If you count Steve Sarkisian’s one game as a play caller, then Alabama will open the 2017 college football season with its sixth different offensive coordinator. Despite the turnover, the Crimson Tide is excited about Brian Daboll and in the passing game specifically, sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Tide’s group of wide receivers anticipate a very productive year.
From Jim McElwain to Lane Kiffin, Alabama’s offense has managed to produce at least one 1,000-yard receiver. The trio of Julio Jones (2010), Amari Cooper (2012, 2014) and Calvin Ridley (2015) all fit the bill, seeing how all three players ended their accomplishments with an All-SEC and All-American tag behind it.
After recording a single-season record of 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2014, Cooper would win the Fred Biletnikoff Award. With Daboll fine-tuning Hurts’ arm talent and the amount of weapons returning in the fall, the Tide can potentially boasts two 1,000-yard wide outs. It came close to achieving the mark in 2015 and 2016; however, the ground game with Derrick Henry and others left it short of the target.
While Ridley expects to state his claim for a first round draft stock, the resurgence of Robert Foster and playmaking abilities of Jerry Jeudy could make this year’s group be the most dominant unit of the Saban era.
Nice Throw & Catch @JalenHurts @CalvinRidley1 #ADay2017 pic.twitter.com/XSyVb4Y9JX
— BamaVideo (@BamaVideo_) April 22, 2017
Along with these three, defensive backfields must also take Cam Sims, T.J. Simmons, and even tight end Miller Forristall into account to a degree. Defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt saw the depth of the Tide’s receiving corps first hand on A-Day, as Ridley, Foster and Jeudy each total 100 yards. Jeudy, a five-star freshman, led the position group with five receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns in earning the Dixie Howell Most Valuable Player Award.
Touchdown! Freshman To Freshman @Tuaamann_ @jerryjeudy #ADay2017 #Espn pic.twitter.com/RFiwsKPvyZ
— InsideBamaRecruiting (@RTRnews) April 22, 2017
Although much focus will be placed on limiting Ridley, Alabama may possibly still boasts two 1,000-yard guys should everyone remain healthy. Under Saban, the Tide has produced two Heisman winners, eight 1,000-yard rushers and the Southeastern Conference’s Offensive Player of the Year in Hurts. (36 total touchdowns)
The program carries all the pieces to now have two 1,000-yard pass catchers.
65-Yard Touchdown @JalenHurts To Robert Foster #ADay2017 #Espn pic.twitter.com/F7CMOvx9hz
— BamaVideo (@BamaVideo_) April 22, 2017
Alabama’s season opener versus Florida State on Sept. 2 will tell the story.
Stephen M. Smith is a managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
