Bama ball-carriers blazing during NFL’s Week 2 games

The fastest ball-carrier in the NFL during the second week of the 2024 season was a former Alabama running back, and the top 20 speeds for Week 2 also included five other former Crimson Tide players, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats.

Jerome Ford, who started his college career with two seasons at Alabama before playing two seasons at Cincinnati, had the second week’s top speed at 21.29 mph, which he reached on a 36-yard run in the Cleveland Browns’ 18-13 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.

The other former Alabama players on the board for the fastest ball-carriers in Week 2 included:

· Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley placed fourth and sixth on the list. Ridley hit 20.93 mph on a 10-yard touchdown run and 20.8 mph on a 15-yard reception in a 24-17 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday.

· Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams reached 20.5 mph on a 50-yard reception in a 20-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday to come in at No. 8.

· In that same game, Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs got to 20.39 mph on a 23-yard run to place 10th.

· Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. (Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa) had a top speed of 20.33 mph on a 40-yard run in a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday to be the 12th-fastest for the week.

· Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Jermaine Burton reached 19.8 mph on a 47-yard reception in a 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday for the No. 19 speed.

Two other players with Alabama football roots also placed in the top 20 this week:

· Green Bay Packers quarterback Malik Willis (Auburn) hit 19.96 mph on a 12-yard run during a 16-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. That was No. 16 on the speed chart.

· Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (McGill-Toolen, South Alabama) held the 20th spot at 19.78 mph on a 39-yard reception during a 44-19 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.