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Yahoo
12 hours ago
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- Yahoo
Alabama football 2025 season preview, predictions: Justin Jefferson
After emerging with a breakout campaign a year ago, inside linebacker Justin Jefferson is back for one final season with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2025. Returning for year three at Alabama, Jefferson originally entered this past offseason thought to be out of eligibility, but now gets one more season due to having begun his collegiate career in junior college. With this return, Jefferson now enters the 2025 season expected to play a major role for the Crimson Tide at inside linebacker, potentially as a starter, while also changing jersey numbers from No. 15 to No. 10. A player who could be key toward Alabama's success defensively in 2025, here is a look at everything you need to know about linebacker Justin Jefferson entering this season. Justin Jefferson player information Position: Linebacker Jersey Number: No. 10 Height: 6'1 Weight: 227 Class: Redshirt Senior Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee High School: Bartlett Justin Jefferson career stats A player who originally began his collegiate career in junior college, Jefferson will be entering his third season at the FBS level in 2025. With the last two coming at Alabama, Jefferson has appeared in a combined 26 games with the Crimson Tide in which he has compiled 64 tackles, 6.5 TFL, two sacks, one PD, and two forced fumbles. Justin Jefferson 2024 stats As mentioned previously, Jefferson's 2024 season at Alabama was a breakout campaign for the inside linebacker in which he appeared in 12 games for the Crimson Tide, three of which he started. In all, Jefferson amassed 60 tackles with 6.5 TFL, two sacks, one PD, and one forced fumble. Justin Jefferson recruiting ranking According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Jefferson was unranked as a prospect nationally in the 2021 class, coming out of Bartlett High School in Tennessee. After spending two seasons in junior college, Jefferson then came to Alabama as a member of the Crimson Tide's 2023 class, rated as the nation's No. 2 overall JUCO prospect, as well as the No. 1 linebacker nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. A four-star prospect, Jefferson attended Pearl River Community College in Mississippi, and committed to Alabama in June 2022. Justin Jefferson 2025 season outlook Coming off a breakout 2024 season, Jefferson is likely to be a key member of Alabama's defensive unit in 2025. As to what potential role that comes in, Jefferson began last season as a rotational linebacker behind the duo of Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell, but still saw a significant amount of action. With Lawson returning also, Jefferson is now arguably the favorite to takeover as the second starter at inside linebacker for the Crimson Tide, but will have to win the job over others such as Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green. Overall, expect yet another career-year for Jefferson this fall, and for the redshirt senior to start for the Crimson Tide at inside linebacker. Justin Jefferson 2025 season prediction 2025 Prediction: 80 tackles, 8.5 TFL, 3 sacks, 1 FF Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Alabama football 2025 preview, predictions: Justin Jefferson
USA Today
12 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama football 2025 season preview, predictions: Justin Jefferson
After emerging with a breakout campaign a year ago, inside linebacker Justin Jefferson is back for one final season with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2025. Returning for year three at Alabama, Jefferson originally entered this past offseason thought to be out of eligibility, but now gets one more season due to having begun his collegiate career in junior college. With this return, Jefferson now enters the 2025 season expected to play a major role for the Crimson Tide at inside linebacker, potentially as a starter, while also changing jersey numbers from No. 15 to No. 10. A player who could be key toward Alabama's success defensively in 2025, here is a look at everything you need to know about linebacker Justin Jefferson entering this season. Justin Jefferson player information Justin Jefferson career stats A player who originally began his collegiate career in junior college, Jefferson will be entering his third season at the FBS level in 2025. With the last two coming at Alabama, Jefferson