Are we about to witness another moment of Nick Saban’s recruiting genius?
This is very possible, especially with what Alabama is planning at wide receiver. College football lost its most dynamic and entertaining playmaker in Jaylen Waddle on last week, as he sustained a season-ending right ankle injury versus Tennessee.
In comparing to former NBA legend, Allen Iverson, Saban told reporters on Monday that the Crimson Tide cannot replace an athlete of Waddle’s caliber. All it can do is find players that will step up, cushion the blow and keep the offense moving forward.
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Slade Bolden, a redshirt sophomore, becomes the next man up, but the Tide will have help behind him. When injuries have affected Alabama at receiver under Saban, a true freshman rose to the occasion.
Amari Cooper was first to do this in 2012, following mishaps to Chris Black and DeAndrew White. He finished the year with 59 receptions for 1,000 yards and 11 touchdowns, helping the team win a BCS National Championship.
Calvin Ridley came next in 2015, picking up the slack from an injury to Robert Foster. He totaled 89 catches for 1,045 yards with seven scores and helped the Tide to another national title.
Javon Baker, a freshman from Powder Springs, Ga., is next in line.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds, he arrived on the University of Alabama campus in June and immediately made an impact during in-person workouts. He was on the band field catching touchdown passes from Paul Tyson and Bryce Young, and impressing teammates with his playmaking abilities. After seeing Baker’s capabilities, both Tyrell Shavers and Chadarius Townsend entered the NCAA transfer portal.
Coach Saban talked about how Alabama recruits players with a ‘dog-like’ mentality on his “Hey Coach” show. Baker is one of those guys, especially when one considers the criticism he had to prove wrong.
People questioned Baker’s speed; however, Justin Smith of Touchdown Alabama Magazine confirmed with yours truly that the native Georgian has strong acceleration. He trained with Dr. Matt Rhea — Alabama’s Director of Performance Science — throughout the summer and Rhea was impressed with Baker.
The talented four-star had 1,105 yards receiving and eight touchdowns in his junior year at McEachern High School and earned MVP honors at “The Opening” regionals in Atlanta.
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With Waddle out, Saban said Baker is ‘certainly’ a player that can help Alabama.
“Javon has a big catch radius,” Saban said on Monday. “He’s got really good hands, he’s a very physical player.”
In terms of the challenge that Baker faces, Saban said the biggest thing for the young players is knowing what they are doing on the field, play with confidence, and perform with consistency.
“They are all capable and those are guys we need to show maturity now,” Saban said on the Tide’s young receivers.
Jordan Battle, a sophomore at safety, compared Baker to Amari Cooper on Tuesday.
“He might have the best hands on the team,” Battle said of Baker.
Like Cooper, Battle hails from South Florida. Cooper ended his collegiate career as Alabama’s all-time leader for receptions (228), receiving yards (3,463) and touchdowns (31). He set a single-season school record in 2014 with 124 catches for 1,727 yards and 16 scores, en route to winning the Fred Biletnikoff Award.
If Baker is anything like Cooper, the Tide has a diamond in the making.
Is Baker ready to rise now? Coach Saban and the Tide has him on the clock.
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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.
