Alabama senior class takes pride in perfect Iron Bowl record

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama will honor its seniors ahead of Saturday’s Iron Bowl.

The 2024 senior class has put together an overall record of 44-9 across the last four seasons and includes a group of fifth-year players who achieved a 57-9 career mark. The five-year span includes three SEC championships, three appearances in the College Football Playoff and the program’s last national title after the pandemic-impacted 2020 campaign.

Honored as part of Saturday’s pregame ceremonies will be:

James Burnip, P
MJ Chirgwin, WR
CJ Dippre, TE
Kaleb Fleming, WR
Kneeland Hibbett, SN
Justin Jefferson, LB
Jah-Marien Latham, DL
Alijah May, DB
Coby McNeal, TE
Malachi Moore, DB
Graham Nicholson, PK
Robbie Ouzts, TE
Que Robinson, LB
Graham Roten, OL
Reid Schuback, PK
Nick Serpa, P
Tim Smith, DL
Adam Thorsland, TE
Kade Wehby, LS

“We have 10 scholarship, nine walk-ons, that we’ll get a chance to recognize and celebrate that day with them,” said Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer. “We want to send them out with a win and a great experience. Appreciate all these guys and everything they’ve poured into it.

“With the 10 scholarship guys, we’ve got, I think, three special teams, five defense and two offensive guys that are playing their senior year here. Care a lot about those guys. I know our team does, too, and want it to be a special time, a special week getting ready to play the Iron Bowl.”

Alabama’s seniors have never lost to Auburn, posting a perfect record in the last three meetings. Fifth-year seniors like Jah-Marien Latham, Malachi Moore, Que Robinson and Tim Smith have a chance to go to 5-0 against the Tigers with an Iron Bowl win on Saturday, Nov. 30.

That is one of many motivating factors for Alabama’s players ahead of the rivalry game.

“It would mean a lot, man,” Moore said. “This is a big rivalry week. We hate losing to these guys. I take a lot of pride in that, we take a lot of pride in that. This state, university, everybody here takes a lot of pride in beating those guys over there.”

Added Latham, “It means a lot. When you come to Alabama as a student-athlete, that’s a game that people ask you once you leave, ‘What’s your record against a team like Auburn?’ To leave undefeated, that would mean the world to me.”

Alabama is 6-0 at home in DeBoer’s first year. The Tide is coming off its third loss, though, and will try to bounce back to end the regular season. There are plenty of reasons why Alabama should have no problem getting up for this matchup, but to end the home slate on a high note and send the seniors out with another win over Auburn might top the list.

“I haven’t been here my whole time, but for the guys who have, I feel like – even though I’m a senior – I owe respect to them,” said Alabama tight end CJ Dippre. “You just put so much time, so much grit, so much pride into a university and now here comes your last game you play in that home stadium, and you just wanna leave on a great feeling.

“You wanna do your best, everybody do their best for you out of a respect kind of thing.”

Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BOL today!

Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com yet? You can sign up for ONE MONTH of premium access to our Alabama coverage for just $11.99! Be able to read all of BOL’s premium articles and nuggets covering Alabama sports and recruiting and also join thousands of other Crimson Tide fans around the globe on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!