SEC to honor scholarships for athletes who choose not to compete this fall
The Southeastern Conference announced Friday that all student-athletes who decide to not participate during the 2020 fall semester because of health or safety concerns due to the coronavirus will continue to have their scholarships honored by their universities and will remain in good standing with their teams.
“SEC universities are committed to full support of its student-athletes, whether or not a student-athlete decides to participate in sports during these uncertain times,” league commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement. “SEC student-athletes have frequently expressed their desire to compete, but it is important for student-athletes and their families to know the financial support committed to them by their institutions will not be at risk because of health concerns presented by the current pandemic.”
Sankey added that the SEC will continue to monitor developments related to COVID-19 to determine if the policy should be extended to the 2021 spring semester.
CRIMSON TIDE PICKS UP IMPRESSIVE COMMITMENTS
Alabama’s latest football commitments rank among the most impressive in the Nick Saban era, which obviously is saying something.
Twin brothers Tommy and James Brockermeyer, the nation’s top offensive tackle and top center prospects on the 247Sports.com composite rankings, announced nonbinding pledges Friday to the Crimson Tide. They are the sons of Blake Brockermeyer, a 1994 All-American tackle with the Texas Longhorns who became a first-round pick of the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1995 and started for both the Panthers (1995-98) and the Chicago Bears (1999-2001).
The Brockermeyer twins are from Fort Worth, Texas, and selected Alabama over Auburn, LSU and Texas.
They took unofficial visits to Alabama and Auburn in early February.
Both Brockermeyers made their announcements via Twitter with “Committed” messages followed by “Roll Tide” references.
Tommy, a 6-foot-6, 283-pounder who missed his entire junior season at All Saints Episcopal due to a labrum injury, is the nation’s No. 5 overall prospect. He is on track to become the fourth top tackle prospect nationally to sign with the Crimson Tide in the last eight years, joining Cam Robinson (2014 class), Alex Leatherwood (2017) and Evan Neal (2019).
James, a 6-3, 273-pounder, is the No. 188 prospect overall.
The twins have an older brother, Luke, who is a redshirt sophomore linebacker for the Longhorns and played in two games last season.
Alabama now has 14 commitments for the 2021 cycle and vaulted to sixth in the 247Sports.com team rankings, trailing the top five of Ohio State, North Carolina, Tennessee, LSU and Oregon.
VOLS DISMISS DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Tennessee senior defensive lineman Emmit Gooden has been dismissed from the program following a Thursday arrest on the charge of felony domestic assault.
The 6-foot-3, 290-pound Gooden missed last season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament he sustained in August. He was expected to challenge for a starting role this year.
Knoxville’s WBIR was the first to report Gooden’s arrest. Citing court records, WBIR reported that Gooden smashed a glass jar candle into the left side of the female victim’s head and that she was taken to University of Tennessee Medical Center, where she received sutures.
Gooden played at Haywood High School in Brownsville, Tennessee, before starting his college career at Independence (Kansas) Community College, where he was featured on the Netfilx series “Last Chance U.” He was an NJCAA second-team All-American in 2017, when he amassed 81 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
After signing with Tennessee, Gooden tallied 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss and a sack for the 2018 Volunteers. His first career start occurred in the 2018 season finale at Vanderbilt.
Gooden is the second Tennessee player to be dismissed this summer, following senior running back Tim Jordan, who was arrested in Florida on drug and gun charges in late May.