According to the Pro Football Writers of America, cornerback Patrick Surtain II, who won the SEC Defensive Player of the Year award at Alabama in 2020, is now the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2024 campaign with the Denver Broncos.

On Wednesday, the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and NFL Most Valuable Player Award winners were announced by the PFWA.

With at least 375 covering snaps, Surtain was the cornerback who gave up the fewest receiving yards in the 2024 NFL season, according to the PFWA. Surtain was already selected for the 2024 All-NFL and All-AFC teams by the PFWA.

Surtain is the fourth cornerback to get the award, which has been given out by the PFWA every year since 1992. The other cornerbacks to win were Stephon Gilmore of the New England Patriots in 2019, Charles Woodson of the Green Bay Packers in 2009, and Deion Sanders of the San Francisco 49ers in 1994.

Former Crimson Tide running backs Shaun Alexander with the Seattle Seahawks in 2005 and Derrick Henry with the Tennessee Titans in 2020 were named the PFWA NFL Offensive Player of the Year, but Surtain is the first Alabama graduate to receive the league’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year award.

Alexander received the 2005 NFL Most Valuable Player Award, which was first given out by the PFWA in 1966 to former Alabama quarterback Bart Starr.

Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens was selected by the PFWA for its NFL MVP Award this season for the second consecutive year. Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles was selected as the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.

The first-year head coaches in college football for 2024 presented a mix of notable stories.

There were some high-profile transitions between Power 4 programs, such as Kalen DeBoer leaving Washington, the national runner-up, to replace Nick Saban at Alabama, and Jedd Fisch departing a 10-win Arizona squad to take over in Seattle. Bill O’Brien, a coach with extensive experience in both college football and the NFL, returned to his hometown to lead Boston College. Mike Elko and Jonathan Smith, known for achieving success at Duke and Oregon State, respectively, moved on to higher-profile jobs at Texas A&M and Michigan State.

The coaching carousel also included promotions, like Sherrone Moore’s move from national champion Michigan to Big Ten newcomer UCLA, and Indiana hiring veteran Curt Cignetti, who spent much of his career coaching at lower division schools. Syracuse chose Fran Brown, an elite recruiter with just one year of coordinator experience, to lead the program.

Who excelled? Who struggled in their first season? It’s time to review the first-year coaches in the major conferences, reflecting on how they were initially assessed.

DeShaun Foster, UCLA Bruins
Hiring grade: B

Initial assessment: Although Foster was a late-cycle hire, he was expected to face some growing pains, especially as UCLA adjusted to the Big Ten. However, his energy and enthusiasm were seen as a welcome change after Chip Kelly, and the Bruins’ personnel situation was projected to improve under his leadership.

Year 1 record: 5-7
Year 1 grade: B

Review: Foster’s debut was met with some skepticism, but he exceeded expectations despite a tough early season. UCLA started 1-5 but turned things around with key victories over Rutgers, Nebraska, and Iowa, including two road wins. The team stayed competitive even in losses, and linebacker Carson Schwesinger emerged as a national star. Foster’s offseason staff changes suggest more of his influence on the program moving forward, and his overall comfort should increase in Year 2.

Bill O’Brien, Boston College Eagles
Hiring grade: A-

Initial assessment: O’Brien’s name recognition, especially in New England after his time with the Patriots, and his familiarity with the ACC made him an appealing choice. He was expected to elevate Boston College’s recruiting and transfer game.

Year 1 record: 7-6
Year 1 grade: B+

Review: O’Brien’s leadership was evident in his first season, despite some inconsistency. The Eagles began with a strong 4-1 start, including wins over Florida State and Michigan State. However, a midseason three-game losing streak led to a quarterback change, which paid off as Grayson James led the team to victories over Syracuse, North Carolina, and Pitt. Despite a coaching change late in the cycle, O’Brien guided the Eagles to their second consecutive bowl appearance.

Sherrone Moore, Michigan Wolverines
Hiring grade: B+

Initial assessment: Moore’s hiring came with the understanding that Michigan could have chosen a more established head coach, but the timing of Jim Harbaugh’s departure and the program’s situation worked in his favor. The key question was how much patience Michigan would show as Moore adjusted to the role.

Year 1 record: 8-5
Year 1 grade: B-

Review: Moore’s first season was a mix of struggles and strong finishes. Michigan wasn’t fully equipped to contend for the College Football Playoff following their national championship win in 2023, particularly with the loss of quarterback J.J. McCarthy and no major transfer addition at the position. The offense regressed, falling to 130th nationally in passing, and some of Moore’s in-game decisions raised concerns. However, the team rallied in the final stretch to salvage the season, boosting Moore’s overall grade.

 

 

Austin Mack is much more to Ty Simpson than just a competitor in the Alabama football quarterback room.

