Alabama lost its primary group of wide receivers, headlined by Amari Cooper to the National Football League, but the Southeastern Conference returns much talent this season.
Along with quarterbacks, Alabama’s secondary has to handle some of the best receivers in college football. Yours truly of Touchdown Alabama Magazine has compiled a list ranking the top five wideouts that Alabama will face in 2015. One, in particular, hails from the SEC East.
Marquez North, UT junior
Photo by: Knoxnews.com
5. Marquez North
- Classification: Junior
- Size: 6-foot-4, 224 pounds
- Team: Tennessee Volunteers
Summary: He doesn’t create a lot of attention, but Marquez North is a playmaker.
Junior quarterback Joshua Dobbs will look for him this season because of his ability to stretch the field and battle for 50/50 balls. North had solid hands and excels at creating separation.
He caught 30 passes last season for 320 yards and four touchdowns.
North battled injuries in 2014, but anticipates a huge season this fall. He caught four passes for 56 yards against Alabama last season, despite a 34-20 loss.
Josh Reynolds, TAMU junior
Photo by: Saturday Down South
4. Josh Reynolds
- Classification: Junior
- Size: 6-foot-4, 190 pounds
- Team: Texas A&M Aggies
Summary: Honestly, any of Texas A&M’s returning wideouts would fit this category.
Josh Reynolds is here because of the way he emerged last season as Kyle Allen’s primary target. He finished 2014 with 842 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 52 receptions.
Reynolds totaled two touchdown receptions against Auburn, Missouri and Mississippi State last year. He excels at high-pointing the football and making catches in traffic.
Reynolds totaled 42 yards on three receptions against Alabama last season.
The Aggies will host this year’s matchup at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
Laquon Treadwell, UM junior
Photo by: Montgomery Advertiser
3. Laquon Treadwell
- Classification: Junior
- Size: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds
- Team: Ole Miss Rebels
Summary: Laquon Treadwell looks to put a gruesome leg injury behind him this season.
He accounted for 632 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 48 catches, prior to the mishap against Auburn. Treadwell is a physical receiver, who has improved as a route runner.
Chad Kelly, Devante Kincade and Ryan Buchanan are all battling for the starting job at quarterback. Whoever wins the role, must recognize the threat that No.1 posses to opposing defensive backfields. Treadwell has 1,240 career receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
He was clutch against Alabama last season with five receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown. Ole Miss defeated the Crimson Tide at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium by a score of 23-17.
De’Runnya Wilson, MSU junior
Photo by: USA Today
2. De’Runnya Wilson
- Classification: Junior
- Size: 6-foot-5, 215 pounds
- Team: Mississippi State Bulldogs
Summary: He has a basketball body, however, De’Runnya Wilson is dissecting the gridiron game. He caught 47 balls for 680 yards and nine touchdowns last season. Wilson is a decent route runner, despite his size, but he excels at high-pointing the ball.
He’s brought in 1,031 career receiving yards with 12 touchdowns on 73 receptions. Wilson had a productive outing against Alabama in 2014, totaling 91 yards and a touchdown on eight catches. Alabama defeated Mississippi State 25-20 inside Bryant-Denny Stadium.
The Battle of Highway 82 is set for Starkville, Miss., this season.
D’haquille Williams, AU senior
Photo by: Bleacher Report
1. D’haquille Williams
- Classification: Senior
- Size: 6-foot-2, 224 pounds
- Team: Auburn Tigers
Summary: The catching radius of D’haquille Williams is unreal. Auburn’s quarterback Nick Marshall was a confident passer last season because of Williams’ ability snatch balls.
A right knee injury against Texas A&M caused him to miss two games, but Williams put in 730 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 45 catches in 2014. Williams, unlike former teammate Sammie Coates, is a exceptional route runner. He can play in the slot or as a deep ball target.
The former junior college transfer had a monster game against Alabama last season.
Williams chimed in with 121 yards on seven receptions. He averaged 17.3 yards per catch.
Alabama won in a 55-44 shootout, but the Iron Bowl now moves to Jordan-Hare Stadium.
Others receivers to face Alabama in 2015: Keon Hatcher (Arkansas), Malcom Mitchell (Georgia), Malachi Dupre (LSU) and Ricky Seals-Jones (Texas A&M)
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine, Pick Six Previews and SB Nation. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
