2019 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the Crimson Tide's 125th overall season, 86th as a member of the Southeastern Conference, and 28th within the SEC's Western Division. They played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and were led by 13th-year head coach Nick Saban.
The defending national runners-up, Alabama began the season ranked second in the AP Poll, and were the favorites to repeat as SEC Champions. The Crimson Tide won their first seven games of the year handily, and rose to first in the AP Poll. They were ranked third in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings heading into an anticipated match-up against second-ranked LSU, which Alabama lost 46–41. The next week, Alabama lost starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a season-ending hip injury in the game against Mississippi State. They finished the regular season with a 48–45 upset loss to cross-state rival Auburn.
With a regular season record of 10–2, Alabama was not selected for the College Football Playoff for the first time since the inception of the format in 2014. The Crimson Tide were also not invited to a New Year's Six bowl game, making this the first season since 2010 that Alabama was not selected to a NY6 or BCS bowl. They were instead invited to the Citrus Bowl, where they defeated Michigan.
Tagovailoa, at the time of his injury, was considered a candidate for the Heisman Trophy and was on pace to break his own NCAA FBS passer rating record. He was replaced by backup Mac Jones for the remainder of the season. Running back Najee Harris led the team with 1,224 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns, tied for the SEC lead. Receivers Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith were both named All-SEC. On defense, the team was led by first-team all-conference players linebacker Anfernee Jennings and safety Xavier McKinney. Nine Alabama players were selected in the 2020 NFL Draft, including No. 5 overall selection Tua Tagovailoa.
Previous season
In 2018, Alabama went undefeated in the regular season and won the 2018 SEC Championship Game over Georgia. The Crimson Tide entered the College Football Playoff as the number one seed, winning the semi-final played at the Orange Bowl over Oklahoma before falling to Clemson in the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship.Offseason
Position key
Offseason departures
Seven Alabama players with remaining eligibility declared early for the 2019 NFL Draft. In addition, 14 seniors from the 2018 team graduated.| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Notes |
| Josh Jacobs | #8 | RB | 5'10 | 216 | Junior | Tulsa, OK | Declared for 2019 NFL Draft |
| Irv Smith Jr. | #82 | TE | 6'4 | 241 | Junior | New Orleans, LA | Declared for 2019 NFL Draft |
| Jonah Williams | #73 | OL | 6'5 | 301 | Junior | Folsom, CA | Declared for 2019 NFL Draft |
| Quinnen Williams | #92 | DL | 6'4 | 295 | RS Sophomore | Birmingham, AL | Declared for 2019 NFL Draft |
| Saivion Smith | #4 | CB | 6'1 | 201 | Junior | Tampa, FL | Declared for 2019 NFL Draft |
| Deionte Thompson | #14 | S | 6'2 | 196 | RS Junior | Orange, TX | Declared for 2019 NFL Draft |
| Mack Wilson | #30 | LB | 6'2 | 238 | Junior | Montgomery, AL | Declared for 2019 NFL Draft |
| Isaiah Buggs | #49 | DL | 6'5 | 286 | Senior | Ruston, LA | Graduated |
| Joshua Casher | #67 | OL | 6'1 | 290 | Senior | Mobile, AL | Graduated |
| Ronnie Clark | #5 | RB | 6'2 | 230 | Senior | Calera, AL | Graduated |
| Lester Cotton Sr. | #66 | OL | 6'4 | 325 | Senior | Tuscaloosa, AL | Graduated |
| Johnny Dwight | #95 | DL | 6'3 | 301 | Senior | Rochelle, GA | Graduated |
| Damien Harris | #34 | RB | 5'11 | 215 | Senior | Richmond, KY | Graduated |
| Hale Hentges | #84 | TE | 6'5 | 254 | Senior | Jefferson City, MO | Graduated |
| Austin Jones | #29 | PK | 5'10 | 215 | Senior | Orlando, FL | Graduated |
| Derek Kief | #81 | WR | 6'4 | 204 | Senior | Cincinnati, OH | Graduated |
| Xavian Marks | #19 | WR | 5'8 | 174 | Senior | Rosenberg, TX | Graduated |
| Christian Miller | #47 | LB | 6'4 | 244 | Senior | Columbia, SC | Graduated |
| Jamey Mosley | #16 | LB | 6'5 | 239 | Senior | Mobile, AL | Graduated |
| Ross Pierschbacher | #71 | OL | 6'4 | 309 | Senior | Cedar Falls, IA | Graduated |