 

With 2025 spring practice approaching for the Crimson Tide, Simpson said he and Mack have grown close in their time together in Tuscaloosa.

 

“Austin’s one of my best friends on the team,” Simpson told the Tuscaloosa News.

 

Simpson said he was Mack’s recruiting host a season ago, when the former Washington quarterback was in the transfer portal, eventually following Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama as his first transfer.

 

Since then, Simpson said the two bounce ideas off each other.

 

“Just, how does he see this? And how do I see that?” Simpson said. “And how did Michael Penix see it, because he was in the same room as him.”

 

Mack did not see the field much in his first season with the Crimson Tide. The redshirt freshman played five snaps in Alabama’s 52-7 win against Mercer on Nov. 16, completing two of three pass attempts for 39 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown to Rico Scott Jr.

 

Dec 31, 2024; Tampa, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Austin Mack (10) runs onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Mack was the No. 230 overall player and the No. 16 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class per 247Sports’ composite rankings.

 

The 6-foot-6, 236-pound Loomis, California, native graduated one year early after recording 3,498 passing yards, 40 touchdowns and five interceptions for Folsom High School in 2022.

 

Mack and Simpson will be joined by 2025 five-star quarterback Keelon Russell.

 

But while Mack didn’t see much playing time for Alabama, Simpson said the incoming third-year quarterback has a high ceiling.

 

“Austin is very smart,” Simpson said. “He’s going to be a very good player, and I’m super excited to see his growth as well.”

 

 

 

 

Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer predicted dire outcome in 2025 during way-too-early college football rankings image

Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer got a worst-case scenario outcome in way-too-early rankings from CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. Even with minimal slippage predicted at QB with Jalen Milroe declaring for the NFL draft, and perhaps even improvement under center in Tuscaloosa, Dodd doesn’t know if the Crimson Tide are CFP material.

 

“The Crimson Tide are one of the biggest question marks on the board. Four losses simply won’t abide again.

Kalen DeBoer needs to win now! How much of a step back do the Tide take at quarterback with Jalen Milroe turning pro, if any? Bama fans are going to be locked in on the Ty Simpson-Austin Mack-Keelon Russell QB battle. There are several good pieces elsewhere on the roster, but are there enough? The CFP Selection Committee didn’t go for the brand name last month. We won’t either going into 2025. For now, ‘Bama is a borderline top-15 team,” Dodd wrote.

 

College football is changing. Ohio State, riding a $20 million NIL-valuated roster, won the national championship with a 34-23 victory over Notre Dame.

 

Alabama AD Greg Byrne, meanwhile, has to beg fans for NIL funding.

 

Worse yet, the Crimson Tide are being surpassed by teams that should be below the “Bama Standard.”

 

South Carolina was projected to make the CFP instead of Alabama in 2025.

 

“The Gamecocks were in the CFP discussion at the end of the season thanks to the progress of quarterback LaNorris Sellers. The schedule is brutal with games at Missouri, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Alabama and Clemson come to Columbia. With a high enough preseason ranking, a three-loss season might be enough to get the Gamecocks in this time,” Dodd wrote.

 

Times are not changing for the better in Tuscaloosa. Nick Saban’s retirement quickly led to the Crimson Tide being just another team.

 

DeBoer can’t afford Alabama missing the CFP again in 2025. We’ll see if he can resist that happening.

 

Kalen DeBoer will have no issues motivating his 2025 Alabama football team with plenty of media pundits ranking the Crimson Tide low.

 

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on before running onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium.

Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer looks on before running onto the field before a game against the Michigan Wolverines at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory

It has been many years since Alabama football could credibly use the “nobody believes in us!” mantra. For Kalen DeBoer and the 2025 Crimson Tide, they won’t be short on motivation next season as the media is already writing them off as potential contenders for a national title.

 

Alabama is used to being the favorite. They’re used to being the hunted, the standard that everyone else strives to be. Following Nick Saban’s retirement and a disappointing 9-4 debut campaign for DeBoer in 2024, that doesn’t appear to be the case anymore.

 

Alabama looks to be heading into the 2025 season as more of an afterthought. While Vegas still has some confidence in the Crimson Tide, the national media seems to think Alabama will be a good, not great team next season, and unlikely to be a real threat to win a national championship, something that is always the goal in Tuscaloosa.

 

Andy Staples and Ari Wasserman published their “way too early” Top 25 for 2025 on On3 on Monday ahead of the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame national championship game.

 

Seeing where the Crimson Tide is ranked is going to take some getting used to:

 

Alabama comes in at 14th on their ranking, and sixth in the SEC. Obviously, these polls are meaningless, but it gives you an initial glance as to what the national perception currently is surrounding the program. At No. 14, Alabama is the sixth-ranked SEC team in the poll.

