With this being the final home issue of Gameday this semester, it is only fitting that the seniors on the 2014-15 football team are recognized. These seniors have only had one losing streak at Alabama after the 2013 Iron Bowl and 2014 Allstate Sugar Bowl losses. Those who have been at Alabama for five years have been to four bowl games, including two national championships. They are 3-1 in bowl games, with two national championships. At date of publication, they have a 55-8 record.
“We’ve had a very good group of seniors this year and have a very good leadership group,” Alabama coach Nick Saban said of his seniors. “I think the best thing about this team, the best thing about our seniors is they’re all really well liked by their teammates and that really starts with the fact that they care, and they care about other people on the team and are willing to spend time to help the other people on the team – which is really, other than setting a good example, is one of the most important parts about leadership, and I think that’s made the team chemistry on this team really good.”
Leon Brown, OL
Hometown: Riverdale, Maryland
Brown, a JuCo transfer, made an almost immediate impact in his first season last year. He was a reserve tackle and played nine games: Virginia Tech, Colorado State, Ole Miss, Georgia State, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Tennessee-Chattanooga and Oklahoma. He started the Sugar Bowl at right guard. This season, he’s started against every opponent except Florida Atlantic. He saw action against FAU.
Trey DePriest, LB
Hometown: Springfield, Ohio
Prior to 2014, DePriest had 26 starts. This year, he missed the first game against West Virginia. The senior has started every game since. He has 59 total tackles this season, good for third on the team and the most of any senior. He has three tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a quarterback hurry and a forced fumble. He recorded the team’s first safety of the season against Mississippi State. For his career, he has 208 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception, five pass breakups, three forced fumbles and two recovered fumbles.
Xzavier Dickson, LB
Hometown: Griffin, Georgia
Before the 2014 season, Dickson had six starts and seen action in 33 games. In 2014, he has seen action in every game and started against Florida Atlantic, Arkansas, Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU. He’s notched 29 total tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and two pass breakups. For his career, he has 78 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, three pass breakups and one forced fumble.
Jalston Fowler, RB
Hometown: Mobile
Bachelors: Health Studies (Graduated August 2013)
Masters: Sports Management (Graduates December 2014)
Fowler, a fullback, splits between carries and catches. He’s been a running back, h-back, tight end and worked special teams. He has 113 all-purpose yards this season through ten games, including 87 receiving. For his career, he has 803 yards. This season, he started against West Virginia, Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss.
Brandon Ivory, DL
Bachelors: Consumer Affairs (Graduated December 2013)
Ivory has mostly played as a backup nose tackle in 2014. He’s notched 12 tackles and a half tackle for loss in 10 games. He’s accrued 63 tackles for his career and three tackles for loss.
Arie Kouandjio, OL
Bachelors: Finance (Graduated August 2013)
Masters: Economics (Graduates December 2014)
Kouandjio recorded a breakout junior year when he started all 13 games at left guard. He allowed only two sacks all season. In 2013 he helped block for 205.6 yards per game. This year, he’s helped block for 197.9 yards per game on the ground. He’s started every game at left tackle.
Nick Perry, DB
Bachelors: Management (Graduated December 2013)
Masters: Sports Management (Graduates December 2014)
Perry is fourth on the team in tackles this year with 56 total after 10 games played. He snatched his first interception of his career against Mississippi State. He has four pass breakups this year and 1.5 tackles for loss. For his career, he’s totaled 97 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, eight pass breakups and one fumble recovery.
Austin Shepherd, OL
Bachelors: Marketing (Graduated August 2013)
Masters: Marketing (Graduates December 2014)
Shepherd helps anchor an O-line who blocks for 197.9 yards rushing per game this year. He’s started every game this season. His junior year was spent as the starting right tackle. He didn’t allow a sack until the Sugar Bowl.
Blake Sims, QB
Bachelors: General Studies (Graduated May 2014)
After years of playing wherever he was needed, Sims got his chance at quarterback. Now with 10 games behind him, he’s second in the nation in total QBR. He has 2,698 yards passing, with 2,454 coming this season. He has 3,333 all-purpose yards for his career, 2,734 of which have come in 10 games this year.
Brian Vogler, TE
Bachelors: Marketing (Graduated December 2013)
Masters: Sports Management (Graduates December 2014)
Vogler’s battled several injuries this season, but has scored once this season in ten games. He has 113 yards receiving for his career. This year, he’s played an important role with the run game, serving as a blocker to help Alabama to 197.9 yards per game on the ground.
DeAndrew White, WR
Bachelors: General Studies (Graduated December 2013)
White has rebounded from nagging injuries and in eight games has 319 yards receiving. He’s had two receiving touchdowns, both games winners at Arkansas and LSU. For his career, he has 10 touchdowns with 1,109 yards receiving. He has 1,220 all-purpose yards.
