Nick Saban was already pumping out first-round picks at wide receiver for Alabama; however, the additions of Dr. Matt Rhea and David Ballou will put out more talent.
In 2019, the Crimson Tide had four first-rounders on the field.
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Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle could not be stopped. These four helped create terms such as “Rydeouts” and “Joyless Murder Ball.” They all possessed hands, speed, quickness, routes, and explosiveness that frustrated defensive backs and defensive coordinators. Jeudy and Smith were 1,000-yard targets, while Ruggs and Waddle hurt teams from anywhere on the field. The four would race each other after practices. Jeudy went on to post a 4.45 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, while Ruggs’ time of 4.27 seconds is tied for the fourth-fastest in combine history.
COVID-19 prevented Smith and Waddle from doing onsite work at the combine, so we did not get a chance to see them run the 40. Rhea and Ballou coached Smith and Waddle; nevertheless, Alabama’s Director of Performance Science thinks the current group of receivers might be faster than the four superstars. According to Rhea, there is more than just speed that makes Alabama “WRU” in college football.
He directed the attention of fans to a scrimmage in 2019. During the team’s first scrimmage last week, the average speed for receivers was .4 miles per hour faster than in 2019.
This means the Tide is devoted to having sprinters in pads on the field.
There’s much more than just speed that makes Alabama WRU, but considering the fact that 2019 had 4 first round WR picks, and our average top speed this year in Scrimmage 1 was .4 mph faster than 2019 tells you how serious these receivers are to carry on that tradition. ⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️
— Matt Rhea, PhD (@MattRheaPhD) August 18, 2021
Freshmen such as JoJo Earle and Christian Leary have a track and field background. Both guys competed in the 100-meter dash in high school, and Earle did both 100 and 200-meters. Jameson Williams, a transfer from Ohio State, has speed.
John Metchie has a burst in open space.
Slade Bolden has quickness, Traeshon Holden is shifty, and Thaiu Jones-Bell is a burner too. Alabama has playmakers, but can they be faster than Jeudy, Ruggs, Smith, and Waddle? Rhea thinks they can.
It will be interesting to see how these guys continue to develop.
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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.
