He has restored Alabama football to having a dynamic weapon on special teams that rivals former stars like Javier Arenas, Christion Jones and David Palmer; however, national media are becoming infatuated with freshman wide receiver Jaylen Waddle more so than local reporters.
Pro Football Focus, a website that dives into the analytics of both college and professional football, holds the native Texan in high esteem. As the Crimson Tide enters its seventh game this weekend against Missouri, PFF shared a graphic Wednesday via Twitter on its top freshman performer through six weeks. It decided to go with Waddle, issuing him a grade of 89.4 — the top grade among all true freshmen. The 5-foot-11, 177-pound speedster is one of six receivers that has at least 10 receptions from the duo of Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts at quarterback.
Start your morning off with a little light reading on the nation’s top true freshmen through 6 weeks – including No. 1 on that list – Alabama WR Jaylen Waddlehttps://t.co/Z7eg6IEWfG pic.twitter.com/IoWUcsEUmm
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 11, 2018
Waddle accounts for 15 catches for 313 yards receiving with two touchdowns, including a 94-yard catch and burst to pay dirt against Louisiana. His efforts on the play made him a part of history, as he was on the receiving of the longest scoring pass since AJ McCarron’s 99-yard toss to Amari Cooper for a score in the 2013 matchup with Auburn.
He has been an even better return specialist, averaging 20 yards per punt return.
Waddle has 199 punt return yards on 10 attempts, with one resulting in a 63-yard score in the Tide’s victory over the Ragin’ Cajuns. Despite a three-touchdown outing at Bryant-Denny Stadium against Louisiana, Waddle did not receive Special Teams Player of the Week honors from the Southeastern Conference. While he is getting his respect from Pro Football Focus, he looks to put the conference on even more notice for Saturday’s contest with the Tigers.
Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
