As we prepare for the start of Alabama’s 2022 season, the staff for Touchdown Alabama Magazine will be previewing position groups in preseason camp.
The Crimson Tide returns veterans, young players, and depth at every position.
Alabama’s focus is to return to the College Football Playoff and win a national championship. Coach Nick Saban is pursuing the eighth national title of his career and seventh for the Tide. He wants to see excellence on both sides of the ball, and the season begins on Saturday, Sept. 3.
We now turn our attention to Alabama football’s wide receiver room.
Alabama’s Wide Receiver Room
-Returners: Traeshon Holden (junior), Thaiu Jones-Bell (junior), Ja’Corey Brooks (sophomore), Christian Leary (sophomore), JoJo Earle (sophomore)
-Newcomers: Jermaine Burton (junior), Tyler Harrell (junior), Aaron Anderson (freshman), Kendrick Law (freshman), Kobe Prentice (freshman), Shazz Preston (freshman), Isaiah Bond (freshman)
-Expected starter: Ja’Corey Brooks, Jermaine Burton, Traeshon Holden
Summary:
Alabama football will have to replace some major production at wide receiver this upcoming season.
The Crimson Tide’s top three receiving options from 2021 have moved on, taking more than 3,000 receiving yards and 26 receiving touchdowns with them.
Some new faces will have to be the focal point of Alabama’s passing attack. It was no secret the Tide would have to replace this amount of production at the end of last season. Nick Saban and Alabama’s coaching staff wanted to make sure they were in the best position to do so by pulling in two high-profile wideouts from the transfer portal in Tyler Harrell and Jermaine Burton.
Burton pulled in 26 receptions for 497 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a member of the Georgia Bulldogs last year. He announced he was transferring to Alabama in January, and he participated in spring practice with the Tide. The junior has received glowing remarks from Alabama’s coaches and players since arriving in Tuscaloosa .
Harrell finished the 2021 season with 559 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns before transferring from Louisville.
Alabama does return a few wide receivers with experience. JoJo Earle, Ja’Corey Brooks, Traeshon Holden and Christian Leary enjoyed playing time last season.
Unfortunately, Earle will miss the beginning of the season with a foot fracture. He had 12 receptions and 148 receiving yards as a freshman. Brooks came on strong towards the end of last season. The Florida product pulled in his first touchdown reception against Auburn in the Iron Bowl to force overtime.
Holden finished last season with 239 receiving yards and one touchdown. Leary served as an emergency running back when Alabama‘s running back room was hit with the injury bug in 2021. He wrapped up his freshman campaign with one receiving touchdown.
Alabama freshman wide receivers, Aaron Anderson and Kendrick Law, impressed in the spring. Kobe Prentice earn some recognition from Saban after he pulled in five receptions during Alabama’s first fall scrimmage.
There is a lot of optimism surrounding Alabama’s wide receiver group heading into this season.
