Jumbo Package: Tua leads as Tide clean up individual awards

Happy Friday, everyone. You’ve made it through the first of four weeks without Alabama football. Last night was college football’s big awards show on ESPN, and the Tide cleaned up. Of course, Tua Tagovailoa was there in a boot and rolling around on a scooter.

Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban, speaking at a news conference Thursday for the four College Football Playoff head coaches, said Tagovailoa might be ready to practice during the first week of the team’s preparation for its semifinal in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma. Alabama begins practice Dec. 14.

”I think Tua is right on schedule,” Saban said. “The procedure they did usually takes two weeks for a guy to be able to have any explosive movement, and then they go from there. So we’ll see how he progresses from there. But we’re pleased with the progress that he’s made to this point.”

Hear that, recruits? Tua sprains his ankle so the University flies the best athletic trainer in the world with him on the awards circuit, in a private jet so that he can get proper treatment during the flight.

Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley has taken notice of Alabama’s culture.

“The thing I’ve seen so far, and I don’t want to act like an expert on that program I’m not in those walls day to day,” Riley siad, “but you see the unselfishness in that program. The most obvious notable example is Jalen Hurts. How he handled that entire situation...Every kid, every college football player in the country, every young football player out there, every six-year-old getting ready to play the game ought to see that story. Because we need more guys like him.”

I mean, we don’t have any QBs doing stupid stuff like grabbing their junk toward the opposing sideline, so I’m sure it is refreshing for Lincoln.

Lost in the ascension of Quinnen Williams is Jonah Williams, who went from being almost a shoo-in for the Outland Trophy to merely a historical footnote.

So, for those counting, Alabama has the best overall player in Tua, plus the best WR, OL and DL in the country. It’s really good to be king, y’all.

Even the freshmen are getting some love.

Four Crimson Tide members have been named to the SEC All-Freshman team, the league announced Thursday. Those players are wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, linebacker EyabiAnoma, defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis and defensive back Patrick Surtain II.

“That ‘crootin’ class wuz disappointin’ Pawwwl.”

Hey, multiple sources are saying Gattis might stay!

This would be fantastic news.

Unfortunately, the news on Terrell Lewis may not be.

“Right now, I feel really good as far as moving-wise and stuff like that, but I can tell it’s still a little bit of lack of strength as far as comparing it to this other leg,” said Lewis, who had a preseason first-round grade from at least one of the NFL’s scouting services.

That’s not to say Lewis won’t be back.

It’s just too early to tell whether that’s realistic or not.

“It’s not really all up to me,” Lewis said. “It’s mainly the doctors’ decision. Right now, I’m moving good and stuff like that. They’re really mainly focused on how explosive and powerful I’ll be when I get back out there. They don’t really want to chance it if it’s not working, like a risk-reward situation.”

Why’d you go and get us all stirred up over nothing, 24?

A little recruiting talk:

Thompson quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, younger brother of Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, echoed similar sentiments.

“We are going to go in there head-first and we are going to continue to work hard and I know they are going to get two fine young men and we are going to show respect, love and honor and we are still going to be us,” Tagovailoa said. “Amari is still going to be Amari, and I am still going to Lia and whatever our future holds we are just going to attack it.”

Lia sounds just like his brother. Great family. Saban also had his in-home with #1 overall recruit, DE Kayvon Thibodeaux from California, last night. It’s tough to get a read on that kid. Most have him picking between Alabama and Oregon, but FSU seemingly isn’t out of the mix. He is expected to enroll early.

Last, did you see what Derrick Henry did last night?

It’s been an odd, often frustrating year for Derrick Henry. Coming into last night, he had five total touchdowns in 13 games with a high of 58 yards on the ground. Last night, though? A whopping 17 carries for 238 yards while matching Al Bundy’s legendary Polk High performance with four TDs. Beast mode, indeed.

That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend.

Roll Tide.