 

Take it with a grain of salt, though, as the On3 duo has Auburn ranked No. 11. I get some are bullish on Hugh Freeze and the Tigers after a good recruiting class and Transfer Portal haul, but they’ll have to show me on the football field after four consecutive losing seasons on the Plains before I’d be willing to bet on them being a borderline Top 10 team.

 

Alabama has plenty of talent returning in 2025 but will have to figure out the QB position in order to be a serious contender in the SEC and National Championship race.

 

Referee Steve Marlowe, shown here during the Penn State-Boise State Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31, also worked the CFP national championship game between Ohio State and Notre Dame on Monday night. He is a Sylacauga native and University of Alabama graduate.

 

The officiating crew for Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship game had a definite Alabama flavor.

 

Four members of the SEC crew that worked the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta have ties to the state of Alabama. Two of them even played football for the Crimson Tide.

 

Head referee Steve Marlowe is a Sylacauga native and an Alabama graduate. He is the “white hat” official in the CFP title game for the first time, having served in the same role during the SEC championship game on Dec. 7 and the Penn State-Boise State quarterfinal game in the Fiesta Bowl on Dec. 31.

 

Umpire Brent Sowell played on the offensive line at Alabama from 1982-85 under coaches Paul “Bear” Bryant and Ray Perkins. A Florida native, Sowell spent three seasons in the NFL with the Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

 

Field judge Phillip Davenport is a lifelong resident of Jasper. He is a graduate of Wallace State Community College.

 

Former Alabama quarterback David Smith is serving as the alternate official, which means he won’t see the field unless one of the other officials is injured or becomes ill. Smith was the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback in 1987 and 1988 under coach Bill Curry.

 

 

 

Simpson will be a redshirt junior next season for the Crimson Tide. He is currently the most experienced quarterback on the Crimson Tide’s roster as the former five-star has served as the Tide’s primary back up in back-to-back seasons.

 

The Tennessee product saw action in six games while playing behind Jalen Milroe in 2024. He threw for 167 yards on 14 completions to go along with 44 rushing yards and a score.

 

Simpson’s most meaningful snaps during his time at Alabama came against USF during the 2023 season. He took over at quarterback after Tyler Buchner got off to an undesirable start, and Simpson led Alabama to a win over the Bulls, completing five passes for 73 yards and running in a score.

 

The quarterback battle in Tuscaloosa will garner a lot of attention in the coming months.

 

This article first appeared on Touchdown Alabama Magazine and was syndicated with permission.

 

 

Texas HC Steve Sarkisian’s ‘significant raise’ should shut…

 

Marcus Freeman breaks silence on NFL interest amid Notre Dame…

Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman is attracting interest from NFL teams, and he offered a public response to that interest on Saturday.

Freeman has been linked to the Chicago Bears head-coaching position, but brushed that interest aside when asked about it at his press conference Saturday. He said the interest has been “humbling,” but he has paid no attention to it. “The reality is that with team success comes individual recognition,” Freeman said.

“To hear that the Bears have interest, it’s humbling. It’s the NFL. But it’s also a reminder that with team success comes individual success. “I have put zero thought into coaching in the NFL. All my attention has just been getting this team prepared for the opportunity in front of us.” The Bears have not yet interviewed Freeman, but reports suggest they would like to.

They may get that chance after Monday’s national title game, as this is not a flat rejection from the Notre Dame coach. Freeman is 33-9 in three-plus seasons at Notre Dame. He played linebacker for the Bears in 2009, so he does have some preexisting ties to the franchise.

 

 

 

Thatcher Demko no longer wants to play for Canucks according to…

A former NHL head coach says that Canucks goaltender Thatcher Demko doesn’t want to play in Vancouver.

The Canucks are a team filled with drama right now, from the trade rumors swirling about J.T. Miller and Elias Pettersson, the contract status of Brock Boeser and now, Demko wants out? Demko has had a rough last 10 months from a pair of knee injuries, to a slow recovery process and not making his 2024-25 season debut until Dec. 10 against the St.

Louis Blues. The 29-year-old is coming off the best season of his career in 2023-24 where he was a runner-up to Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck for the Vezina Trophy and while there’s still plenty of time to rebound this season, is it possible we see Demko moved by the Canucks? One former NHL head coach shared some interesting comments on Demko and his future with the Canucks.

Doug MacLean says that Thatcher Demko doesn’t want to play in Vancouver Former Florida Panthers and Columbus Blue Jackets head coach Doug MacLean was a guest on Real Kyper and Bourne on Friday where he made some eye-opening comments on the Canucks’ star goaltender.

Firstly, MacLean said that Thatcher Demko isn’t too excited to be between the pipes right now and followed that up by adding that he’s heard the Canucks’ netminder doesn’t want to play in Vancouver (around the 10:00 mark). “I hear that [Demko] is not that excited to get into the net right now.” MacLean said.

