitter.com/W4YBAGDDy5

— Will Ogburn (@geauxsohard) April 22, 2017

Play of the Day

TERRELL HALL'S PICK-SIX.

Winner: Hall showed amazing athleticism to grab the pass in midair and stroll into the end zone untouched.
Runner-ups: 65 yds to Robert Foster in the first quarter. Jerry Jeudy’s catch off the carom for a TD in the first quarter.
Comments: Cyndee sez - Hall's pick six will remind Tua of the speed of defenses in SEC.
Brent sez - runner up is Tua Tagovailoa’s pass the T.J. Simmons who makes a one handed, juggling grab for the TD. Third place goes to the tip drill touchdown pass to Jerry Jeudy.
DrWho sez - Tagovailoa's touchdown passes to Jerry Jeudy. The playaction sucked in safety Daniel Wright, leaving Aaron Robinson in one-on-one coverage with Jeudy. Tagovailoa identified it and knew he was going to Jeudy. Tua placed it perfectly, and Jeudy snagged the contested ball. To Robinson's credit, he was actually in solid position and almost knocked it away; but the pass and catch were just that good.