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They were stars in Virginia. Now they’re teammates at Alabama. They were stars in Virginia. Now they’re teammates at Alabama.
(about 13 hours later)
DALLAS — They epitomize Alabama circa 2015. They came from afar, from Northern Virginia, because Alabama lures from most everywhere. They belong to the most frightening football unit in the college land, Alabama’s populous and rotating and forbidding defensive line. They have sublimated their former stardoms. They speak in the strategically boring generalities favored by Alabama football under Nick Saban.DALLAS — They epitomize Alabama circa 2015. They came from afar, from Northern Virginia, because Alabama lures from most everywhere. They belong to the most frightening football unit in the college land, Alabama’s populous and rotating and forbidding defensive line. They have sublimated their former stardoms. They speak in the strategically boring generalities favored by Alabama football under Nick Saban.
Jonathan Allen and Da’Shawn Hand seem very well and more than happy, if Allen might be a tad happier than Hand because Allen is a Redskins fan who says, “I’m so proud of them, so proud of the Redskins right now.” (Hand favors the New York Giants.) Jonathan Allen and Da’Shawn Hand seem very well and more than happy; Allen might be a tad happier than Hand because Allen is a Redskins fan who says, “I’m so proud of them, so proud of the Redskins right now.” (Hand favors the New York Giants.)
Allen loves his financial-planning classes in his third year out of Stone Bridge High in Ashburn and sounds like they should quote him in a Tuscaloosa travel brochure. Hand loves his engineering program in his second year from Woodbridge High and makes frequent use of his considerable smile. Allen loves his financial planning classes in his third year out of Stone Bridge High in Ashburn and sounds like they should quote him in a Tuscaloosa travel brochure. Hand loves his engineering program in his second year from Woodbridge High and makes frequent use of his considerable smile.
They tend to deploy the word “craft.”They tend to deploy the word “craft.”
“We hone our craft every day,” Allen, the Washington Post’s All-Met Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, said of football.“We hone our craft every day,” Allen, the Washington Post’s All-Met Defensive Player of the Year in 2012, said of football.
“Just working on the craft,” Hand, the Post’s All-Met Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, said in a separate interview.“Just working on the craft,” Hand, the Post’s All-Met Defensive Player of the Year in 2013, said in a separate interview.
[Archives: “First and 17” documentary of Hand’s senior year.] [Archives: “First and 17” documentary of Hand’s senior year]
As Alabama sets to play Michigan State in a national semifinal game in the Cotton Bowl on Thursday evening, two defensive ends who have known each other since the awards presentations of high school in the D.C. metropolitan area are part of the unit the learned eyeballs will watch most. Alabama ranked first in rushing yards per game allowed (74), first in rushing yards per carry (2.38), first in sacks (46), first in killing off the soaring Heisman Trophy candidacy of Louisiana State’s Leonard Fournette (31 yards on 19 carries on Nov. 7). As Alabama prepares to play Michigan State in a national semifinal game in the Cotton Bowl on Thursday evening, two defensive ends who have known each other since the awards presentations of high school in the D.C. metropolitan area are part of the unit the learned eyeballs will watch most. Alabama ranked first in rushing yards allowed per game (74), first in rushing yards allowed per carry (2.38), first in sacks (46) and first in killing off the soaring Heisman Trophy candidacy of LSU’s Leonard Fournette (31 yards on 19 carries Nov. 7).
[Archives: Allen’s standout sophomore season at Stone Bridge. ] [Archives: Allen’s standout sophomore season at Stone Bridge ]
On a line that typically deploys 11 players with so much NFL-likely talent — A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed et al — that Florida Coach Jim McElwain called it a “front 30,” the 6-foot-3, 283-pound Allen became especially forceful this season. He led Alabama with 10 sacks (12th nationally), made 12 tackles for a loss, made quarterbacks hurry their throws six other times, earned Saban’s detailed lauds for his technique. On a line that typically deploys 11 players with so much NFL-likely talent — A’Shawn Robinson, Jarran Reed et al — that Florida Coach Jim McElwain called it a “front 30,” the 6-foot-3, 283-pound Allen became especially forceful this season. He led Alabama with 10 sacks (12th nationally), made 12 tackles for a loss, made quarterbacks hurry their throws six other times and earned Saban’s detailed lauds for his technique.
“We love playing for it,” he said of the line, “but at the same time it’s a lot of pressure. I hold J. Reed to a high standard, and if he doesn’t get it, I’m going to let him know. And vice versa, and with A’Shawn, and with anybody who plays on the defensive line. So you’re going to be up to a high standard that you’re going” — and he thundered the word “going” — “to uphold or you won’t play on this D-line. If you don’t have a thick skin, you can’t play on this D-line.” “We love playing for it,” Allen said of the line, “but at the same time it’s a lot of pressure. I hold J. Reed to a high standard, and if he doesn’t get it, I’m going to let him know. And vice versa and with A’Shawn and with anybody who plays on the defensive line. So you’re going to be up to a high standard that you’re going” — and he thundered the word “going” — “to uphold or you won’t play on this D-line. If you don’t have a thick skin, you can’t play on this D-line.”
Meanwhile, Hand has become an epitome for experts. As a 6-foot-4, 273-pound man who got 94 scholarship offers two winters ago as rivals.com’s No. 1 prospect, he’s not a starter but also not a bust. That unusual combination is a shouting sign of the unit’s might. Meanwhile, Hand has become an epitome for experts. As a 6-foot-4, 273-pound man who got 94 scholarship offers two winters ago as Rivals.com’s No. 1 prospect, he’s not a starter but also not a bust. That unusual combination is a shouting sign of the unit’s might.
