Alabama has three players on Sports Illustrated’s preseason All-American team. There’s one each on offense, defense and special teams.
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley and defensive back Minkah Fizpatrick were both first team picks. Punter JK Scott was on the second team. Alabama was one of five schools with multiple players listed on the first team.
Ridley had 72 catches for 769 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore last year after posting 89 receptions for 1,045 yards and seven touchdowns as a freshman. He’s unquestioned Alabama’s top receiving target this year with the departure of O.J. Howard and ArDarius Stewart.
Fitzpatrick is working his way around the secondary in fall camp after playing Star as a freshman, then cornerback and safety as a sophomore. He was a first-team All-SEC pick by the media and coaches last year and picked up several All-American honors as a sophomore, including being named a first-team All-American by the AP. He has eight career interceptions, including six as a sophomore, and four of those have gone for touchdowns.
Scott is Alabama’s all-time leader in punting average. He averaged 47.2 yards per punt last season while being named first-team All-SEC and second-team All-America. Last year, 25 of his 64 total punts were dropped inside the 20, while 29 of his punts went for over 50 yards.
