On social media, Alabama football has a third freshman wide receiver to unveil its number for the fall.
Aaron Anderson wore No. 82 in spring practice, but he’s switched to No. 13. Isaiah Bond will wear No. 17, and Shazz Preston has announced he is No. 18 for the Crimson Tide. Preston, a native of Saint James, La., was one of the top receiver prospects in the nation for the 2022 signing class. The 6-foot, 190-pounder chose Alabama over Georgia, LSU, and Texas. He trained with former Tide standout DeVonta Smith in the offseason. Smith was a two-time national champion and 2020 Heisman Trophy winner.
Year 1 …✍️.
Edit by : @DatDudeAshton pic.twitter.com/E4Wk16gMXp
— shazz preston (@shazzpreston7) July 5, 2022
According to Justin Smith of Touchdown Alabama Magazine, Preston was the “most physical” receiver he watched in the recent signing class. Alabama is about speed, so it will be interesting to see how Preston makes an impact. He does bring some speed, but his toughness makes him stand out. Preston is a vertical playmaker on the outside that can make contested receptions.
As a junior, Preston’s style resembled DeVonta Smith’s. He was primarily an outside receiver that performed great routes, possessed strong hands, broke tackles, and was a red-zone threat. The impressive thing about Preston is his ability to break away from defenders on slants and post routes. Smith executed both routes well during his career, especially in the 2020 season.
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Preseason camp will be here soon, and Preston looks to help the Tide capture a national title.
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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.
