Wide receiver
The Crimson Tide’s receiving corps appears to be in good hands. Not only are Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams back after leading the team in targets last year, but Alabama welcomed back and brought in several capable candidates to join the receiver rotation. In terms of a No. 3 wide receiver alongside Bernard and Williams, Miami transfer Isaiah Horton makes a lot of sense due to his experience and past production. That trio could go toe-to-toe with anyone in the country, especially if the Tide gets consistent play from its quarterback position.
AdvertisementBut there are others who could push for larger roles in 2025. Jalen Hale and Cole Adams are back from injuries and figure to be major factors. Rico Scott and Jaylen Mbakwe are going into their second seasons and gained valuable experience during Alabama’s bowl prep. And then the freshmen shouldn’t be slept on. Lotzeir Brooks generated some positive buzz during Week 1 of spring camp, while Derek Meadows gives the Tide a big body on the outside. This group is loaded with talent, giving the staff plenty to work with during spring drills.
This one is something I’ve been interested in the last couple of months. Germie Bernard and Ryan Williams are clearly Alabama’s top 2 wide receivers, and Isaiah Horton transferring in should be the #3.
BUT, the Tide is also getting back Jalen Hale and Cole Adams, who both have looked like starting-caliber wide receivers before their season-ending injuries. Then there’s Jaylen Mbakwe, who is moving from DB to WR… And do we really think he’s going to be the #7 receiver with all of that talent? Plus the freshmen coming in, and there’s a really big crowd with only so many snaps to go around.
Don’t be surprised if we see another transfer from this group after the spring.
Speaking of the freshmen, Lotzeir Brooks continues to draw praise, this time from fellow freshman Keelon Russell:
He spoke with Score Atlanta’s Max Wolborsky soon after he was called on stage, and among a few other things, was asked who has stood to him through the first few spring practices in Tuscaloosa. Who did Russell single out? Lotzeir Brooks.
“You have probably seen him around a lot,” he laughed. “He’s phenomenal. He’s very acrobatic. He can catch the ball at any place you put it at, which makes the quarterback’s job easier. He has that type of talent and that mindset of ‘that defensive back in front of me can’t guard me’ and he’s fast. He’s an everything. He’s like a DeVonta Smith all over again.”
Seriously, I don’t know how you can keep all of these guys off the field, and I don’t know how you get them all the ball. It’s a pretty stacked wide receiver room.
The biggest news for Alabama’s basketball team from yesterday came from Coach Oats’ radio show:
Nate Oats took to the radio airwaves on Monday night’s edition of “Hey Coach”, where he was asked about Nelson’s status leading into the NCAA tournament.
“Not sure he’ll be ready by Friday. We’re hoping at a minimum he’d be ready by Sunday with the possibility of maybe Friday,” Oats said. “We dodged one, it wasn’t anything too serious with his knee but for sure will be questionable for Friday.”
If Nelson can play anything like he did in the Tournament last year, then getting him back in and healthy will be massive.
Finally, with the Combine over and draft season approaching, Jihaad Campbell has gone from being talked about as a fringe first-round prospect to a guy who’s making it onto a lot of draft analysts’ boards as a top-ten player.
What they had to say about him: “Campbell is a tall, rangy and explosive linebacker. He was recruited to Alabama as an edge rusher but initially moved to linebacker because of the Crimson Tide’s depth on the edges (Will Anderson Jr. and Dallas Turner, among others). This past season, he played both off the ball and on the edge.
“As an off-ball linebacker, he doesn’t possess elite instincts but offers excellent speed and physicality. He can range sideline to sideline and flashes the ability to thump off blockers and collect tackles on inside runs.
“He displays exciting tools in his pass-rush opportunities off the edge. He can burst/bend and finish. He also grew more comfortable in coverage throughout the 2024 season. He anticipates routes and positions himself to make plays on the ball. Overall, Campbell expands the playbook for defensive coordinators and his best football is ahead of him.” – Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Media analyst
How he stacks up: Jeremiah has Campbell as his No. 12 overall prospect in his latest list of the Top 50 players in this draft. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranks Campbell No. 23 on his list of the Top 100 Players in the draft.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. listed Campbell as his No. 3 draft riser coming out of the NFL Scouting Combine.
ESPN’s Field Yates has Campbell as his No. 24 overall prospect. NFL.com lead writer Eric Edholm puts Campbell at No. 20 on his list of the 100 Top Players in the class.
What he had to say: “I feel like I’m Mr. Can-do-it-all. I’m a Swiss Army Knife, as I can say,” Campbell said at the Combine. “I can blitz through the A gap, I can come off the edge, I can play the run in Tampa Two, I can drop strong, hook curl, match, whatever you want me to do. I can man-to-man on the tight end, running back, receiver, anything.”
I think a lot of people are just now catching up to his background as an edge rusher and meshing that with his play last season and his eye-popping athletic testing numbers.
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