has appeared in a combined 26 games with the Crimson Tide in which he has compiled 64 tackles, 6.5 TFL, two sacks, one PD, and two forced fumbles. Justin Jefferson 2024 stats As mentioned previously, Jefferson's 2024 season at Alabama was a breakout campaign for the inside linebacker in which he appeared in 12 games for the Crimson Tide, three of which he started. In all, Jefferson amassed 60 tackles with 6.5 TFL, two sacks, one PD, and one forced fumble. Justin Jefferson recruiting ranking According to the 247Sports Composite rankings, Jefferson was unranked as a prospect nationally in the 2021 class, coming out of Bartlett High School in Tennessee. After spending two seasons in junior college, Jefferson then came to Alabama as a member of the Crimson Tide's 2023 class, rated as the nation's No. 2 overall JUCO prospect, as well as the No. 1 linebacker nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. A four-star prospect, Jefferson attended Pearl River Community College in Mississippi, and committed to Alabama in June 2022. Justin Jefferson 2025 season outlook Coming off a breakout 2024 season, Jefferson is likely to be a key member of Alabama's defensive unit in 2025. As to what potential role that comes in, Jefferson began last season as a rotational linebacker behind the duo of Deontae Lawson and Jihaad Campbell, but still saw a significant amount of action. With Lawson returning also, Jefferson is now arguably the favorite to takeover as the second starter at inside linebacker for the Crimson Tide, but will have to win the job over others such as Colorado transfer Nikhai Hill-Green. Overall, expect yet another career-year for Jefferson this fall, and for the redshirt senior to start for the Crimson Tide at inside linebacker. Justin Jefferson 2025 season prediction Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Georgia, LSU or Tennessee? ESPN names Alabama football's biggest 'swing game' of 2025
The 2025 schedule for Alabama football features no shortage of big games and challenges ahead. The Crimson Tide have largely the same schedule as 2024. In SEC play, they'll face the same opponents as last season, only with home vs. away dates flipped. Alabama also hosts Wisconsin on the back end of a home-and-home series, leaving room for just three new opponents on the 2025 schedule. Alabama opens the season with its first ever visit to Tallahassee to face Florida State instead of hosting Western Kentucky. The Crimson Tide host Louisiana Monroe (ULM) rather than South Florida, and Eastern Illinois replaces Mercer this year as an FCS opponent. Having the same eight opponents in conference play also means that Alabama will face Georgia in a rematch of last year's classic won by the Tide. It will mark Alabama's first visit to Sanford Stadium since 2015 when the Crimson Tide won as underdogs against Mark Richt's final Bulldogs team. On Wednesday, ESPN's panel of college football insiders called Alabama-Georgia the biggest swing game of the year for the Crimson Tide. Chris Low reasoned: "A loss at Georgia wouldn't necessarily be a crippling blow, especially since Georgia hasn't lost a game at home in five years, but winning in Athens would afford Alabama a mulligan (or two) if the Tide were to trip up the rest of the way against somebody they shouldn't lose to." Alabama knows a thing or two about that, given that they followed up last year's thrilling 41-34 win over the Dawgs with a first-in-40-years loss to Vanderbilt. The Tide also "tripped up" late last season in an ugly 24-3 clunker at Oklahoma that ultimately proved fatal to their College Football Playoff hopes. Earlier this summer, the SEC announced that kickoff for Alabama-Georgia would be in prime time (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC). Georgia's five-year home winning streak notwithstanding, Alabama hasn't lost a regular season game to the Bulldogs since Nick Saban's first year in Tuscaloosa in 2007. The Tide's last loss in Athens was in 2003 during Mike Shula's first season as coach; though in fairness, the two teams have met Between the Hedges only three times this century. Something will have to give when Alabama and Georgia meet on Sept. 27. Alabama football schedule 2025, game by game Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, formerly Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama Crimson Tide news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Tennessee In The Top 100 College Football Rivalries
