College Football Network recently released their preseason All-American honors for the 2024 season, with 4 Crimson Tide players receiving national attention. Which standouts from the reigning SEC champions were singled out for significant praise ahead of the 2024 college football campaign? Let’s find out!
Which Alabama Players Earned CFN All-American Honors?
What a difference a year makes.
365 days ago, not many would have predicted that the 2024 Alabama football season would welcome a new head coach for the first time in 17 years. Then again, not many would have predicted that coach would have his name forever printed on Bryant-Denny Stadium when he began his tenure at Alabama 17 years ago.
As Kalen DeBoer ushers in a new path of a road constructed and paved by Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, he will do so with a talented roster and a conference title to defend.
For the eighth time in the last decade, the Crimson Tide have a roster coming off an appearance in the College Football Playoff. Despite the coaching change, Alabama is also adding to its top-five freshman recruiting class, which has become the norm since Saban’s arrival in 2007.
Despite big shoes to fill from CFN All-American Will Reichard, the boot of Graham Nicholson — CFN’s Kicker of the Year — should provide DeBoer with the same level of confidence when needing a big kick.
Here’s what CFN Executive Director Cam Mellor had to say about Alabama’s All-American honorees.
Graham Nicholson, K (Specialist of the Year, Kicker of the Year, First-Team All-American)
It was a pretty easy exercise to give Graham Nicholson the top honors here. Nicholson transfers to Alabama, where he can put his cannon for a leg and surefire accuracy to good use on an even bigger basis than he ever did with Miami.
Nicholson was 22-of-29 from 40+ yards in his three-year career with the RedHawks but was simply automatic in his final season with Miami from shorter distances. This was a perfect 17-of-17 from within 39 yards, thus making the RedHawks’ red zone a near automatic point-scoring zone.
He has been good from plus-50 in his career, and he’s improved his lone bugaboo (his extra points) in each year of his career. Pushing it more in favor of Nicholson is the fact that he also booted 52 touchbacks a season ago on kickoffs.
Parker Brailsford, C (Center of the Year, First-Team All-American)
Parker Brailsford was the only other player in consideration for impact newcomer and offensive transfer of the year with the two quarterbacks in question. And that speaks volumes to the big man’s ability on the inside.
Oft-overlooked, a center’s ability within their offense should be measured by not just their consistency on the ground or in pass protection but also with their ability to call the shots on the offensive line and be the only person on the field that’s guaranteed to touch the ball on every play.
Brailsford is consistent in all facets and really turned it up a notch against top-tier opponents. He’s gifted in pass protection, but a physically-dominant specimen on the ground.
Full List of Alabama Players Earning CFN All-American Honors
- Graham Nicholson, K (Specialist of the Year, Kicker of the Year, First-Team All-American)
- Parker Brailsford, C (Center of the Year, First-Team All-American)
- James Burnip, P (Third-Team All-American)
- Jalen Milroe, QB (Honorable Mention All-American)
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