He added, “I’m even hearing Demko doesn’t want to play [in Vancouver].” Demko has spent his entire NHL career with the Canucks and is an important piece of the team’s core and while it’s unclear whether or not MacLean is telling the truth, losing him would be a massive blow to the organization. The San Diego native is currently fourth all-time in wins in franchise history with 118 and seventh all-time with eight shutouts, five of which came during his career-year in 2023-24.

We’ll have to wait to see if there’s any fire to this smoke or if another NHL insider will come along and squash this rumor, but it would be safe to assume the latter.

 

Report: Bears candidate Ben Johnson makes interesting agency…

 

Details of a Failed Trade Emerge Between Rangers and Canucks:…

The Canucks and Rangers almost had a deal on Saturday, and now, two major pieces that were almost involved have officially been revealed. On Saturday, a deal came excruciatingly close between the Vancouver Canucks and the New York Rangers involving star forward J.T. Miller, but ultimately nothing came of it despite the report being confirmed by Elliotte Friedman.

While that doesn’t mean the deal is dead completely, the terms could be changing, with Larry Brooks of the New York Post suggesting that either AlexisLafreniere or Braden Schneider would be candidates to head to Vancouver in the deal. It’s not yet been confirmed why these deals fell apart, as we don’t know the entire parameters of the trade as of yet, but if Vancouver could land either young star, they’d be very happy moving forward.

We’ve heard in recent times that Schneider became a deal breaker for New York, but with the team pushing hard to land Miller as an answer down the middle, they’ve finally decided that he may be the perfect piece to get Miller.

The most shocking name involved however was Alexis Lafreniere, as he finally started putting the pieces together last year as the former No. 1 overall pick, but with a down season in 2024/25, there’s a chance they could move him to turn around the drama surrounding their own team.

Unsurprisingly, this is a move that would infuriate Rangers fans, as they believe in Lafreniere’s long-term potential, and after signing him to a long-term deal, it doesn’t make sense to then move him.

However, for Vancouver, it would be an absolute steal, and if they can unload their problematic forward for a former No. 1 overall pick, they’ll be hoping that any deal involving No. 13 is somehow still on the table.

 

Ex-Alabama star shares strong sentiment on college football having super teams like Nick Saban-era Crimson Tide image

For the second straight year, the College Football Championship Game will not feature a team from the SEC as Ohio State takes on Notre Dame. After a dominant stretch of representation in the big game from 2016 to 2023, the SEC has been outshined by the growing parity of college football in back-to-back playoffs.

 

Despite a fresh change in scenery for the landscape of the sport, many college football fans have fond memories of rooting for – or against – the SEC super teams of the past decade. CFB juggernauts like Alabama and Georgia offered a polarizing product for fans across the country to tune into week in and week out.

 

At the 11th Annual Allstate Party at the Playoff on January 18, ex-Alabama star and college football analyst Greg McElroy spoke with me about the underrated value of CFB super teams ahead of the championship game.

 

“I do think that parity is valuable as long as we acknowledge having the ‘Death Star,’ if you will, is still of importance,” McElroy said. “We need that polarizing program that everyone loves or everyone hates, but you better feel something about that team that’s at the end of that run.

 

“As an Alabama guy, there are a lot of people that support Alabama but there are also a lot of people that really like to see Alabama lose. And I think that is valuable for the long run with where we’re at as a sport.”

 

McElroy’s proposed “Death Star” squad existed in the form of Nick Saban’s Bama teams that won six national championships in eleven years from 2010 to 2020. McElroy played quarterback for the Crimson Tide for four seasons, leading the 2009-10 Alabama team to an undefeated record and a national championship in his first season as a starter.

 

Although McElroy believes in the upside of having super teams in the sport, he also recognizes the beauty of how a team like Notre Dame has risen above the talent-heavy SEC and grinded its way to a championship opportunity.

 

“We just want the teams that are the most consistent to win the championship,” McElroy told me. “I think this system kind of rewards consistency, and we should celebrate that … I don’t think Notre Dame has the most talent right now, but they might be the best team. And that, I think, is celebrated by pretty much everyone that follows the sport.”

On Saturday, D.J. Dale, a former defensive lineman for Alabama, signed a contract with the Massachusetts Pirates of the Indoor Football League. The Buffalo Bills practice squad included Dale most recently in 2023.

From 2019 to 2022, Dale was a player at Alabama.

He participated in 48 Crimson Tide games. Dale recorded 11.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and 74 tackles. During his four seasons at The Capstone, the Alabama native was a vital contributor up front for Alabama.

Dale chose not to use his last year, which was a COVID year, after his senior season ended.

He joined with the Bills as an undrafted free agent after going undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Before being waived, Dale was with the Bills organization for around three months.

He will now try to pursue a career in a different league as a professional. Observing Dale’s performance with his new crew will be fascinating.

He might use this as a chance to establish himself and eventually make a comeback to the NFL.