Lester Cotton Sr.

Position:
OL
Height:
6-4
Weight:
325
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
High School:
Central

Senior (2018)

A local product who moved to left guard as a senior (10 starts) after starting 18 games at right guard in his first three seasons ... finished his career with 28 starts ... helped open holes for the 42nd-ranked rushing offense (198.4 ypg), the No. 3 scoring offense (45.6 ppg) and the No. 6 total offense (522.0 ypg) while providing time for the nation’s No. 1 pass efficiency offense (197.34) and No. 6 passing offense (323.6 ypg) ... the Tide’s offensive front also ranked eighth nationally and first in the SEC in fewest sacks, allowing just 1.0 per game. Louisville: Made his first career start at left guard ... graded out at 86 percent in 53 snaps against the Cardinals with two knockdown blocks ... opened holes for 222 rushing yards and provided time for 297 yards through the air ... did not allow a sack or commit a penalty. Arkansas State: Helped the Tide generate 599 yards of total offense, including 278 yards on the ground ... played 70 snaps, opening holes for Najee Harris’ first 100-yard rushing game (135 yards, 13 attempts) ... added three knockdown blocks. Ole Miss: Opened holes for 210 rushing yards while providing time for 306 yards in the air ... did not allow a sack or a pressure ... recoded three knockdown blocks as the Tide scored 62 points. Texas A&M: Recorded two knockdown blocks and did not allow a sack. Louisiana: Helped the Tide account for 608 yards of total offense, including 268 yards on the ground ... played 42 snaps and had two knockdown blocks ... did not allow a sack, pressure or commit a penalty. Arkansas: Blocked for a season-high 639 yards, including 393 passing yards and 246 yards on the ground ... did not allow a sack or commit a penalty in 28 snaps with two knockdown blocks. Tennessee: Did not start after an injury had slowed him in recent weeks ... came off the bench to play 16 snaps at guard. Mississippi State: Came off the bench to play 53 snaps in relief of Deonte Brown at left guard. The Citadel: Started and played 45 snaps as Alabama rolled up 561 yards of total offense. Georgia: Came off the bench in relief of Deonte Brown to play 39 snaps in the SEC Championship Game ... was in the final three touchdown drives to help secure the win. Oklahoma: Returned to the starting lineup and provided time for 528 yards of total offense, including 200 rushing yards ... did not allow a sack as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 24-of-27 passes for 318 yards and four touchdowns ... opened holes for 98 rushing yards by Josh Jacobs, 48 by Damien Harris and 45 by Najee Harris. Clemson: Started and helped the Crimson Tide account for 443 yards of total offense including 148 rushing and 295 passing.

Junior (2017)

Established a starting role at right guard as a junior in 2017 and started 13 games ... a powerful presence on an offensive line that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award ... helped lead an offensive line that ranked second in the SEC and 13th nationally in rushing with 250.6 yards per game while also ranking second in the SEC and 15th nationally in scoring offense (37.1 ppg) ... the Tide was fourth in the SEC and 29th nationally in total offense (444.1 ypg). Florida State: Helped open holes for 173 rushing yards in a 24-7 win over No. 3 Florida State at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Fresno State: Had one knockdown block in 44 snaps in the win over the Bulldogs ... did not commit a penalty ... cleared a path for 305 rushing yards in the win, including a career-best 154 yards for quarterback Jalen Hurts. Colorado State: Recorded two knockdown blocks while opening holes for 239 rushing yards and 487 total yards ... joined an offensive line that did not allow a sack, hurry or pressure. Vanderbilt: Cleared a path on the right side of the offensive line for a Saban-era high 496 rushing yards and 677 total yards ... graded out at 88 percent with six knockdown blocks ... did not allow a sack. Ole Miss: Started and played 55 snaps in a 66-3 win over the Rebels ... had two knockdown blocks ... helped open holes for 365 rushing yards at 7.2 yards per carry ... did not allow a sack and provided time for 248 passing yards and 613 total yards ... the Tide had six runners gain at least 30 yards, led by Jalen Hurts (101). Texas A&M: Helped the Crimson Tide rush for 232 yards ... played all 69 snaps on offense ... opened holes for Damien Harris to rush for 124 yards on just 14 attempts. Arkansas: Helped clear a path for 308 rushing yards and 496 yards of total offense ... blocked for his sixth 100-yard rushing game this season. Tennessee: Blocked for 604 yards of total offense in a 45-7 victory over the Volunteers ... had three knockdown blocks ... did not allow a sack or a pressure ... opened holes in the rushing game for 272 yards and four touchdowns. LSU: Made his ninth consecutive start at right guard in a 24-10 win over the No. 19 Tigers ... opened holes for two rushing touchdowns and had a knockdown block. Mississippi State: Did not allow a sack or a pressure as the Tide churned out 444 yards of total offense in a come-from-behind victory over the No. 16 Bulldogs ... helped open holes for three rushing touchdowns and 202 rushing yards. Mercer: Graded out at 89 percent on 34 snaps in a 56-0 win over Mercer ... did not allow a sack, pressure or hurry ... blocked for 530 yards of total offense, split evenly with 265 both in the air and on the ground. Auburn: Helped the Tide rush for 209 yards and a touchdown ... did not allow a sack or commit a penalty. Clemson: Played 57 snaps in the Tide's 24-6 win in the Sugar Bowl before a knee injury forced him out of the game in the second half ... graded out at 85 percent ... opened holes for a game-high 141 yards on the ground while providing time for Hurts to complete 66.7 percent of his passes and two touchdowns. Georgia: Missed the CFP National Championship Game with an injured knee.

