Roll Tide Wire Week 1 players of the week vs. Florida State

Alabama fans did not get the result they wanted vs. Florida State in their season opener.

However, there were bright spots for the Tide on offense, defense, and special teams. Below is a list of the offensive, defensive, and special teams players of the week for the Tide.

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Wide receiver Germie Bernard, quarterback Ty Simpson, safety Keon Sabb, and punter Blake Doud received Roll Tide Wire’s nod this week.

All of these players made key plays Saturday, and showed what they can do for the Tide during the 2025 season. Much is expected with these players, and we now know how the Alabama coaching staff can integrate these players into the weekly game plan.

Offense: Germie Bernard, Wide Receiver

Germie Bernard was a major bright spot in the Tide offense on Saturday. He had 8 receptions for 146 yards and 18.3 yards per catch. Bernard did a great job of getting open at multiple levels on the field. He was a reliable and dynamic security blanket for Ty Simpson. He does a great job of complimenting Ryan Williams in the offense, who can stretch the field, while Bernard gets open underneath and picks up YAC yards. Bernard’s role within the offense grew yesterday. He became a reliable option for offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, while workhorse Jam Miller was out with injury. Look for a more statistically productive season for Bernard, building on his 50 reception season last year. IMO, Bernard is one of the best wide receivers in the SEC.

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Offense: Ty Simpson, Quarterback

Ty Simpson may have not had the game Alabama fans were looking for, but he did some good things in his first start. Throughout the game, he showed accuracy, poise in the pocket, touch, and mobility. Simpson went 23-for-43 with 254 yards and two touchdowns. Simpson showed patience from the pocket, he let the routes develop, and hit the open receiver. He completed passes at different levels of the field, and was both efficient and accurate for most of the game. He was under intense pressure Saturday, as the FSU pass rush was long, athletic, and unrelenting. Florida State defensive coordinator Tony White runs a 3-3-5 defense built on deception and making a quarterback (especially a young one) hesitate. White had the defensive linemen looping and linebackers blitzing. Simpson was under intense pressure, and did not get the protection/time needed to run the offense effectively. Overall I would give Simpson’s performance a B-, with higher upside as he gets more comfortable in the offense.

Defense: Keon Sabb, Safety

Keon Sabb was flying around making tackles yesterday. He is a safety, but was active at the first and second level in blitz packages and run defense. He recorded six tackles, three solo, one TFL, and one sack for an eight-yard loss. Sabb is active like a linebacker, he shows great closing speed and contact power. Sabb shows Day 2-3 NFL draft potential. He is long, instinctive, and physical. He can be one of the most dynamic defensive players in the SEC this season. Yesterday he made multiple violent tackles and clutch stops for the Tide.

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Special Teams: Blake Doud, Punter

Blake Doud boomed three punts for 144 yards, averaging 48 yards per punt. One of the punts was a touchback and was almost downed at the one-yard line. He did his job to give the Tide’s defense good field position. Blake is 6’5 205 lbs. and has a long, powerful leg. He is a transfer from Division II Colorado School of Mines, where he was an All-American. There he boomed both 77 and 81 yard punts, making national headlines and gaining recruiting exposure. Doud should put the Alabama defense in good field position this season.

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This article originally appeared on Roll Tide Wire: Germie Bernard among Alabama football players of week at Florida State