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Both No. 2 Alabama and No. 17 Mississippi State are coming off big Week 10 wins against two Tigers teams to face another tough competitor: each other.
The Bulldogs had a Thursday night 31-13 romping over Missouri, so they’ll have a couple of extra days to prepare for the Tide. But the team is also still mourning the Friday night loss of freshman DL Keith Joseph, Jr., which could affect where the players heads are coming into this matchup.
The Tide got a huge 30-16 statement victory over No. 2 LSU, so while it has gained some extra confidence, it also risks overlooking the Bulldogs as inferior to the Bayou Bengals. Plus, the LSU matchup was a physical one, and many of the players are likely nursing some of the residual effects.
A quality win is a team effort, but there will always be handful of players that answer the call a little louder than others.
Here are the five Tide players to watch as Alabama faces Mississippi State in Starkville in Week 11.
1. RB Derrick Henry: After the impressive showing against the Tigers, Henry has thrust himself not just into the Heisman race but as the Heisman frontrunner. He still has a long way to go if he wants to show voters he can be that good consistently, but it was definitely his statement game. Yet with the spotlight on him, he continues to deflect the praise to the rest of his team.
“I’m not really worried about the Heisman,” Henry said. “We came out and we played and we competed, and we beat a great team as a whole.”
Let’s hope he keeps that mentality and continues to do what’s best for his team: win even if it means the ball is in someone else’s hands. Because now, every defense left on the schedule is coming straight for him.
2. LB Reggie Ragland: Week in and week out, Ragland plays his part, and he plays it well. With his total tackles rising to 74 after the win over LSU, he will cause problems for the Bulldogs offense this week. And it’s not just the numbers and statistics that make the difference for Ragland as a player, it’s the severity of his hits (just ask LSU TE Colin Jeter or RB Leonard Fournette), the energy with which he comes after the offense and the respect he gets from his teammates as the leader of the Tide defense.
3. DL A’Shawn Robinson: Robinson has been key to the Tide defensive line all season. DL Jarran Reed leads the line with 44 total tackles, but Robinson is No. 2 with 29 total tackles. So why is Robinson a difference maker? Everyone who watched the matchup against LSU saw the 300-plus-pounder leap over the Tigers offensive line to block a PAT. That kind of play reminds us that the most brightly shining stars aren’t the only ones making a difference for the Tide. Watch out for another big week from him against the Bulldogs O-line.
4. CB Cyrus Jones: Jones has been quiet as of late, and he is due for a breakout performance this weekend. The last time he played against a Mississippi team, he had five solo tackles, and the last time he played against Mississippi State he had four solo tackles and an interception. Not only can he make an impact on defense, but he also has something to say about the Tide special teams. In October, he returned punts for 127 yards, and he’s only getting better as the season progresses.
5. RB Kenyan Drake: After Henry’s performance against LSU in Week 10, the Bulldogs are going to be looking for him. Drake will have to step up again this week to give Henry some relief and to give the Bulldogs a different look. Like Jones, Drake is also serving double duty on special teams with 287 total yards on kickoff returns. Drake didn’t have much opportunity to return in October because of various injuries, but now that he’s back full force, we can expect the yardage to rise.
