We have made it to July and SEC Football Media Days are coming soon.
The University of Alabama looks to return to the College Football Playoff in the fall and win a national championship. Nick Saban has several talented players, but which ones will emerge as the most impactful?
The staff at Touchdown Alabama Magazine will spotlight numerous players for the upcoming season.
After looking at Jermaine Burton, we continue with wide receivers and Malik Benson is next.
Malik Benson
Classification: Junior
Hometown: Lansing, Kan.
Position: Wide Receiver
Previous School: Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College
Size: 6-1/195 pounds
Career stats at Hutchinson: 97 catches, 2,152 receiving yards, 21 touchdowns
Strengths: Size, athleticism route-running, can separate from defenders, explosive speed, strong hands
Weaknesses: Needs game reps for the Crimson Tide
Summary
We have documented the success of Richard Mullaney, Gehrig Dieter, and Jameson Williams as transfer wide receivers.
However, is Malik Benson next up? His skill set gives Alabama something it lost when graduating Williams to the National Football League. Williams was the Crimson Tide’s big-play weapon in 2021, helping Bryce Young become the first quarterback in school history to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy. He caught 79 passes for 1,572 yards (team-high) and 15 touchdowns.
Williams averaged nearly 20 yards (19.9) per reception, pacing the Tide to a Southeastern Conference Championship and almost a College Football Playoff National Championship if not for an injury. Benson possesses the same kind of elite-level speed and explosiveness as Williams. He showed it at Hutchinson Community College, earning NJCAA DI All-American honors as a freshman in 2021. Benson caught 43 passes for 1,229 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games during his first year.
The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder has the tools to be Alabama’s No. 1 receiver.
Alabama could use a lot of quick-strike plays on offense, and Benson is the option to provide it. Jalen Milroe connected with Benson several times in the spring game, including once for a touchdown. We will see how Benson performs in fall practice.
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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.
