The 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. This was the Crimson Tide's 125th overall season, 86th as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and 28th within the SEC's Western Division. They played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and were led by 13th-year head coach Nick Saban.
The defending national runners-up, Alabama began the season ranked second in the AP Poll, and were the favorites to repeat as SEC Champions. The Crimson Tide won their first seven games of the year handily, and rose to first in the AP Poll. They were ranked third in the season's first College Football Playoff rankings heading into an anticipated match-up against second-ranked LSU, which Alabama lost 46–41. The next week, Alabama lost starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to a season-ending hip injury in the game against Mississippi State. They finished the regular season with a 48–45 upset loss to cross-state rival Auburn.
With a regular season record of 10–2, Alabama was not selected for the College Football Playoff for the first time ever, having made the CFP every year since the inception of the format in 2014. The Crimson Tide were also not invited to a New Year's Six bowl game, making this the first season since 2010 that Alabama was not selected to a NY6 or BCS bowl. They were instead invited to the Citrus Bowl, where they defeated Michigan.
Tagovailoa, at the time of his injury, was considered a candidate for the Heisman Trophy and was on pace to break his own NCAA FBS passer rating record. He was replaced by backup Mac Jones for the remainder of the season. Running back Najee Harris led the team with 1,224 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns, tied for the SEC lead. Receivers Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith were both named All-SEC. On defense, the team was led by first-team all-conference players linebacker Anfernee Jennings and safety Xavier McKinney. Nine Alabama players were selected in the 2020 NFL draft, including No. 5 overall selection Tua Tagovailoa.
Offseason Offseason departures Seven Alabama players with remaining eligibility declared early for the 2019 NFL draft. In addition, 14 seniors from the 2018 team graduated. 2019 Alabama offseason departures Name Number Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Notes Josh Jacobs #8 RB 5'10 216 Junior Tulsa, OK Declared for 2019 NFL draft Irv Smith Jr. #82 TE 6'4 241 Junior New Orleans, LA Declared for 2019 NFL draft Jonah Williams #73 OL 6'5 301 Junior Folsom, CA Declared for 2019 NFL draft Quinnen Williams #92 DL 6'4 295 RS Sophomore Birmingham, AL Declared for 2019 NFL draft Saivion Smith #4 CB 6'1 201 Junior Tampa, FL Declared for 2019 NFL draft Deionte Thompson #14 S 6'2 196 RS Junior Orange, TX Declared for 2019 NFL draft Mack Wilson #30 LB 6'2 238 Junior Montgomery, AL Declared for 2019 NFL draft Isaiah Buggs #49 DL 6'5 286 Senior Ruston, LA Graduated Joshua Casher #67 OL 6'1 290 Senior Mobile, AL Graduated Ronnie Clark #5 RB 6'2 230 Senior Calera, AL Graduated Lester Cotton Sr. #66 OL 6'4 325 Senior Tuscaloosa, AL Graduated Johnny Dwight #95 DL 6'3 301 Senior Rochelle, GA Graduated Damien Harris #34 RB 5'11 215 Senior Richmond, KY Graduated Hale Hentges #84 TE 6'5 254 Senior Jefferson City, MO Graduated Austin Jones #29 PK 5'10 215 Senior Orlando, FL Graduated Derek Kief #81 WR 6'4 204 Senior Cincinnati, OH Graduated Xavian Marks #19 WR 5'8 174 Senior Rosenberg, TX Graduated Christian Miller #47 LB 6'4 244 Senior Columbia, SC Graduated Jamey Mosley #16 LB 6'5 239 Senior Mobile, AL Graduated Ross Pierschbacher #71 OL 6'4 309 Senior Cedar Falls, IA Graduated
Recruiting Alabama's 2019 recruiting class consisted of 27 recruits, 15 of which enrolled early. Alabama had the highest ranked class in the nation according to 247Sports.com and ESPN, and had the second best class behind Georgia according to Rivals.com. The class was ranked No. 1 by the 247Sports Composite, which aggregates the ratings of the major recruiting services. Headlining the class were consensus top-10 recruits Antonio Alfano (defensive end), Trey Sanders (running back), and Evan Neal (offensive tackle).
