Tide Receiver Is SEC Frosh Honoree

It should come as a surprise to no one that Alabama has the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week. The big question was whether it would go to a big time tailback or a record-setting wide receiver.

It was not a big upset that the SEC has selected Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper as the Freshman of the Week following number one ranked Bama’s 44-13 romp over Tennessee in Knoxville. Another Tide freshman, tailback T.J. Yeldon, had a pretty good day, too, with 15 carries for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Cooper, though, was the correct choice. Alabama has had a lot of good freshmen wide receivers over the years, and Cooper set a Crimson Tide record for first year players with his 162 yards on seven receptions. He had two touchdown catches, one on a 23-yard pass, the other from 42 yards.

Cooper leads the Tide in receptions (28), receiving yards (425), and touchdown catches (5).

His 15.18 yards per catch is third among all freshmen in NCAA major college football.

One reason Cooper had such a great game (and vice versa) is that Bama quarterback A.J. McCarron completed 17 of 22 passes for a career-high 306 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions against the Vols.

McCarron, who received mention for SEC player of the week honors, leads the nation in pass efficiency as he has 16 touchdown passes (equaling what he had all last season) and no interceptions.