Alabama’s passing attack did not have a solidified No. 1 wide receiver in the final season of Bryce Young.
The talent was on the Crimson Tide’s roster; however, no one consistently stepped up to make plays for Young until the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Young tossed five touchdowns, including four wide receivers. One of the receivers had a game-high 87 yards receiving on three catches with a touchdown in the Tide’s 45-20 victory over the Kansas State Wildcats in New Orleans, La.
RELATED: Jermaine Burton is working to be a reliable receiver for Alabama
Jermaine Burton, a former Georgia transfer, took a year to adjust to the Alabama football culture.
He won a College Football Playoff National Championship with the Bulldogs in 2021, but his goal is to be a champion for the Tide before transitioning to the National Football League. The California native has bought into the leadership mindset Nick Saban wants. He waited late to emerge with Young, but Burton started in the summer building chemistry with Jalen Milroe. He’s been consistent in showing the sophomore quarterback he can trust him to make plays. Burton totaled his first 100-yard outing of the season against Texas A&M at Kyle Field. He recorded a career-high 197 yards receiving and two touchdowns on nine catches.
Burton put on a clinic of routes, helping the Tide to a 26-20 victory.
He earned recognition from the Reese’s Senior Bowl as his draft stock is trending upward.
Burton leads Alabama in receiving yards (446) and touchdowns (four) on 19 catches. He’s playing with a lot of confidence, and it is influencing Isaiah Bond, Kobe Prentice, and others to step their game up. Coach Saban said Wednesday in the SEC Coaches Teleconference it’s the ‘explosive plays’ for Burton that have him influencing the team and playing with confidence.
RELATED: Alabama WR Jermaine Burton locked in on primary goal, and it’s not his production
“When you have a player like that at a position, it probably elevates the room,” Saban said about Burton. “He’s made explosive plays the last couple of weeks. It elevates the spirit of everyone in the room to make plays and step up to have success.”
Burton’s confidence had him telling Arkansas’ defensive backs the routes he would run before plays.
He has moments where he’ll get penalized at the wrong time, but Burton is cleaning that up. Saban is more excited about the passion and consistency he’s playing with. Burton must keep the excellence up as the Tide gets into tougher matchups.
He has established himself as the go-to receiver as Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, and Amari Cooper did in the past.
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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.
