Three Football Players Named as National Award Semifinalists
11/2/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama trio of running back Derrick Henry, linebacker Reggie Ragland and defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson were named to national award semifinalists lists on Monday, the Maxwell Football Club announced. The Maxwell Award tabbed Henry and the Bednarik Award identified both Robinson and Ragland.
The Maxwell Award recognizes the Collegiate Player of the Year and the Chuck Bednarik Award honors the Outstanding Defensive Player of the Year in college football. The respective lists include a field of 19 candidates for the Maxwell Award and 20 for the Bednarik Award, as selected by the Maxwell Football Club.
Henry has already turned in an impressive season, rushing for 1,044 yards and 14 touchdowns across eight games. The junior tailback has performed best in the Tide's four games against ranked opponents, averaging 164.5 yards per game (658 yards) and scoring seven touchdowns. His 236-yard performance at then No. 9 Texas A&M is the fourth-highest game total in Alabama history, and marked the first time an Alabama running back has surpassed the 200-yard mark since Trent Richardson in 2011. Henry has also scored a rushing touchdown in a school-record 13 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the country.
Ragland, a senior from Madison, Ala., leads the Crimson Tide defense in tackles with 71, including five tackles for loss (-18 yards), to go along with two sacks, two forced fumbles, three pass breakups and three quarterback hurries. Robinson has been a physical force in the middle of Alabama's vaunted defensive front during his third season with the Tide. The junior lineman has accounted for 26 total tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss (-7 yards), while adding eight quarterback hurries, one pass breakup and a fumble recovery. The two standout players have combined to lead a Crimson Tide staff that ranks third nationally in rushing defense and fourth in total defense.
Former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron won the 2013 Maxwell Award, becoming the first Alabama player to be selected for the prestigious honor. No Alabama player has won the Bednarik Award.
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