Recruiting
Alabama's 2019 recruiting class consisted of 27 recruits, 15 of which enrolled early. Alabama had the highest ranked class in the nation according to 247Sports.com and ESPN, and had the second best class behind Georgia according to Rivals.com. The class was ranked No. 1 by the 247Sports Composite, which aggregates the ratings of the major recruiting services. Headlining the class were consensus top-10 recruits Antonio Alfano, Trey Sanders, and Evan Neal.Transfers
Outgoing| Name | No. | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | New school |
| Jalen Hurts | #2 | QB | 6'2 | 225 | Junior | Channelview, Texas | Oklahoma |
| Richie Petitbon | #72 | OT | 6'5 | 310 | Junior | Washington, DC | Illinois |
| Layne Hatcher | #18 | QB | 6'0 | 212 | RS Freshman | Little Rock, Arkansas | Arkansas State |
| Kyriq McDonald | #16 | DB | 5'11 | 197 | RS Freshman | Madison, Alabama | Cincinnati |
| Kedrick James | #45 | TE | 6'5 | 260 | RS Junior | Waco, Texas | SMU |
| Scott Meyer | #18 | QB | 6'2 | 232 | RS Junior | Alpharetta, Georgia | Vanderbilt |
| Eyabi Anoma | #9 | LB | 6'5 | 252 | Sophomore | Baltimore, Maryland | Houston |
Incoming
| Name | No. | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Prev. school |
| Landon Dickerson | #69 | OL | 6'6 | 308 | 2019 | Hickory, N.C. | Florida State |
Returning starters
OffenseDefense
Special Teams
Spring game
The 2019 Crimson Tide held spring practices in March and April. The 2019 Alabama football spring game, "A-Day" took place in Tuscaloosa, AL on April 13, 2019, at 1 p.m. CST with the White team beating the Crimson team 31–17. Freshman WR John Metchie was named A-Day MVP after hauling in five catches for a game-high 133 receiving yards. White team QB Mac Jones led all passers, completing 19 of 23 passes for 271 yards.Preseason
Award watch lists
Listed in the order that they were released| Lott Trophy | Dylan Moses | LB | JR |
| Maxwell Award | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | JR |
| Maxwell Award | Najee Harris | RB | JR |
| Maxwell Award | Jerry Jeudy | WR | JR |
| Bednarik Award | Dylan Moses | LB | JR |
| Bednarik Award | Raekwon Davis | DL | SR |
| Davey O'Brien Award | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | JR |
| Doak Walker Award | Najee Harris | RB | JR |
| Biletnikoff Award | Jerry Jeudy | WR | JR |
| Biletnikoff Award | Henry Ruggs | WR | JR |
| Biletnikoff Award | Jaylen Waddle | WR | SO |
| John Mackey Award | Miller Forristall | TE | RS JR |
| Butkus Award | Anfernee Jennings | LB | RS SR |
| Butkus Award | Terrell Lewis | LB | RS SR |
| Butkus Award | Dylan Moses | LB | JR |
| Jim Thorpe Award | Xavier McKinney | DB | JR |
| Outland Trophy | Jedrick Wills | OL | JR |
| Outland Trophy | Alex Leatherwood | OL | JR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Raekwon Davis | DL | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Trevon Diggs | DB | SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Anfernee Jennings | LB | RS SR |
| Bronko Nagurski Trophy | Dylan Moses | LB | JR |
| Dodd Trophy | Nick Saban | HC | -- |
| Wuerffel Trophy | Chris Owens | OL | RS JR |
| Walter Camp Award | Jerry Jeudy | WR | JR |
| Walter Camp Award | Dylan Moses | LB | JR |
| Walter Camp Award | Najee Harris | RB | JR |
| Walter Camp Award | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | JR |
| Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year Award | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | JR |
| Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award | Jaylen Waddle | WR | SO |
| Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | JR |
| Manning Award | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | JR |
| Ted Hendricks Award | Raekwon Davis | DE | SR |
SEC media days
The 2019 SEC Media Days were held July 15–18 in Birmingham, Alabama. In the preseason media poll, Alabama was voted the overwhelming favorite to repeat as West Division Champion and SEC Champion.| Media poll |
| Media poll |
Preseason All-SEC teams
The Crimson Tide had 13 players at 14 positions selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.Offense
1st team
Tua Tagovailoa – QB
Najee Harris – RB
Jerry Jeudy – WR
Alex Leatherwood – OL
Jedrick Wills – OL
2nd team
Jaylen Waddle – WR
3rd team
Miller Forristall – TE
Matt Womack – OL
