After five games without a touchdown, Jaylen Waddle had his moment last week in his return home to Texas. The sophomore totaled three catches for 48 yards – including a 31-yard score from Tua Tagovailoa in the first quarter as he weaved through the Aggies to the end zone.
He won Freshman of the Year in the Southeastern Conference for his performance in 2018 at wide receiver, but it was his exploits on special teams that notched him another honor on Monday morning.
According to an announcement from SEC’s front office, Waddle was named Special Teams Player of the Week.
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The 5-foot-10, 182-pounder set the Crimson Tide’s offense in great field position all game, returning four punts for a career-high 128 yards. While he averaged 32 yards per return, his output in yards became the third-most in school history for a single game.
Currently, Waddle leads the nation in punt return average (22.3 yards) through six games and his career amount of 17.9 yards per return sits at the top in Alabama history. His vision, speed, athleticism and comfortability with the ball set up touchdown drives for the Tide’s offense on all four of his returns.
Waddle was also one of eight players selected for weekly honors from Alabama’s coaching staff.
He and the Tide will face Tennessee this week at Bryant-Denny Stadium at 8:00 p.m. CT.
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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.
