Alabama’s offense carried the day in a 50-36 win over Florida State, and that showing spilled over into this week’s Crimson Tide Athletes of the Week honors. The defense didn’t land anywhere near the spotlight, but the Tide’s young playmakers and a pair of former Alabama standouts across the NFL did.
For the week of September 14-September 21, 2026, Trae’Shawn Brown and Keelon Russell headlined the selections.
Brown keeps making Alabama’s freshman class look even deeper. EJ Crowell turned in a strong afternoon with 51 rushing yards on 7.3 yards per carry, plus a touchdown and two hurdles, but Brown was the more explosive back in the win over the Seminoles. He finished with 86 yards and a score of his own while also clearing 7.0 yards per carry.
The part that stands out most is how far Brown has come in such a short time. Eight months ago, he was a three-star recruit with offers from North Texas, New Mexico State, and the Naval Academy. Now he’s become a major piece in a running back room that has completely flipped its script this season.
Trae’Shawn Brown gives Alabama a two-score lead. pic.twitter.com/NoJ6S6MMgk
Russell faced a tougher battle for the award thanks to Lotzeir Brooks’ 100-yard performance, but the sophomore’s day was too strong to ignore. Against Florida State, he went 23-for-30 for 320 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, and added 57 rushing yards.
It was the full package from Russell. He showed the kind of throws that belong on Sundays, handled the huddle with more command, delivered in the two-minute drill, and worked smoothly in and out of the pocket. That’s the version of him Alabama wanted when he was named the starter.
Top 10 Fastest Max Speed | Week 33 | 21.3 MPH Keelon Russel @Pres1dential QB AlabamaIGA Score™ : 98.2#ReelSpeed pic.twitter.com/f9gp8qVAIp
Alabama’s success wasn’t limited to Tuscaloosa. Bryce Young put together his second straight big outing for Carolina, throwing for 287 yards and three touchdowns without an interception in the Panthers’ 34-3 win over Atlanta. The Falcons’ struggles helped open the door, and Young walked right through it.
Through the early part of the season, he’s sitting first in the NFL in touchdowns, second in yards, and fifth in passer rating. With Carolina looking like it has the upper hand in a weak NFC South, Young’s fourth season is off to the kind of start that changes the conversation fast.
Bryce Young drops it in the 🪣 to Xavier Legette!CARvsATL on FOX/FOX OneStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Ia62dGy6wX
Dallas Turner also made his case for more attention in Minnesota. His start to a third season has been loud, with 11 QB hits through two weeks, tied with Chris Jones and Myles Garrett for the most by any player in a two-week span over the last decade. He also leads the NFL with 21 QB pressures this season.
Turner added two sacks in the Vikings’ 9-3 win over the Bears, but his second one was the play that sealed the week’s Clutch Athlete of the Week honor. With Chicago on the 12-yard line and one second left, Turner blew past his blocker and brought down Tyson Bagent to finish off the win and push Minnesota to 2-0.
DALLAS TURNER WALKOFF SACK FOR THE VIKINGS pic.twitter.com/8wGRHUIMKW
The former SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year looks like he has taken the leap into NFL stardom. He’s been one of Minnesota’s most important players through two games, though Will Reichard also deserves mention after scoring all nine points in the Vikings’ win.
In Other News...
Alabamas Slow Starts Are About To Get Seriously Punished
Alabama has survived its first three games, but the early warning signs have been hard to miss. The Crimson Tide have needed second-half rallies to steady themselves, and that habit is about to be tested by a schedule that leaves very little room for slow starts. What looked like manageable early-season turbulence now sits in the shadow of a run that brings ranked opponents and real pressure almost immediately.
South Carolina and Mississippi State loom as the next checkpoints, and both carry enough intrigue to make Alabamas opening stretches matter even more. LaNorris Sellers and Kamario Taylor are among the names to watch in those matchups, but the broader concern for the Tide is simpler: if the sluggish opening quarters continue, the margin for error disappears fast once Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and LSU all come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Heads To South Carolina With Problems It Can't Keep Ignoring
Alabamas win over Florida State in Week 3 gave the offense plenty to like, with quarterback Keelon Russell helping the Tide score on nine consecutive drives. But the celebration came with a sharp reminder of how much cleaner the overall product still needs to be, because the defense gave up nearly 500 yards and 36 points in a game that could have easily turned into a much bigger conversation about balance.
As Alabama turns to South Carolina, the same issues are sitting right in front of it: slow starts that leave little margin for error, explosive plays that flip momentum, and third-down situations that have too often put the defense on its heels. Kane Wommacks unit will have to show it can sustain a better level for four quarters, because the Tide can afford to admire the offenses rhythm only if the other side of the ball stops creating new problems. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Win Was Comfortable But UTSA Exposed One Lingering Concern
Texas left Alabama with little doubt in Week 3, but the broader non-conference slate still gave the Crimson Tide something to think about. Across the American Conference, teams went 2-7 outside league play, and UTSA was one of the better examples of a team that at least found a little footing on one side of the ball. East Carolina also grabbed a needed win over Old Dominion after a rocky start, while Florida Atlantic and North Texas had mixed showings in their own games.
For Alabama, the comfort of the final result did not erase the fact that UTSA managed to reveal a lingering concern. The Roadrunners were better defensively than they had been earlier in the season, but their offense never really got going in the loss to Texas, which is the kind of uneven performance that can still matter for the Tides long view of where this team stands. Alabama got the win it wanted, but games like this are useful reminders that the details underneath the score still deserve a close look. [Read more 🡒]