Jumbo Package: Gump Day!

I’m currently writing this in the midst of a hurricane. So if it goes unfinished, don’t blame me. Ask Josh for a refund.

Tua Tagovailoa is spreading the wealth for Alabama

“He’s just giving us the opportunity to make plays,” Jeudy said. “It’s very important to get everybody involved so that it will mess up the defense so they don’t know he will throw it to, who they should keep an eye on. It will just mess up the defense.”

Louisville will attest to that. So too will Georgia. Last January, Tagovailoa carried out the same democratic approach during the comeback he led in the national championship game eight months ago. Tagovailoa targeted nine different players, injecting life into an offense that grew stagnant and one-dimensional under Hurts’ command.

”It’s always good to get the ball,” Smith Jr. said. “But whatever is good for the team. Nobody is really selfish on this team.”

That’s because with Tagovailoa at the helm, everyone knows they’ll get theirs.

I’ll give you heathens one piece about the QBs, and that’s it. There are 21 other starters on the team that we can talk about. That said, judging by the comments in this article, it seems the receiving group is definitely saying that Tagovailoa has won their loyalty. Here’s to a fun fall ahead of us.

Alabama practice report: A few notes on LBs, injuries

-- It looked like Mack Wilson was practicing after a light day Monday. He hurt his foot against Louisville but said he will be just fine moving forward.

-- Freshman linebacker Jarez Parks was not spotted for the second straight day. No word on why he’s been out.

-- Freshman middle linebacker Ale Kaho was shadowing Markail Benton with the second-team defense running through some plays.

We’re in the part of the season where the media is barely allowed to see anything during practices. The case of Jarez Parks is a little curious. With such a dearth of linebackers, I’d have expected us to have heard his name somewhere other than the missing list by now. Freshmen Eyabi Anoma, Cameron Latu, and Ale Kaho all got a few snaps of playing time in Saturday’s blowout, but there was no sign of Parks, who’s been on the team longer than all three of them.

How Alabama transfers performed over the weekend

Aaron Robinson was carted off the field with an apparent neck injury on the opening kickoff. The South Florida native is expected to be ok.

The Crimson Tide has a total of 17 former players still competing at the college level, many of which are starters at their new schools. Alabama has signed seven of the last eight No. 1-ranked recruiting classes, according to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Team Recruiting Rankings. With competition at every position group year in and year out with influx of talent, not every member of each signing class has seen their entire career through at the Capstone. Each week BamaOnLine takes a look at how all of Alabama’s former players fared over the weekend at their new homes. Here’s how they did this past weekend.

I actually just happened to be watching the UCF game when Robinson went down. It’s good to hear he’s okay and should be back in action soon. Though only a three star recruit, I was always impressed by his tenacity in press coverage, even if it may have led to his fair share of pass interferences in the future.

BOL also has notes on all of Alabama’s transfers still in college ranks. Blake Barnett in particular has a nice debut for South Florida.

Alabama Continues Atop Associated Press Poll

Bama’s No.1 spot marks the 105th time since the poll’s inception in 1936 that the Tide has been first, which ties Ohio State in that category.

Alabama can take over the record with a win this week over Arkansas State, which received one vote for No.25 in this week’s ranking. Teams are given points based on 25 for a first place vote, 24 for second, etc.

Bama and Arkansas State meet at 2:30 p.m. CDT Satuday in Bryant-Denny Stadium (ESPN2 televising).

In one week, the Tide will overtake Ohio State for a program record in AP 1st place finishes. This is how things should be. I want all the records before Saban leaves.

Week 1 Power Rankings: Can anyone catch Alabama and Clemson?

3. Auburn

Week 1 result: Defeated Washington 21-16

What’s next: vs. Alabama State (Saturday, 7:30 pm. ET, SECN)

Tap the brakes on a potential Alabama-Georgia rematch in the SEC championship game. Auburn’s ferocious defensive front is going to be a challenge for anyone it plays.

Auburn manages to slip past an overrated Washington team from a weak conference, and the Barners are already being heralded as the third best team in the nation by ESPN’s reckoning.

Notre Dame is just behind at #4, so we know the preseason national champs media is in full swing at the moment. If Texas hadn’t gone out and managed to lose on opening weekend, they’d probably be up to #5 too.

That’s it for today. For those of you around the Gulf Coast, stay safe out there. It’s wet.

Roll Tide