Spring practice begins next month for Alabama football.
Crimson Tide fans are ready to see their team make a return to the College Football Playoff National Championship stage, but the work starts in March and April. Nick Saban has graduated a lot of experience to the NFL Draft, but the Tide has retooled its deck of players and coaches.
The staff at Touchdown Alabama Magazine is getting everyone prepared for spring football with a new series.
We will be highlighting early spring positions battles and which players will earn starting roles. After a breakdown of the inside linebackers, we now turn focus to Alabama’s wide receivers room and who meshes with quarterback Bryce Young.
TRAESHON HOLDEN
Other than tight end Cameron Latu, Traeshon Holden is the leading receiver in Alabama’s wide receiver room returning to the roster which is telling about what the team lost following the 2021 season. Replacing Jameson Williams, John Metchie and Slade Bolden will be no small task for offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and it will take players like Holden stepping up in 2022.
Holden is one of the leaders of the pack in the young Crimson Tide receiver’s room as head coach Nick Saban described him as one of the most consistent young wideouts on the roster. In his 15 appearances during the 2021 season, Holden caught 21 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown. During the team’s national championship game he was called upon to step up after the loss of Williams and Metchie. Holden ended the game with a career-high six receptions along with 28 receiving yards in the loss to Georgia.
JA’COREY BROOKS
Perhaps no reserve receiver took bigger strides near the end of the season than Ja’Corey Brooks. After arriving in the class of 2021, Brooks was patient waiting for his opportunity to play but took full advantage when he was called upon. In freshman season, Brooks recorded 15 catches for 192 yards and two touchdowns with every single one of his catches coming in the final six games of the season. Any coach will preach to its players to finish strong and that’s exactly what Brooks did.
What’s most impressive about Brook’s late-season push is that he played his best in the biggest games for the Crimson Tide and stepped up in crucial moments to keep its season alive. Of course, the most notable play of Brooks’ career to date came during the Iron Bowl when he caught the game-tying touchdown with just seconds remaining to send the game to overtime. In the College Football Playoff, Brooks would continue to make an impact as he lead the team in receiving yards against Cincinnati with 66 yards and would also catch six passes for 47 yards in the national championship game. The biggest question mark for this receiving room going into the season will be how it responds in big moments and Brooks has proven to thrive under that pressure.
JERMAINE BURTON
Nick Saban doesn’t go get someone out of the transfer portal if he doesn’t intend for them to play. Just ask Jameson Williams and Henry To’oto’o. Burton, who joined Alabama in January after helping Georgia defeat it in the national championship, brings an explosive playmaking ability the Crimson Tide’s offense needs. In his two seasons with the Bulldogs, Burton recorded 53 receptions for 901 yards and eight touchdowns. But what’s most intriguing about Burton is his big-play potential as he averaged 19.1 yards per reception during the 2021 season.
After losing its deep threat in Jameson Williams, Burton can help fill the void left behind and help keep pressure on defenses this upcoming season. Burton having two seasons of real experience will also help tremendously in a Crimson Tide receiver room filled with young prospects looking to put things together this season.
OTHER POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS:
-Agiye Hall
-JoJo Earle
-Christian Leary
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