Lucas Panzica discusses the top 100 college football rivalries and the five matchups that made the rankings on this list (Alabama Crimson Tide, Florida Gators, Georgia Bulldogs, Kentucky Wildcats, and Vanderbilt Commodores)
Yahoo
a day ago
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- Yahoo
Why Alabama basketball payout from Players Era Festival dropped from $1m to $100K for 2025
Alabama basketball is headed back to Las Vegas to collect the only guaranteed cash in Sin City. The Crimson Tide walked away from the 2024 Players Era Festival tournament with the $1 million it was promised for participating, plus $250k for finishing runner-up to Oregon. Although it was harder to enjoy the payday with the loss of Latrell Wrightsell Jr. to injury against the Ducks, the three-day competition was one of the turning points on Alabama's second straight run to the Elite Eight. As a result, there wasn't a question as to whether UA would try for the title again. This year still offers high-value competition, but the dollar amount banked by Alabama and the 17 other participating teams will be smaller. LOOKING AHEAD! Alabama basketball and USF series is official: Where could 2026 game in Tampa be played? REQUIRED READING: Alabama basketball's Grant Nelson shares story behind viral black-eye with Brooklyn Nets According to contracts obtained by The Tuscaloosa News through an open records request to the University of Alabama, Alabama will receive a "sponsor fee" of $100k − far less from the base $1 million teams received in 2024. ESPN and CBS claimed each team will receive more than $1 million, but that amount wasn't listed anywhere as a guaranteed payout in Alabama's contract, nor were any bonuses for taking the championship or finishing runner-up. Per Jeff Goodman of the Field of 68, only the tournament winner is guaranteed $1 million while the second-, third- and fourth-place teams will receive $500k, $300k and $200k, respectively. The financial difference can be explained by the expansion of the Players Era Festival, which will now host 18 teams after only hosting eight (Alabama, Creighton, Houston, Notre Dame, Oregon, Rutgers, San Diego State, Texas A&M) last year, as well as House settlement rules that restrict power-conference schools to a cap of nearly $20 million per year given directly to athletes. Per Alabama's contract, the tournament is making up for the lower take-home amount with the following benefits: a $50k airfare stipend, seven nights of lodging at MGM Grand for up to 35 people − and "up to one suite" at the hotel ‒ three meals per day and a 50-passenger motor coach for each day of the tournament. With the exception of Texas A&M, UA will be joined by all of the inaugural teams at the 2025 tournament, along with new participants Maryland, Auburn, Baylor, Gonzaga, Iowa State, Kansas, Michigan, St. John's, Syracuse, Tennessee and UNLV. Here's a look at the full schedule. When will Alabama basketball play in 2025 Players Era Festival? All times are CT. Monday, Nov. 24 Tennessee vs. Rutgers, 12 p.m. Baylor vs. Creighton, 1 p.m. Kansas vs. Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. St. John's vs. Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. Houston vs. Syracuse, 5 p.m. Oregon vs. Auburn, 7 p.m. Alabama vs. Gonzaga, 8:30 p.m. Michigan vs. San Diego State, 9:30 p.m. Maryland vs. UNLV, 11 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25 Rutgers vs. Notre Dame, 12 p.m. Iowa State vs. Creighton, 1:30 p.m. Kansas vs. Syracuse, 2:30 p.m. St. John's vs. Baylor, 4 p.m. Houston vs. Tennessee, 5 p.m. Michigan vs. Auburn, 7:30 p.m. Gonzaga vs. Maryland, 8:30 p.m. Oregon vs. San Diego State, 10 p.m. Alabama vs. UNLV, 11 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26 Consolation/third-place game: 5 p.m. Championship game: 8:30 p.m. Where could Alabama basketball play while in Las Vegas? Michelob Ultra Arena and MGM Grand Garden Arena were listed in the contract as the two possible venues where Alabama could play during its time in Las Vegas. How much will tickets be for Players Era Festival? Alabama's contract with the Players Era Festival required the school to purchase 500 tickets to each of its games and outlined an "average ticket value" of $150, highlighting a 10% discount "applied before purchase." Thereafter, the participant is allowed to resell the tickets "for any price it wishes." Expect for the ticket package to be valued at over $150 once they're available for sale through UA. Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@ This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Alabama basketball payout from Players Era dropped from $1m to $100K
