All-America Watch: Alabama WR Jerry Jeudy off to fast start
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Alabama wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (4) runs a pass reception win for a 19-yard touchdown against New Mexico State during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Jerry Jeudy couldn't pass up the chance to work out with one of the NFL's best receivers, a guy he has been watching since high school.
The Alabama star reached out to Antonio Brown over the summer on Instagram while both were training in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
"I just hit him up and asked if one day we could link up and get some work in," Jeudy said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}That workout is just one example of how Jeudy, who is off to a red-hot start, has often studied or worked out with star receivers trying to improve his game. In high school, he trained regularly with current Atlanta Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley in south Florida, but he also spent hours on line studying players like Brown, Ridley, Amari Cooper and Julio Jones.
Even after winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver as a sophomore, Jeudy was trying to improve on things like his mastery of Alabama's offense and reading coverages more quickly.
"You always want to get better," said Jeudy, who was named to the AP preseason All-America team presented by Regions Bank. "My motivation was just to get better than I was last year. You should never be satisfied. Just all the little things that you need to work on to be the best receiver you can be. You can never be perfect. There's always something to work on."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Jeudy has had two huge games to start the season and is trying to join Justin Blackmon and Michael Crabtree as the only repeat Biletnikoff winners. He had a career-high 10 catches for 137 yards against Duke and then added 103 yards on eight catches with a school record-tying three touchdowns in a rout of New Mexico State ahead of this weekend's Southeastern Conference opener at South Carolina.
He's had a much quieter summer than Brown, who was released by the Oakland Raiders and signed by New England over the weekend.
That topic is out of the comfort zone for Jeudy, who comes across as decidedly less flamboyant than the four-time All-Pro.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"That's Antonio Brown. That has nothing to do with me," he said. "I'm just focused on what we've got going on here."
Some of Jeudy's teammates were surprised and impressed when Jeudy posted video on Instagram of his workout with such a big-name NFL player, a fellow Florida native.
"Well he's from Florida, so of course I guess they're close but it was kind of surprising to me because I don't really have a bunch of NFL guys that I'm friends with," safety Xavier McKinney said. "But I thought it was cool to see him working out with AB."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he has seen growth from Jeudy off the field, too. He cites his leadership but also Jeudy's other interactions with teammates.
"Before it would just be me and Jerry hanging out all the time," Tagovailoa said. "Jerry hangs out with a lot of other guys now, he doesn't just sit and eat with me. Off the field, that aspect, I see a big improvement for Jerry."
The statistics so far have been a good sign, too.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}WHO'S HOT
LSU QB Joe Burrow hasn't gotten nearly as much hype as some of the more high-profile passers this season, but he delivered in a big way in a top 10 matchup with Texas. Burrow passed for 471 yards and four touchdowns in the fourth-ranked Tigers' 45-38 win over Texas . He connected with Justin Jefferson on a 61-yarder with 2:27 left.
WHO'S NOT
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Nebraska QB Adrian Martinez completed his first nine passes for 180 yards before halftime against Colorado last week. In the second half, Martinez was sacked six times and intercepted once, going 7 of 15 for 110 yards. There was plenty of blame to go around for blowing a 17-0 halftime lead before losing in overtime , of course.
ON THE LINE (Former Auburn offensive lineman and SEC Network analyst Cole Cubelic spotlights some of the best blockers in the country)
Texas LT Samuel Cosmi. The sophomore had quite a battle against LSU DE K'Lavon Chaisson last Saturday. He didn't win every play, but played with tenacity and great effort against one of the best pass rushers in the country.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Love his demeanor on the field," Cubelic said. "Plays angry and finishes well. Is violent with his hands and creative in how he gets wins."
ALL-AMERICA MATCHUP
Michigan State LB Joe Bachie vs. Arizona State RB Eno Benjamin.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Bache is a preseason All-American who has 13 tackles through games against Tulsa and Western Michigan. He's reached triple digits each of the past two seasons. A big defensive challenge this week is containing the workhorse Benjamin, who has already carried 46 times for 171 yards and been an equally big threat in the passing game. He has seven catches for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The second-team All-American was held to 69 yards on 24 carries by Sacramento State and now faces Bachie and one of the best run defenses in the country.