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What a memorable career at Alabama for Alex Leatherwood.
It started in storybook fashion. After playing on the second team as a true freshman, Alex was forced into action in the second half of the 2017 national championship game when all-everything and future first round LT Jonah Williams went down. It would have been reasonable to consider Williams’ departure a death knell to the Tide’s championship dreams, but Alex came off the bench and played like a seasoned veteran, contributing to the legendary comeback.
Expectations were sky high for Alex coming into his sophomore season, but the Tide returned two first-round caliber starters at the tackle spots in Williams and Jedrick Wills Jr. Alex was clearly one of the best five linemen on the roster, however, so he slid inside to right guard for a season and played very well on an offense that was, at the time, the best in school history. He earned a second team All-SEC honor for his efforts.
Leatherwood flipped over to his natural spot at left tackle before his junior season and has been everything he was billed to be. The 2020 Alabama offense easily surpassed the 2018 version, and Leatherwood was a huge part of it. He was named a unanimous first team All-American and awarded the Outland Trophy for the nation’s best interior lineman, plus the Jacobs blocking trophy. He anchored an offensive line that was honored as a unit with the Joe Moore Award for best line in the nation.
Alex showed his leadership off the field as well. Last June, he penned an essay that was made into a video promoting unity as the nation reckoned with the death of George Floyd. That moment was the first sign that the 2020 team had something special, a maturity and togetherness that would likely lead them to greatness on the field, and Alex was a huge part of it.
He leaves Tuscaloosa with a degree, two national titles, and the aforementioned accolades. Well done, Alex, and thanks for the memories.
Enjoy some of his highlights below.
Roll Tide.