Alabama boasts six AP picks
Heisman Trophy f inalists Mac Jones and DeVonta Smith were selected to the AP All- America team, leading a contingent of six Alabama f irst- team selections, the most in the nation. Joining them are running back Najee Harris, tackle Alex Leatherwood, center Landon Dickerson and cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
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 f irst team. No. 4 Notre Dame, Alabama’s CFP opponent this weekend, has two f irst- team All- Americans in guard Aaron Banks and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu- Koramoah.
Florida’s Kyle Trask was selected second- team quarterback and fellow Heisman f inalist Trevor Lawrence of Clemson was the third- team quarterback.
Stanford wide receiver Simi Fehoko is skipping his senior season to enter the NFL draft. Fehoko f inished with 62 receptions for 1,146 yards and nine touchdowns in 22 games. He was named a f irst- team All- Pac- 12 player this season.
No. 10 Florida will be without its top four pass catchers in the Cotton Bowl against eighth- ranked Oklahoma. Receivers Trevon Grimes and Kadarius Toney said they are skipping the game to prepare for their NFL futures. Fellow receiver Jacob Copeland is also out after testing positive for COVID- 19 and All- American tight end Kyle Pitts opted out earlier.
Former Arkansas defensive lineman Loyd Phillips, an Outland Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, died from complications of a stroke, the school announced. The school said Phillips died Sunday. He was 75.
The NBA f ined Daryl Morey, the Philadelphia 76ers’ president of operations, $ 50,000 for a since- deleted tweet about Houston’s James Harden that violated the league’s anti- tampering rule. ... The Brooklyn Nets said guard Spencer Dinwiddie will have surgery to repair a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. ... The San Antonio Spurs are pushing back their plans to bring fans in for home games, something they were planning to do as early as Friday against the Lakers. ... Milwaukee Bucks reserve forward Torrey Craig fractured his nose during a loss to the New York Knicks on Sunday. The Bucks announced the severity of Craig’s injury Monday and said he won’t play Tuesday at Miami.
Henrik Lundqvist said he’s scheduled for openheart surgery for a condition that kept him from continuing to play goalie in the NHL after signing with the Washington Capitals. .... Chicago Blackhawks forward Kirby Dach could miss the upcoming season after undergoing surgery for a fractured right wrist. ... Former NHL MVP Corey Perry signed a oneyear contract with the Montreal Canadiens for $ 750,000.
The Texas Rangers signed Japanese pitcher Kohei Arihara to a $ 6.2- million, two- year contract.
With uncertainty over coronavirus sports restrictions in California, standout junior quarterback AJ Duffy of Moreno Valley Rancho Verde has decided to transfer to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., in February, said his father, Rancho Verde coach Pete Duffy.