Tide boast 6 AP All-americans
5 Alabama players on 1st-team offense, plus CB Surtain II
Heisman Trophy finalists Mac Jones and Devonta Smith have been selected to The Associated Press Allamerica team, leading a contingent of five Alabama players on the first-team offense.
Crimson Tide running back Najee Harris, tackle Alex Leatherwood and center Landon Dickerson are also first-team selections. No. 1 Alabama is the first team since 1980, when the AP All-america team began featuring two wide receivers and two running backs, to place a quarterback, running back and receiver on the first team.
Cornerback Patrick Surtain II gives the Crimson Tide six first-team selections, the most in the nation. No. 4 Notre Dame, Alabama’s College Football Playoff opponent this weekend, has two first-team All-americans in offensive guard Aaron Banks and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-koramoah.
Florida: The No. 10 Gators will be without its top four pass catchers in the Cotton Bowl against eighthranked Oklahoma. Receivers Trevon Grimes and Kadarius Toney announced Monday they are skipping the game in Arlington, Texas, to prepare for their NFL futures. Fellow receiver Jacob Copeland announced he won’t make the trip after testing positive for COVID-19. All-american tight end Kyle Pitts opted out of the bowl hours after the Southeastern Conference championship game.
Stanford: Wide receiver Simi Fehoko is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. He finished his Stanford career with 62 receptions for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns in 22 games.
Obituary: Former Arkansas defensive lineman Loyd Philips, an Outland Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, has died from complications of a stroke, the school announced. The school said Phillips died Sunday. He was 75. A three-time All-southwest Conference selection from 196466, Phillips was a key member of a defense that shut out the Razorbacks’ last five opponents of the 1964 regular season.