Alabama Football: Crimson Tide and SEC Midseason All-Americans

Alabama football players were included in midseason All-America teams. As always the SEC was well represented with numerous players chosen.

There is an argument that midseason results matter little more than preseason All-America projections. But the recent midseason designated All-Americans are quite different from the players chosen in the preseason. For example, only six players selected by ESPN in the preseason made ESPN’s midseason All-America team.

The number of All-America teams grows each season. There are so many I’ve lost count. Only four are included in the details below. That is not to say others are not equally credible. The four are ESPN, CBS Sports, USA Today, and The Sporting News. For one reason that can be seen in the lists below, I considered excluding The Sporting News due to one glaring omission.

Only first-team players were selected by three of the four sources. ESPN named a first team and one Honorable Mention at each position.

Alabama Football Midseason All-Americans

• Dallas Turner – ESPN, CBS Sports, USA Today and Sporting News
• Kool-Aid McKinstry – CBS Sports, Sporting News
• Terrion Arnold – ESPN
• Will Reichard – ESPN, CBS Sports, USA Today
• Caleb Downs – Honorable Mention ESPN

About a week ago, Pro Football Focus published its midseason All-American team. The PFF group picked a first, second, and third team, plus honorable mentions. Given the deeper selection process, it is noteworthy that not a single Alabama football offensive player was recognized by PFF. PFF not including Tyler Booker, if only as an honorable mention is disappointing. By a broader definition of the position, Will Reichard can be considered an offensive player.

Other SEC Football Midseason All-Americans

• Georgia Bulldogs – Brock Bowers, Malaki Starks, Sedrick Van Pran
• LSU Bengal Tigers – Malik Nabers, Brian Thomas, Jayden Daniels (Honorable Mention)
• Missouri Tigers – Luther Burden, Kris Abrams-Draine (Honorable Mention)
• Kentucky Wildcats – Ray Davis
• Texas A&M Aggies – Edgerrin Cooper, Ainias Smith
• Tennessee Vols – James Pearce, Jaylin Wright (Honorable Mention)
• Vanderbilt Commodores – Matthew Hayball l(Honorable Mention)
• Auburn Tigers – Jaylin Simpson

Should Alabama football fans take the midseason All-America selections as slights to some Crimson Tide players? Or do they represent some flaws in recent recruiting cycles? My answers are yes and not really.