ARLINGTON, Texas – Alabama won the Rose Bowl semifinal on Friday, 31-14, inside AT&T Stadium, but without one of its top freshman defenders at safety Malachi Moore.
Moore was on the sideline and dressed to play, but he did not play in the College Football Playoff game after starting the last 11 games in the Crimson Tide’s Star position. After the victory that catapulted Alabama to the national title game, coach Nick Saban gave updates on Moore and linebacker Christian Harris, who did not play in the fourth period.
“Malachi Moore is everyday life,” said Saban. “He got hurt a little at the Florida game. He was able to practice intermittently, but it is the type of injury that exercise aggravates, so he was unable to go today. In fact, nothing more. Christian Harris, we just took it off because we didn’t want him to get hurt. He was getting a little sore, that the injury he has will do that from time to time, but he held on and could have ended the game. We just took it off. “
Harris suffered a shoulder injury in the Alabama regular season final against Arkansas, but was able to prepare and play against Florida in the SEC title game on December 19. The linebacker recorded five tackles and an important interception before being replaced by junior Jaylen Moody.
Moore received the 247Sports True Freshman All-American award after registering 44 tackles, six pass separations and three interceptions in Alabama’s first 11 games. Starting in place was freshman Brian Branch, while DeMarcco Hellams received the initial nod in safety over Daniel Wright. Hellams followed Crimson Tide’s defense with 12 tackles and a sack.
“DeMarcco played well for us all year round,” said Saban. “He just didn’t have a lot of opportunities. DeMarcco is a smart guy. He understands the system and the scheme. He’s a good defender. He’s physical. We knew it would be a physical team, so we chose to face him a little bit more today, and he did a very good job. But he did a very good job in practice and I think that is the key to the exercise.
“He deserved the opportunity to play and I think he did a great job for us today.”
Alabama will play again on January 11 in the College Football Playoff national championship game in Miami Gardens, Florida. He will face the winner of the Clemson-Ohio State semifinal match.
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