Jumbo Package: Zabien Brown “clutch gene” is huge for Alabama defense in 2026
· Yahoo Sports
Happy Friday, everyone. Today is a holiday for many as we plan to celebrate ‘Murica, including sportswriters. But we will bring you what we have per usual.
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Nick Kelly covered “clutch” Zabien Brown in the latest “50 players” series.
“It’s just a clutch gene,” Brown said underneath the stadium in December after the game. “I don’t know what it is. It’s just clutch.”
Brown was also two months removed from another pick six, one he took 99 yards before halftime against Tennessee at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Had there been a roof, it would have shattered in that moment.
Brown has established through two seasons with the Crimson Tide that he’s the epitome of a playmaker. His interception to secure the victory over Georgia in 2024 also comes to mind.
Now, he heads into his third season with the program as one of Alabama’s best players.
His Pick Six vs Tennessee will never get old, and neither will the video of this British couple experiencing it.
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Sign girl wrote about a podcast where AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson discussed Kalen DeBoer’s recruiting strategy for this season.
Former national champions AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson recently came to Kalen DeBoer’s defense on The Dynastypodcast, making it clear they believe Alabama’s current recruiting strategy isn’t a problem. In fact, they believe it’s exactly what college football requires in today’s landscape.
“He told you what the plan was,” McCarron said. “I think in this day and age, if you can retain guys and create a culture and build a culture and make it to where it feels like it’s old school a little bit, like while we were playing, I think that’s the route to go.”
Richardson echoed that sentiment.
“He’s trying to develop guys; he’s trying to contain his roster, which I get.”
A bunch of Saban era players are getting paid.
When cornerback Patrick Surtain II landed a four-year, $96-million contract with the Denver Broncos before the 2024 season it was a record-setting extension, and made him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history. Due to changes in the market for cornerbacks, it’s already been tweaked to bring his annual average up to roughly $29 million.
Houston Texans defensive end/edge rusher Will Anderson Jr.’s recent contract extension was a three-year, $150-million deal, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in league history. It averages $50 million per year, most of which is guaranteed.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts’ contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023 was for five years, $255 million. The deal runs through the 2028 season, and could bring his career earnings up to $265,905,119.
Collin Sexton has been signed to replace LeBron James.
The Los Angeles Lakers are adding Collin Sexton in NBA free agency, agreeing on a two-year, $19 million contract with the former Alabama guard.
Sexton can’t sign the contract, which was reported by ESPN and NBA.com on Wednesday, until Monday, when the NBA’s business year begins.
The Lakers are losing forward Lebron James and his 20.9-points-per-game scoring average of the 2025-26 season this offseason. Sexton comes to Los Angeles with a career scoring average of 18.3 points per game, but likely will be coming off the bench if the Lakers continue with a starting backcourt of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. A six-time All-Star, Doncic was the NBA’s leading scorer last season with an average of 33.5 points per game. Reaves averaged 23.3 points per game and will sign a four-year, $185 million contract extension next week.
OK, maybe that was hyperbole.
Last, for the gamers among us.
The top changes in College Football 27 come in its top game mode: dynasty mode. It now has more real-life features to put players fully in charge, such a deciding how you want to allocate time and resources − money − toward your program with dynasty points, giving everyone a unique way on how it builds a team. Part of that is a new NIL feature where gamers will actually need to spend some resources to get top-tier players to go to your school − and keep them on the roster. Recruiting also has tweaks to where high school players can decommit, and the coaching cycle is more fluid.
As for gameplay, pre-snap adjustments are much easier to access, streamlining the flow of games while making adjustments to the gameplan, especially on defense. There are expanded playbooks, and road to glory has more position to put a created player.
That’s about it for today. Have a great, and safe, weekend.
Roll Tide.