Defense
1st team
Raekwon Davis – DL
Anfernee Jennings – LB
Dylan Moses – LB
Trevon Diggs – DB
2nd team
Patrick Surtain II – DB
Xavier McKinney – DB
3rd team
LaBryan Ray – DL
Terrell Lewis – LB
Shyheim Carter – DB
Specialists
1st team
Jaylen Waddle – all purpose player
Jaylen Waddle – RET
Schedule
Alabama announced its 2019 football schedule on September 18, 2018. The 2019 Crimson Tide' schedule consists of 7 home games, 4 away games, and 1 neutral site game for the regular season. Alabama will host four SEC conference opponents Ole Miss, Arkansas, Tennessee and LSU and will travel for four SEC opponents to South Carolina, Texas A&M, Mississippi State and arch-rival Auburn for the 84th Iron Bowl to close out the SEC regular season on the road. Alabama is not scheduled to play SEC East opponents Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri and Vanderbilt in the 2019 regular season. The Crimson Tide’s bye week comes during week 6 and week 10.Alabama's out of conference opponents represent the ACC, C-USA, Independents and Southern. The Crimson Tide will host three non–conference games which are against New Mexico State of the FBS independents, Southern Miss of the Conference USA and Western Carolina of the SoCon to close out the regular season and travel to Atlanta, GA for Chick-fil-A Kickoff to host Duke from the ACC.
Coaching staff
;Graduate Assistants- Vinnie Sunseri
- Tino Sunseri
- Isaac Shewmaker
- Joe Houston
- Johnathan Galante
- AJ Milwee
- Alex Mortensen
- Major Applewhite
- Mike Stoops
- Javier Arenas
- Nick Perry
- Dean Altobelli
- Gordon Steele
- Butch Jones
- Rob Ezell
Roster
Depth chart
Projected Depth Chart 2019:True Freshman
Double Position : *
Game summaries
vs Duke Blue Devils
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 34.5 | 57 |
Sources:
| 3–1 | 2010 | W, 62–13 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Duke | Alabama |
| First downs | 11 | 30 |
| Total yards | 204 | 512 |
| Rushing yards | 107 | 145 |
| Passing yards | 97 | 367 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 23:23 | 36:37 |
New Mexico State Aggies
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 54.5 | 65 |
Sources:
Statistics
| Statistics | New Mexico State | Alabama |
| First downs | 14 | 23 |
| Total yards | 262 | 603 |
| Rushing yards | 101 | 318 |
| Passing yards | 161 | 285 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 32:03 | 27:57 |
at South Carolina Gamecocks
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 25.5 | 59 |
Sources:
| 12–3 | 2010 | L, 21–35 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Alabama | South Carolina |
| First downs | 25 | 31 |
| Total yards | 571 | 459 |
| Rushing yards | 76 | 135 |
| Passing yards | 495 | 324 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 32:37 | 27:23 |
Southern Miss Golden Eagles
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 38.5 | 65 |
Sources:
| 36–5–2 | 2014 | W, 52–12 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Southern Miss | Alabama |
| First downs | 15 | 24 |
| Total yards | 226 | 514 |
| Rushing yards | 52 | 176 |
| Passing yards | 174 | 338 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:55 | 27:05 |
Ole Miss Rebels
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 37.5 | 64 |
Sources:
| 54–10–2 | 2018 | W, 62–7 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Ole Miss | Alabama |
| First downs | 25 | 29 |
| Total yards | 476 | 573 |
| Rushing yards | 279 | 155 |
| Passing yards | 197 | 418 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:23 | 29:37 |
at No. 24 Texas A&M Aggies
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 18 | 62 |
Sources:
| 9–2 | 2018 | W, 45–23 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Alabama | Texas A&M |
| First downs | 25 | 24 |
| Total yards | 448 | 389 |
| Rushing yards | 155 | 125 |
| Passing yards | 293 | 264 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:56 | 29:04 |
Tennessee Volunteers
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 35.5 | 62 |
Sources:
| 56–37–7 | 2018 | W, 58–21 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Tennessee | Alabama |
| First downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total yards | 231 | 373 |
| Rushing yards | 114 | 140 |
