Coaches Select Seven For Honors

The Alabama football coaching staff has selected seven Crimson Tide players as recipients of the Player of the Week awards following the team’s 17-12 loss at Mississippi State on Saturday. Two offensive, two defensive and three special teams players earned the honors for their performances against the Bulldogs.

On offense, senior wide receiver D.J. Hall and sophomore tackle Andre Smith were chosen by the Alabama staff. Hall had a team-high five catches in the game for 46 yards. Smith helped the Tide rush for 153 yards and the line allowed only one sack in the game.

The defensive honorees included a pair of linebackers, senior Darren Mustin and junior Ezekial Knight. Mustin led the team with seven tackles at MSU, while Knight tallied five tackles, including one for 9-yard loss in the game.

The special teams had three honorees, highlighted by a record day for placekicker Leigh Tiffin. Tiffin went 4-of-4 on field goals against Mississippi State, making attempts from 29, 39, 50 and 51 yards. He has now made nine consecutive field goal attempts, and the 51-yarder in the first quarter was the ninth-longest field goal in school history. Tiffin joined his father, Van, as the only kickers in Tide history to make two 50-yard kicks in a single game.

Punter P.J. Fitzgerald also had a career day against the Bulldogs. Fitzgerald boomed four punts for 179 yards, including a long of 56 in the game. Two of his punts were downed inside of the MSU 20-yard line. His 44.8 average punt yardage was the highest single-game average of his career.

Joining the two kickers for special teams player of the week honors was linebacker Eryk Anders. Anders recorded a career-high two tackles on special teams in the loss.

Alabama returns to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday in its home finale. The Tide hosts Louisiana Monroe at 1:30 p.m. (CST). The game will not be televised.