The Book On …

Sporting News, The, Sept 13, 1999 by Kyle Veltrop

OFFENSE

Shaun Alexander Alabama, RB, 6-1/220, Sr.

Shaun Alexander couldn't do it. In the end, it was his feelings for Alabama that kept him from leaving early for the NFL.

The decision made Alexander a celebrity in the state. His name had been well-known since 1996, when he ran for a school-record 291 yards and scored four touchdowns on just 20 carries as a freshman against LSU. Then, last September, his face became equally recognizable when Alabama's new scoreboard was unveiled during the season-opening game against BYU.

"They were able to put our pictures up there without our helmets on during that game," Alexander says. "I took one look at it and knew I was finished. From that day on people started recognizing me when they passed me on the street."

Now Alexander is on the verge of entering Bama lore. After running for 109 yards in a win over Vanderbilt, Alexander needs 1,129 yards to become the Tide's all-time leading rusher. He also has a desire to take the team to the SEC title game for the first time since 1996. To reward his loyalty, Alabama decided to promote him for the Heisman. It's not an all-out assault, but it marks the first time Alabama ever has marketed an athlete for the award.

"If I get it, it's going to be for Bart Starr, for Bobby Humphrey, for Joe Namath, for Derrick Thomas, for Cornelius Bennett and every superstar who gave Alabama 12 national championships that never got a shot at the Heisman," he says. "And it would be for my teammates who helped me get noticed."

DEFENSE

Sekou Sanyika California, OLB, 6-4/240, Sr.

When Tom Holmoe took over as Cal's defensive coordinator before the 1996 season, Sekou Sanyika hadn't played a down for the Golden Beam. But the word was out on the redshirt freshman: "People were telling me we had a pretty special player at linebacker," Holmoe says.

Three years later, Holmoe, who became Cal's head coach after that '96 season, knows Sanyika is special. Sanyika has near-ideal size and a load of ability. But plenty of players are blessed with size and skill. It's Sanyika's work ethic and desire to learn that make him special.

His first year, Sanyika was wildly inconsistent. He worked tirelessly with Lyle Setencich, who took over as defensive coordinator when Holmoe was promoted. Sanyika may have athletic ability to burn, but he conserves energy by being fundamentally sound and mechanically precise. A lost step is a lost play.

His play has improved each season. As a sophomore, Sanyika recorded a tackle for loss in all but one game. Last season, he led the Pac-10 with 23 tackles for loss and had a team-high seven sacks. He'll need to be at his best when Cal, which beat Rutgers 21-7 last week, plays Saturday at Nebraska.

Sanyika, who plays over the tight end, is aided by linebacker Matt Beck's presence on the other side of the field, as teams can't run away from trouble. End Andre Carter also is a big asset as he ties up multiple blockers, which frees Sanyika to roam the field for what is one of the nation's best defenses.