| Passing yards | 117 | 233 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 31:44 | 28:16 |
Arkansas Razorbacks
Sources:| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 35 | 57 |
| 22–7 | 2018 | W, 65–31 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Arkansas | Alabama |
| First downs | 13 | 23 |
| Total yards | 213 | 459 |
| Rushing yards | 106 | 179 |
| Passing yards | 107 | 280 |
| Turnovers | 4 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 25:26 | 34:34 |
No. 2 LSU Tigers
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 6.5 | 66 |
Sources:
| 53–25–5 | 2018 | W, 29–0 |
Statistics
| Statistics | LSU | Alabama |
| First downs | 29 | 22 |
| Total yards | 559 | 541 |
| Rushing yards | 166 | 123 |
| Passing yards | 393 | 418 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 34:34 | 25:26 |
at Mississippi State Bulldogs
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 21 | 62 |
Sources:
| 83–17–3 | 2018 | W, 24–0 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Alabama | Mississippi State |
| First downs | 24 | 11 |
| Total yards | 510 | 270 |
| Rushing yards | 160 | 188 |
| Passing yards | 350 | 82 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 27:57 | 32:03 |
Western Carolina Catamounts
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 55.5 | 61.5 |
Sources:
| 4–0 | 2014 | W, 48–14 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Western Carolina | Alabama |
| First downs | 10 | 23 |
| Total yards | 179 | 541 |
| Rushing yards | 67 | 231 |
| Passing yards | 112 | 310 |
| Turnovers | 5 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 32:09 | 27:51 |
at No. 15 Auburn Tigers
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 3 | 50 |
Sources:
| 46–36–1 | 2018 | W, 52–21 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Alabama | Auburn |
| First downs | 28 | 23 |
| Total yards | 515 | 354 |
| Rushing yards | 180 | 181 |
| Passing yards | 335 | 173 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 35:52 | 24:08 |
vs No. 14 Michigan Wolverines
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| Alabama by 7 | 58.5 |
Sources:
| 2–2 | 2012 | W, 41–14 |
Statistics
| Statistics | Michigan | Alabama |
| First downs | 23 | 20 |
| Total yards | 395 | 480 |
| Rushing yards | 162 | 153 |
| Passing yards | 233 | 327 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:47 | 25:13 |
Rankings
Statistics
Team
Offense
Defense
Special Teams
Scoring
Scores by quarter (non-conference opponents)
Scores by quarter (SEC opponents)
Scores by quarter (All opponents)
Awards and honors
| Player | Position | Date | Ref. |
| Tua Tagovailoa | QB | September 2, 2019 | |
| D.J. Dale | DL | September 2, 2019 | |
| Tua Tagovailoa, | QB | September 16, 2019 | |
| Landon Dickerson | OL | September 16, 2019 | |
| DeVonta Smith | WR | September 30, 2019 | |
| Jaylen Waddle | WR/PR | October 14, 2019 | |
| Alex Leatherwood | OL | October 21, 2019 |
| Player | Position | Award | Ref. |
| Jaylen Waddle | WR/KR | SEC Special Teams Player of the Year |
Postseason
Bowl game
Alabama was selected to face Michigan in the 2020 Citrus Bowl on New Year's Day. The last time Alabama faced Michigan was during the regular season in 2012 when the Tide beat Michigan 41-14. Alabama defeated Michigan 35-16 in the 2020 VRBO Citrus Bowl on January 1, 2020 to close out the season at 11-2 overall. For nine straight seasons, the Crimson Tide has won 11 or more games.2020 NFL Draft
The 2020 NFL Draft was held virtually on April 23–25, 2020.Crimson Tide who were picked in the 2020 NFL Draft:
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club |
| 1 | 5 | Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Miami Dolphins |
| 1 | 10 | Jedrick Wills | OT | Cleveland Browns |
| 1 | 12 | Henry Ruggs | WR | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 1 | 15 | Jerry Jeudy | WR | Denver Broncos |
| 2 | 36 | Xavier McKinney | S | New York Giants |
| 2 | 51 | Trevon Diggs | CB | Dallas Cowboys |
| 2 | 56 | Raekwon Davis | DT | Miami Dolphins |
| 3 | 84 | Terrell Lewis | LB | Los Angeles Rams |
| 3 | 87 | Anfernee Jennings | OLB | New England Patriots |
| Undrafted | Free Agent | Jared Mayden | S | San Francisco 49ers |
Media affiliates
Radio
- WTID – Nationwide
TV
- CBS Family - CBS 42, CBS Sports Network
- ESPN/ABC Family - ABC 33/40
- FOX Family - WBRC, FOX/FS1, FSN