Three of the six winners of the NFL’s Player of the Month awards for October have Alabama football roots, with former Alabama All-Americans Derrick Henry and Quinnen Williams and Greenville High School alumnus Za’Darius Smith earning recognition for their performances over the past month.
Henry won the AFC Offensive Player of the Month Award, Williams the AFC Defensive Player of the Month Award and Smith the NFC Defensive Player of the Month Award.
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In four victories for the Tennessee Titans in October, Henry ran for 563 yards and five touchdowns on 112 carries and caught nine passes for 82 yards. On Sunday, Henry had 219 yards and two touchdowns on 32 rushing attempts in a 17-10 victory over the Houston Texans to become the third player in NFL history with six 200-yard rushing games.
Henry also won Player of the Month awards for December 2018 and October 2020. He’s the first Tennessee player with three Player of the Month awards.
In four Minnesota Vikings’ victories in October, Smith made 14 tackles, recorded 6.5 sacks, had eight tackles for loss and registered eight quarterback hits from his outside-linebacker spot.
Smith leads the NFL in tackles for loss with 13 and is tied for the league lead in sacks with 8.5 this season. He became the second Minnesota linebacker to receive the Defensive Player of the Month Award, joining Jack Del Rio, the September 1994 recipient.
A former Wenonah High School standout, Williams made 23 tackles, recorded 4.5 sacks, had four tackles for loss, registered 12 quarterback hits, forced one fumble and recovered one fumble at defensive tackle as the New York Jets went 4-1 in October.
Williams is the first Jets player to win the Defensive Player of the Month Award since cornerback Darrelle Revis in December 2009. He’s the first Alabama defensive lineman to receive the recognition since Antwan Odom in September 2009.
The other October winners were Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith, NFC Offensive; Titans punter Ryan Stonehouse, AFC Special Teams; and Washington Commanders punter Tress Way, NFC Special Teams.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (Alabama) was the NFC Offensive Player of the Month for September.
New York Jets defensive tackle Quinnen Williams sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson during an NFL game on Oct. 9, 2022, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
