Alabama Coaching Staff Selects CFP Semifinal Players of the Week

The Alabama Crimson Tide coaching staff named seven players of the week, following the team's 27-6 win over the Cincinnati Bearcats in the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic last Friday.

On offense, coaches honored Evan Neal and Brian Robinson Neal blocked for an Alabama offense that racked up 482 yards by the end of the game, helped open holes to allow the Tide backs to rush for a season-high of 301 yards on the ground, and he also provided time for Bryce Young to throw for 181 yards and three touchdowns through the air.

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Robinson was commended for posting a record-setting day in the Semifinal matchup, rushing for a career-high 204 yards on 26 carries to average 7.8 yards per carry. His were the most rushing yards by an Alabama back in a bowl matchup in program history.

On defense, the Crimson Tide had three players honored: Will Anderson, Jordan Battle and Brian Branch.

Anderson led Alabama with two sacks (-12 yards) while trying for the team-high mark for tackles for loss with two, which were a part of his sick total stops against the Bearcats. He moved his sack total to 17.5 (-108 yards) on the season, half a stack short of tying Derrick Thomas (1987) for second on Alabama's single-season list.

Battle totaled seven tackles against UC to tie for second on the Tide Defense. He contributed six solo stops to tie for the team-high mark and directed an Alabama secondary that limited the Bearcats to just 144 yards passing.

Branch was commended for "making an impact all over the field" in the Semifinal. He finished with a team-high eight tackles, including half a sack (-2 yards). He also added a pair of pass breakups to the Tide's season-high tying six in the game.

On special teams, the Tide honored Demouy Kennedy and Drew Sanders. Kennedy made a key stop on punt coverage to limit the UC returner to a 12-yard gain, and and also saw time on kickoff coverage.

Sanders impacted the game on both special teams and defense, working on the Tide's punt and kickoff coverage against the Bearcats.