Transfers
Outgoing Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown New school Jalen Hurts #2 QB 6'2 225 Junior Channelview, Texas Oklahoma Richie Petitbon #72 OT 6'5 310 Junior Washington, DC Illinois Layne Hatcher #18 QB 6'0 212 RS Freshman Little Rock, Arkansas Arkansas State Kyriq McDonald #16 DB 5'11 197 RS Freshman Madison, Alabama Cincinnati Kedrick James #45 TE 6'5 260 RS Junior Waco, Texas SMU Scott Meyer #18 QB 6'2 232 RS Junior Alpharetta, Georgia Vanderbilt Eyabi Anoma #9 LB 6'5 252 Sophomore Baltimore, Maryland Houston
Incoming Name No. Pos. Height Weight Year Hometown Prev. school Landon Dickerson #69 OL 6'6 308 2019 Hickory, N.C. Florida State
Returning starters
Offense Player Class Position Tua Tagovailoa Junior Quarterback Jerry Jeudy Junior Wide receiver Henry Ruggs Junior Wide receiver DeVonta Smith Junior Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle Sophomore Wide receiver Najee Harris Junior Running back Alex Leatherwood Junior Offensive line Jedrick Wills Junior Offensive line Reference:
Defense Player Class Position Raekwon Davis Senior Defensive end Anfernee Jennings RS Senior Linebacker Terrell Lewis RS Junior Linebacker Dylan Moses Junior Linebacker Trevon Diggs Senior Defensive back Patrick Surtain II Sophomore Defensive back Shyheim Carter Senior Defensive back Xavier McKinney Junior Defensive back Reference:
Special teams Player Class Position Joseph Bulovas RS Sophomore Placekicker Trevon Diggs Senior Kick returnerReference:
Spring game The 2019 Crimson Tide held spring practices in March and April. The 2019 Alabama football spring game, "A-Day" took place in Tuscaloosa, AL on April 13, 2019, at 1 p.m. CST with the White team beating the Crimson team 31–17. Freshman WR John Metchie III was named A-Day MVP after hauling in five catches for a game-high 133 receiving yards. White team QB Mac Jones led all passers, completing 19 of 23 passes for 271 yards.
Preseason Award watch lists Listed in the order that they were released
Lott TrophyDylan MosesLBJRMaxwell AwardTua TagovailoaQBJRNajee HarrisRBJRJerry JeudyWRJRBednarik AwardDylan MosesLBJRRaekwon DavisDLSRDavey O'Brien AwardTua TagovailoaQBJRDoak Walker AwardNajee HarrisRBJRBiletnikoff AwardJerry JeudyWRJRHenry RuggsWRJRJaylen WaddleWRSOJohn Mackey AwardMiller ForristallTERS JRButkus AwardAnfernee JenningsLBRS SRTerrell LewisLBRS SRDylan MosesLBJRJim Thorpe AwardXavier McKinneyDBJROutland TrophyJedrick WillsOLJRAlex LeatherwoodOLJRBronko Nagurski TrophyRaekwon DavisDLSRTrevon DiggsDBSRAnfernee JenningsLBRS SRDylan MosesLBJR Dodd Trophy Nick Saban HC --Wuerffel TrophyChris OwensOLRS JRWalter Camp AwardJerry JeudyWRJRDylan MosesLBJRNajee HarrisRBJRTua Tagovailoa QBJR Polynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardTua Tagovailoa QBJREarl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardJaylen WaddleWRSOJohnny Unitas Golden Arm AwardTua Tagovailoa QBJRManning AwardTua Tagovailoa QBJRTed Hendricks AwardRaekwon DavisDESR
SEC media days The 2019 SEC Media Days were held July 15–18 in Birmingham, Alabama. In the preseason media poll, Alabama was voted the overwhelming favorite to repeat as West Division champion and SEC champion.
Preseason All-SEC teams The Crimson Tide had 13 players at 14 positions selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.
Offense
1st team
Tua Tagovailoa – QB
Najee Harris – RB
Jerry Jeudy – WR
Alex Leatherwood – OL
Jedrick Wills – OL
2nd team
Jaylen Waddle – WR
3rd team
Miller Forristall – TE
Matt Womack – OL
Defense
1st team
Raekwon Davis – DL
Anfernee Jennings – LB
Dylan Moses – LB
Trevon Diggs – DB
2nd team
Patrick Surtain II – DB
Xavier McKinney – DB
3rd team
LaBryan Ray – DL
Terrell Lewis – LB
Shyheim Carter – DB
Specialists
1st team
Jaylen Waddle – all purpose player
Jaylen Waddle – RET
Schedule Alabama announced its 2019 football schedule on September 18, 2018. The 2019 Crimson Tide' schedule consisted of 7 home games, 4 away games, and 1 neutral site game for the regular season. Alabama hosted four SEC conference opponents Ole Miss (rivalry), Arkansas, Tennessee (Third Saturday of October), and LSU (rivalry) and traveled for four SEC opponents to South Carolina, Texas A&M, Mississippi State (rivalry), and archrival Auburn for the 84th Iron Bowl to close out the SEC regular season on the road. Alabama was not scheduled to play SEC East opponents Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, and Vanderbilt in the 2019 regular season. The Crimson Tide's bye week came during week 6 (on October 5) and week 10 (on November 2).
