Unless he wasn’t already, Alabama wide receiver Jaylen Waddle cemented himself last Saturday as a college football star with his performance in the Iron Bowl. In a game where Alabama needed offensive sparks and scores to keep them in the game, Waddle was always the one to answer.
It was clear that Auburn defensive coordinator Kevin Steele’s game plan was to not allow Jerry Jeudy or Henry Ruggs to burn the Tigers every play, which is where Waddle thrived. Even as the game went on and adjustments were made, the sophomore from Texas continued to find the gaps in the defense. One of which he took for a 58-yard touchdown before the half.
Jaylen Waddle probably ran for this touchdown faster than the time it took to type out this tweet. pic.twitter.com/sQr2SrCBlL
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 30, 2019
Prior to burning the Auburn secondary before going to the locker room, the sophomore quarterback Mac Jones had thrown a costly interception to the Tigers to help put them up 17-10. At a time where Alabama could have been in real danger, Waddle answered the bell with a crowd silencing 98-yard kickoff return to tie the game.
AMAZING.
This Jaylen Waddle touchdown return is a work of art. pic.twitter.com/4ZcGsgYp42
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 30, 2019
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“He’s a dynamic returner,” said head coach Nick Saban during his postgame press conference. “He’s got great speed. Reads the blocks well. He understands how to hit these things so you can make big plays, and that was (kickoff return) was obviously a big play in the game.”
But perhaps the most impressive play from Waddle came in the fourth quarter of a 40-38 deficit. With just under 14 minutes to go Jones tossed one up to what is possibly the team’s number one target next season for another go-ahead 28-yard touchdown on top of a Tiger defender. His tremendous strength and ball skills were able to take front and center in possibly the most complete game from a receiver in the Saban era.
WADDLE.
WADDLE.
WADDLE.
WADDLE.His FOURTH touchdown of the game. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/mypZCE3D43
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 30, 2019
By the end of the game, Waddle finished with four catches for 98 yards, 230 all-purpose yards and four total touchdowns.
Unfortunately what may overshadow his unbelievable game is the substitution infraction Waddle was involved in which sealed the victory for the Tigers.
“I tried to get off the field as fast I can,” said an obviously frustrated Waddle.
Nonetheless, it is clear that without Waddle, Alabama is likely not even in a position to win the game down the stretch. Even though the penalty was the final blow for the Crimson Tide, there were numerous other missed opportunities and mistakes that Waddle picked up the slack for.
If there was a word to describe his performance in the 84th Iron Bowl, disappointment would certainly not be one of them.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