Sophomore (2016)

Gained valuable experience as both a starter and reserve in 2016 ... started the Crimson Tide's first two games at left guard and started three games at right guard ... came off the bench in nine other games (Ole Miss, Kent State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Chattanooga, Auburn, Florida, Washington) ... blocked for nine 100-yard rushing games — four from Damien Harris, three from Jalen Hurts and one each for Bo Scarbrough and Josh Jacobs ... also saw time on the Tide's field goal and extra point teams. USC: Played 59 snaps at left guard with one knockdown block ... did not allow a pressure or a sack ... opened holes for 242 rushing yards, including 138 yards from Harris. Western Kentucky: Started and provided time for Hurts and Blake Barnett to throw for 351 yards and two touchdowns ... did not allow a sack. Kent State: Came off the bench to play 25 snaps against the Golden Flashes, helping the Tide rush for 285 yards. Arkansas: Came in off the bench at right guard and helped open holes for 264 rushing yards while providing time for 253 yards through the air ... did not allow a sack or pressure and did not commit a penalty ... had a game-best two knockdown blocks ... helped Harris rush for 122 yards on 13 carries. Tennessee: Started at right guard and cleared a path for 409 yards rushing and 594 yards of total offense ... the 409 yards rushing was the most for an Alabama team since 1992 and the most against Tennessee since 1986 ... helped the Tide average 8.5 yards per attempt ... opened holes for two 100-yard rushers (Hurts 132, Scarbrough 109) ... had a team- and season-high six knockdown blocks and graded out at 82 percent. Texas A&M: Recorded six knockdown blocks ... opened holes for 287 yards on the ground and 451 yards of total offense ... helped Harris notch his fourth 100-yard game of the season as Alabama averaged 5.0 yards per carry ... did not commit a penalty. LSU: Started at right guard and did not allow a sack or a hurry while opening up holes for 216 rushing yards and 323 total yards ... helped Hurts rush for 114 yards and a touchdown.

Freshman (2015)

Played in four games as a reserve offensive tackle in his first season at the Capstone (Wisconsin, Middle Tennessee, Georgia and Charleston Southern).

High School and Personal Data

One of the top players in the state of Alabama and an elite offensive line prospect nationally ... named to the 2015 Parade All-America team ... unanimous four-star prospect ... played in the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game and invited to Nike's 2014 "The Opening" ... ... Medium School All-American by MaxPreps.com ... the No. 3 offensive guard nationally by Rivals.com and No. 46 in the final Rivals100 ... No. 2 player in the state of Alabama by Rivals.com ... No. 59 in the Top247, the No. 4 offensive guard and No. 3 player in the state ... No. 54 in the 247Composite and the No. 4 guard ... Scout.com rated Cotton as the third-best offensive guard and the No. 66 player in the Scout300 ... No. 100 in the ESPN300, the No. 7 guard, No. 5 player in Alabama and No. 51 in the Southeast region ... No. 59 on the Prepstar Top 150 Dream Team ... 2014 AL.com Super All-State ... No. 3 on the final AL.com A-List ... first team 5A All-State by the Alabama Sports Writers Association and the ASWA 5A Lineman of the Year ... participated in the 2014 Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... played for head coach Dennis Conner at Tuscaloosa Central High School ... chose Alabama over Auburn, USC, Mississippi State and Ole Miss.