Alabama’s defense gave Kane Wommack something new to hang on the wall Monday: a Crimson Tide milestone built on individual recognition.
Three Alabama defenders - Bray Hubbard, Caleb Woodson and Devan Thompkins - were named SEC Players of the Week after the win over Kentucky, and the grouping itself is the eye-catching part. According to ChatGPT, Alabama had never had three defensive players earn SEC Player of the Week honors in the same week.
The Tide did land three Players of the Week in 2024, but that group included one defender, Jihaad Campbell, alongside Jalen Milroe and Tyler Booker. Zabien Brown and Yhonzae Pierre were honored last season too, but never three Alabama defenders in the same week.
Woodson headlined the defensive honors as SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week. He led Alabama with 12 tackles against Kentucky, and two of those stops were sacks that cost the Wildcats 13 yards. For the Virginia Tech transfer, it was a stat line that set new career highs.
Luke Metz also shared Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after making his first start against an SEC opponent. He didn’t spend much time easing into it. Metz turned in Alabama’s only first-half touchdown with a 34-yard interception return, and he finished as the Crimson Tide’s second-leading tackler with eight stops.
Thompkins was recognized as SEC Co-Defensive Lineman Player of the Week after doing a little of everything up front. He logged 56 snaps, tied with Dijon Lee and just behind Zabien Brown’s 60, and he was Alabama’s third-leading tackler with six stops. Two of those tackles went for sacks, and he also forced a fumble that gave Alabama a turnover.
The awards also reflect the work around the players. Alabama’s position coaches deserve a share of the credit, and so does Wommack for the scheme, the play-calling, the development and the roster rebuild on that side of the ball. After two games, the Crimson Tide defense looks like it’s moving toward something bigger.
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The biggest payoff has shown up on the ground, where the extra tight end has helped create more favorable rushing looks for the backs. Alabama running backs are averaging 5.7 yards per carry out of multiple-tight-end formations this season, a sign that the adjustment is doing more than changing personnel groupings on paper. For a team looking to solve a persistent offensive problem, the real question now is how far Grubb is willing to take the new package and what it might unlock next. [Read more 🡒]