Alabama's out of conference opponents represented the ACC, C-USA, Independents, and Southern. The Crimson Tide hosted three non–conference games which were against New Mexico State of the FBS independents, Southern Miss of Conference USA, and Western Carolina of the SoCon to close out the regular season and traveled to Atlanta, GA for Chick-fil-A Kickoff to host Duke from the ACC.
Schedule source:
Coaching staff Nick Saban Head coach 12th Steve Sarkisian Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach 1st Charles Huff Associate head coach/Running backs coach 1st Kyle Flood Offensive line coach 1st Holmon Wiggins Wide receivers coach1st Jeff Banks Special teams coordinator/Tight end coach 2nd Pete Golding Defensive coordinator/Inside linebackers coach 2nd Charles Kelly Associate Defensive coordinator/Safeties coach 1st Brian Baker Associate head coach/Defensive line coach 1st Sal Sunseri Outside linebackers coach 1st Karl Scott Cornerbacks coach 2nd Scott Cochran Strength and conditioning 12thReference:2019 Alabama Crimson Tide Football Media Guide, p. 2 Graduate assistants Vinnie Sunseri Tino Sunseri Andy Kwon
Analysts Isaac Shewmaker Joe Houston Johnathan Galante A. J. Milwee Alex Mortensen Major Applewhite Mike Stoops Javier Arenas Nick Perry Dean Altobelli Gordon Steele Butch Jones Rob Ezell Patrick Reilly
Roster 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide FootballQuarterback 5 Taulia Tagovailoa – Freshman (6'0, 208) 7 Braxton Barker – freshman (6'1, 202) 10 Mac Jones – sophomore (6'2, 205) 13 Tua Tagovailoa – junior (6'1, 218) 15 Paul Tyson – Freshman (6'4, 220) 16 Jayden George – freshman (6'3, 192) 19 Stone Hollenbach - freshman (6'3, 208)
Running back 2 Keilan Robinson – Freshman (5'9, 184) 20 Connor Bishop – freshman (6'1, 195) 22 Najee Harris – junior (6'3, 230) 24 Brian Robinson Jr. – junior (6'1, 226) 26 Trey Sanders – freshman (6'0, 214) 27 Jerome Ford – freshman (5'11, 212) 31 A.J. Gates – freshman (5'7, 170) 35 De'Marquise Lockridge – RS senior (5'11, 216) 39 Jahi Brown – junior (6'0, 223)
Wide receiver 3 John Metchie III – Freshman (6'0, 195) 4 Jerry Jeudy – junior (6'1, 192) 6 DeVonta Smith – junior (6'1, 175) 9 Xavier Williams – freshman (6'1, 195) 11 Henry Ruggs III – junior (6'0, 190) 12 Chadarius Townsend – sophomore (6'0, 194) 14 Tyrell Shavers – sophomore (6'6, 205) 17 Jaylen Waddle – sophomore (5'10, 182) 18 Slade Bolden – Freshman (5'11, 191) 32 Jalen Jackson – senior (6'3, 186) 36 Mac Hereford – senior (6'2, 215) 38 Eric Poellnitz – freshman (5'11, 170) 41 Kyle Smoak – freshman (5'8, 160) 42 Sam Reed – freshman (6'1, 165) 83 John Parker – senior (6'0, 190) 85 Chris Golden – junior (6'5, 207) 86 Connor Adams – senior (6'1, 194) 89 Grant Krieger – freshman (6'2, 192)
Placekicker 16 Will Reichard – Freshman (6'1, 180) 93 Tripp Slyman – sophomore (6'1, 180) 97 Joseph Bulovas – sophomore (6'0, 203) 99 Ty Perine – freshman (6'1, 190)
Punter 12 Skyler DeLong – sophomore (6'4, 188) 95 Jack Martin – freshman (6'0, 206) 98 Mike Bernier – senior (6'2", 215) Tight end 19 Jahleel Billingsley – freshman (6'4, 228) 20 Cameron Latu – freshman (6'5", 247) 40 Giles Amos – senior (6'4, 245) 43 Daniel Powell – senior (5'11, 213) 80 Michael Parker – freshman (6'6, 216) 82 Richard Hunt – freshman (6'7, 235)