Alabama Football: Championship pedigree aids Eagles

In this year’s Super Bowl matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs undoubtedly have more Super Bowl experience. The Chiefs are appearing in their third Super Bowl in the last four years, winning the big game in 2020 and losing in 2021. Conversely, the Philadelphia Eagles have not been to the Super Bowl since 2018. Much of its roster has changed since then, and all four of its former Alabama football players were still in college when that game was played.

Still, the Eagles do not lack championship pedigree. Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, and Josh Jobe were all developed in a winning culture in Tuscaloosa before representing Philadelphia. This quartet won a combined five national championships for Alabama football.

Alabama Football Culture: Why Philadelphia Eagles will win the Super Bowl

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has been through well-documented trials and tribulations. He has maturity beyond his years, and is built to succeed in this high-pressure game. Throughout his football career, Hurts has faced as many doubters as any starting quarterback in Super Bowl history. In spite of it all, he just keeps proving people wrong. Perhaps more importantly, he just keeps winning.

Jalen Hurts became the starting quarterback for Alabama football during his freshman year, which was unprecedented under Coach Nick Saban. Despite compiling a 26-2 record as a starter, Hurts is remembered for being replaced by Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama. He then transferred to Oklahoma, where he led the Sooners to a College Football Playoff appearance. It was Hurts’ fourth playoff appearance in as many seasons.

Through all the conflict and controversy, all Jalen Hurts has ever known is winning. The Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t have a better leader behind center in this year’s Super Bowl.

Alabama Football: DeVonta Smith built for the spotlight

Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith was born to play in big games. Smith, the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, is a consistent player who always shows up and makes plays. Still, he finds a way to take his game to another level when the lights are brightest.

DeVonta Smith showed his clutch gene early in his college career. He only made eight receptions as a freshman in 2017, but two of those grabs went for game-winning touchdowns. He first beat Mississippi State on a quick slant from (guess who), Jalen Hurts. Just two months later, Smith caught a walk-off touchdown to beat Georgia and give Nick Saban his fifth national championship at Alabama.

For the next three years, Smitty would be a key piece of the Alabama offense. As a sophomore, he had his best game in Alabama’s Orange Bowl CFB Playoff win over Oklahoma, recording 104 receiving yards and a touchdown.

As a junior in 2019, DeVonta Smith was an All-SEC receiver. He went for 274 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Ole Miss, and almost single-handedly carried the Tide to a win over the eventual national champion LSU Tigers. Smith gained 213 receiving yards and scored two touchdowns against LSU, in what was essentially a de facto national championship game.

As a senior in 2020, Smith went off in just about every game. Still, he had some of his best games on the biggest stages. DeVonta Smith went for 160+ yards in back-to-back tough showdowns against Ole Miss and Georgia. Later in the year, he notched 231 yards and three scores in a marquee matchup with LSU cornerback Derek Stingley. He made 15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns in a shootout victory over Florida in the SEC Championship.

In the College Football Playoff, DeVonta Smith upped his game even more. He finished with 130 receiving yards and three touchdowns against Notre Dame, and then outdid himself in the National Championship against Ohio State. The last time Smitty played for a championship, he put on a clinic, racking up 239 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in just over a half. The Chiefs can only hope that version of the Slim Reaper doesn’t show up in Glendale.

Alabama Football: Landon Dickerson’s undeniable heart

Landon Dickerson approaches the game of football with the grit and championship mentality necessary to get a ring. Dickerson was the emotional leader of Alabama’s 2020 offensive line, which won the Joe Moore Award.

He tore his ACL in the fourth quarter of the SEC championship game and was ruled out for the playoffs, yet still suited up for the national championship. Though Dickerson couldn’t play in the game, he took the field in the game’s final minutes to snap the ball as the Tide kneeled out the clock.

Though he was physically unable to perform, Landon Dickerson still showed up for his teammates. His leadership status never wavered, and he will have to carry that intangible value into the Super Bowl as he battles an elbow injury that knocked him out of the NFC Championship. While he will play in the Super Bowl, he may not be at full strength.

Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, and Landon Dickerson give the Philadelphia Eagles a fantastic young trio with a championship pedigree. Should the Eagles win this evening, it will mark the 11th straight season in which a former Alabama football player won a Super Bowl ring.