DeMeco Ryans has been named the SEC Defensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press.

DeMeco was also a unanimous First-Team All-SEC pick at linebacker.

Ryans played in 11 games and led UA with 69 tackles. He was second on the team with 3 1/2 sacks (-31) and 13 tackles for loss (-46) this year. He also added four quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles, two PBUs, one interception and one fumble recovery. Ryans is fifth all-time at Alabama with 300 career tackles. Ryans anchored an Alabama defense that ranked first nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 10.7 points per game. The Crimson Tide will likely finish the 2005 season with the fewest points allowed since the 1996 defense gave up 143 points (11.0 per game).




University of Alabama head coach Mike Shula has been named the AFCA's
Regional Coach of the Year.

The 2005 Regional Coach of the Year winners will be recognized at the AFCA Coach of the Year Dinner at the 2006 AFCA Convention in Dallas. The dinner is scheduled for January 10.


Prothro’s catch is one of four finalists for the ESPN Pontiac Game-Changing Performance of the Year.

The winner will be announced at halftime of the BCS National Championship game on Jan. 4, 2006 on ABC Sports. Pontiac will make a $100,000 donation to the winning school’s general scholarship fund.

Prothro’s catch against Southern Miss was one of five weekly winners by Alabama this season.

Other UA winners this season were Brodie Croyle’s 46-yard pass to Keith Brown at South Carolina, Croyle’s 87-yard TD pass to Prothro vs. Florida, Roman Harper’s caused fumble vs. Tennessee and Matt Miller’s fumble return of a second half kickoff at MIss. State. Pontiac awarded Alabama $5,000 for each Pontiac Game Changing Performance this season, totaling $25,000 to the general scholarship fund.

To vote for Prothro’s catch as Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the Year log on to espn.com and the keyword is Pontiac.

Don't forget, you can vote once per week, so vote often!