“Man, it’s just keep chopping the wood,” Hand said, believably undiscouraged. “That’s what I’ve been going by. Just got to be patient. Once you realize that, it gets easier and easier. A lot of players get frustrated and everything, but I knew early on what I was getting myself into.”“Man, it’s just keep chopping the wood,” Hand said, believably undiscouraged. “That’s what I’ve been going by. Just got to be patient. Once you realize that, it gets easier and easier. A lot of players get frustrated and everything, but I knew early on what I was getting myself into.”
Defensive line coach Bo Davis says he “really, really” enjoys coaching Allen and then also raves about Hand. “You know,” Davis said, “he’ll come and meet with me on Sundays, after the games, and he asks me a lot. ‘Hey Coach, what do I need to work on?’ ‘What’d you see?’ So he’s very self-conscious of what he does.” Such meetings aren’t mandatory. “He does it on his own,” Davis said. “That lets me know a man has a lot of pride about what he does and what he wants.”Defensive line coach Bo Davis says he “really, really” enjoys coaching Allen and then also raves about Hand. “You know,” Davis said, “he’ll come and meet with me on Sundays, after the games, and he asks me a lot. ‘Hey Coach, what do I need to work on?’ ‘What’d you see?’ So he’s very self-conscious of what he does.” Such meetings aren’t mandatory. “He does it on his own,” Davis said. “That lets me know a man has a lot of pride about what he does and what he wants.”
An otherworldly amount of learning seems prehensile around that defensive front.An otherworldly amount of learning seems prehensile around that defensive front.
In 1992, Alabama defensive ends John Copeland and Eric Curry mauled favored Miami in the Sugar Bowl that doubled as national-title game. In November, in the Montgomery Advertiser, Copeland wrote, “At this point in the year, Alabama fans should understand they might be looking at the best college defensive line they might see in their whole lifetime.” He cited all the size, talent, interchangeability and wrote, “It’s like they’re made in a factory. They’re all big, fast and agile.” In 1992, Alabama defensive ends John Copeland and Eric Curry mauled favored Miami in the Sugar Bowl that doubled as the national title game. In November, in the Montgomery Advertiser, Copeland wrote, “At this point in the year, Alabama fans should understand they might be looking at the best college defensive line they might see in their whole lifetime.” He cited all the size, talent, interchangeability and wrote, “It’s like they’re made in a factory. They’re all big, fast and agile.”
[Spartans’ Jalen Watts-Jackson and his 10-second dash to glory.] [Spartans’ Jalen Watts-Jackson and his 10-second dash to glory]
Michigan State will aim to cope using an offensive line that has healed to full from some in-season absences, and with a quarterback who has piloted the team for seemingly a decade. Said the three-year, 38-game starter Connor Cook of Alabama’s line, “They’ve got the depth. And obviously, the talent. The talent is there. Everyone sees that. They’ve got the size. They’ve got the speed, athleticism.” Michigan State will aim to cope using an offensive line that has healed to full strength from some in-season absences and with a quarterback who has piloted the team for seemingly a decade. Said three-year, 38-game starter Connor Cook of Alabama’s line, “They’ve got the depth. And obviously the talent. The talent is there. Everyone sees that. They’ve got the size. They’ve got the speed, athleticism.”
They’ve got the clear happiness, in at least two cases.They’ve got the clear happiness, in at least two cases.
Around the engineering department, people have grown accustomed to Hand, who just finished a semester of courses such as physics and calculus and engineering design. “I mean, Hey, I’m just another student,” he said. He navigates an unforgiving schedule of which he says, “I think I like it like that. It’s nice and structured. I think if it wasn’t structured, you would have too much free time. You wouldn’t manage the time right.” Around the engineering department, people have grown accustomed to Hand, who just finished a semester of courses such as physics and calculus and engineering design. “I mean, hey, I’m just another student,” he said. He navigates an unforgiving schedule of which he says, “I like it like that. It’s nice and structured. If it wasn’t structured, you would have too much free time. You wouldn’t manage the time right.”
A year ahead, Allen has taken the third-year privilege of moving into his own apartment, where he lives alone, a neighbor to registered nurses and regular students, as he tells it while calling it “a nice little spot.” A year ahead of Hand, Allen has taken the third-year privilege of moving into his own apartment, where he lives alone, a neighbor to registered nurses and regular students, as he tells it while calling it “a nice little spot.”
A former military child who can adapt to the unfamiliar, he said, “Oh, man, I love the university. Oh, man. Every class I’ve been in has been great. I don’t know. It just feels like home there. Just the friendliness, the atmosphere. It’s hard to explain. It’s something you would have to be down there to feel. When I go home [to Virginia] I feel like I’m missing something. A former military child who can adapt to the unfamiliar, he said, “Oh, man, I love the university. Oh, man. Every class I’ve been in has been great. I don’t know. It just feels like home there. Just the friendliness, the atmosphere. It’s hard to explain. It’s something you would have to be down there to feel. When I go home [to Virginia], I feel like I’m missing something.
“And that’s Tuscaloosa.”“And that’s Tuscaloosa.”
More Post coverage of the national semifinals:More Post coverage of the national semifinals:
The incredible play that led to the Spartans’ win over MichiganThe incredible play that led to the Spartans’ win over Michigan
Nick Saban walked away from Michigan State. Now he must beat it.Nick Saban walked away from Michigan State. Now he must beat it.
Bob Stoops may be the youngest elder statesman in college football.Bob Stoops may be the youngest elder statesman in college football.
Clemson’s Deshaun Watson wants to give back.Clemson’s Deshaun Watson wants to give back.
Fancy Stats: Why Oklahoma will win it all.Fancy Stats: Why Oklahoma will win it all.