Xavier Griffin and Will Reichard led the way for Alabama’s latest round of weekly honors, but they weren’t the only former Crimson Tide standouts making noise.
Griffin became the first freshman since Myles Upchurch in May to win Athlete of the Week, and it came after a sharp showing in Alabama’s defense-heavy performance at Mississippi State. The freshman linebacker finished with a team-high nine tackles, plus a sack and a tackle for loss. His work as a QB spy and delayed rusher fit cleanly into Kane Wommack’s plan, and the outing looked every bit like a coming-out party for a five-star prospect.
Brown still earned a nod of his own after doing plenty with limited volume. His 14 carries were more than Daniel Hill, EJ Crowell, and AK Dear combined, and he turned them into 66 yards and two touchdowns in Alabama’s 56-23 win over Mississippi State. Brown now leads the team with five touchdowns, a strong sign of the trust he has built with the coaching staff after arriving as a three-star just a year ago.
Reichard keeps stacking up massive Sundays in Minnesota. For the second time in three weeks, he accounted for every point in a Vikings win, going 5-for-5 on field goals in the 15-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins. His long came from 50 yards, and he now leads the NFL in both makes and attempts while sitting at a perfect 12-for-12 on the season.
That kind of production has made him indispensable. Minnesota’s defense has been rolling, helped in part by Dallas Turner’s emergence, but the offense has struggled to finish drives in opponent territory. The Vikings’ 4-0 start - despite not scoring a touchdown in two of their first four games - only sharpens the point: Reichard’s leg has been the difference.
The Crimson Tide footprint extended beyond Alabama and Minnesota, too. Brian Robinson Jr. suddenly has one of the most favorable RB2 jobs in the NFL behind Bijan Robinson, and he made it count in Atlanta’s 45-24 win over the Saints with three trips to the end zone. The Falcons’ offense seems to have found a spark under Michael Penix Jr., which could only help Robinson going forward.
Bryce Young also kept rolling. Last week’s Pro Athlete of the Week followed up that recognition with a 329-yard, two-touchdown performance in Carolina’s 32-26 win over the Saints on Sunday Night Football. Through four games, Young has been one of the league’s best quarterbacks, with the source making the case that he has been a top-five player at the position so far this season.
And then there was Quinnen Williams, whose biggest moment came when Dallas needed one. Late in the Cowboys’ matchup with Houston, with the Texans facing third-and-three at their own 40 and trailing by four, Williams blew up C.J.
Stroud for an 11-yard sack to force a punt. Dallas later won on a CeeDee Lamb touchdown with 40 seconds left, but Williams’ pressure may have set the table.
It was his first sack of the season, and he added two tackles for loss as well.
In Other News...
Kirby Smart Just Validated Alabamas Identity Ahead Of Georgia
Alabama has spent the season leaning into a physical identity, and that reputation is starting to travel well beyond Tuscaloosa. Defensive coordinator Kane Wommack has repeatedly pointed to the strength of the defensive line and the groups effort as core traits for this team, a profile built as much on strain and toughness as it is on talent. That kind of image matters in a league where line play and grit usually decide whether a contender can hold up when the schedule gets heavy.
Kirby Smart reinforced that view this week ahead of Georgias meeting with Alabama, acknowledging the Crimson Tides size and physicality while also nodding to the way the roster has been built through recruiting and the transfer portal. Smart also singled out quarterback Keelon Russell for the progress he has made, a notable compliment considering how closely these teams will be studying every edge. For Alabama, the recognition is useful, but it also serves as a reminder that its identity is now clear enough for a rival to see and respect. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Defense Keeps Giving Kane Wommack A Reason To Pay Up
Kane Wommack has built a small but telling tradition around Alabamas defense, rewarding the staff with a Sunday-night dinner whenever the unit finds the end zone or posts a shutout. It is a lighthearted perk, but it also speaks to how much the coordinator values the people around him and the work that goes into producing those kinds of game-changing moments.
The latest tab came after cornerback Dijon Lee turned an interception into a touchdown against Mississippi State, another reminder that Alabamas defense has been creating reasons for Wommack to keep reaching for the check. Wommack said he appreciates the staffs hard work and the chance to sit down together, which makes the gesture feel less like a gimmick and more like part of the programs rhythm. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama-Tennessee Just Got A Twist Fans Will Be Talking About
Alabamas next trip to Knoxville is already on the calendar, and the details around the 2026 matchup with Tennessee give the Third Saturday in October some added shape. The Tide are set to visit Neyland Stadium on Oct. 17, 2026, with a 2:30 p.m. CT kickoff and television information to be announced later, while the broader backdrop is the long-running history between the programs and the recent pattern of how their meetings have been handled.
What makes the scheduling note even more interesting is the jersey arrangement attached to the 2026 and 2027 games, a wrinkle fans will have plenty of time to circle. For now, though, Alabamas attention is on the present, with Georgia coming to Tuscaloosa for a home game that is expected to draw plenty of notable attendees, even as the future date with Tennessee starts to come into focus. [Read more 🡒]