He was a juke-moving, playmaking machine at Deerfield Beach (Fla.) High School and he carried the same mentality into his first year as a primary starting wide receiver for the University of Alabama last season.
While his teammate, DeVonta Smith, does not get much love from national media pundits, it is the All-American and Fred Biletnikoff Award winner that can care less about talking in front of cameras. For Jerry Jeudy, the former five-star makes his art on the field on Saturdays in the fall.
RELATED: Alabama 2020 NFL Draft projections
A brotherhood of receivers is brewing in Florida, as the sunshine state is now the recruiting hotbed for elite pass-catching targets. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide has taken the best athletes from the state – including Amari Cooper and Calvin Ridley – however, Jeudy has become the best of the bunch.
His patented moves, ability to change direction and desire to record touchdowns in each game has him projected a top-five pick and possibly the No. 1 selection of the 2020 NFL Draft. Jeudy’s production started with a 1,000-yard season in 2018, but now he’s firing out the gates through two matchups this year.
He totaled career-highs in both receptions (10, versus Duke) and touchdowns (three, vs. New Mexico State) in the first two weeks. Jeudy leads the team with 240 yards receiving on 18 catches and four touchdowns.
He is averaging 120 yards per game and 13.3 yards a catch, while twice being named Offensive Player of the Week via Alabama’s coaching staff for his efforts. He has posted 100-yard performances in back-to-back weeks, but Jeudy’s crash course to the next level comes with a career milestone opportunity.
Currently, he is second all-time in school history for touchdowns receptions (20).
Jeudy is 11 scores shy from tying Amari Cooper (31) and 12 away from surpassing him. With the chemistry that he and Tua Tagovailoa have, one would be hard-pressed to say he does not get the record. Regardless of Alabama boasting four talented receivers, Tagovailoa and Jeudy have been inseparable since high school competitions.
One of the best targets in all of college football will battle South Carolina this weekend.
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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.
