Auburn University needs a quarterback to flip him away from the University of Alabama, but all Nick Saban needs to do to keep five-star wide receiver Ryan Williams in the fold is show him the players from the Crimson Tide in the National Football League.
Alabama has playmakers at every position in the league, including wide receiver.
RELATED: Dolphins’ WR Jaylen Waddle sets franchise record in win over Cowboys
The Crimson Tide has three alums at the position that have 1,000+ receiving yards this season. Amari Cooper, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle have their respective teams in the playoffs or about to clinch a playoff berth. Cooper, a former first-round selection of the 2015 NFL Draft, is thriving with the Cleveland Browns in his second season. He continues to quietly show he is one of the premier route runners in the game, ranking sixth among receivers for yards (1,250) in the league with five touchdowns.
Cooper set several single-game records for the Browns in Sunday’s performance against the Houston Texans.
He caught 11 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Browns to a 36-22 victory on the road. Cooper posted the most receiving yards by any Browns’ wide out on the road. He also set a single-game record for himself and recorded his fifth performance with at least 100 yards receiving. Cooper reached 1,000+ receiving yards in back-to-back seasons in Cleveland.
Coop broke so many records that we had to turn the graphic into a video to show them all 😅 pic.twitter.com/gjA3cI62Pt
— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) December 24, 2023
Smith, a first-round choice in the 2021 NFL Draft, has his second 1,000-yard campaign with the Philadelphia Eagles.
RELATED: Amari Cooper breaks Browns single-game receiving record
He finished Monday’s matchup against the New York Giants by handing Eagles’ fans a win on Christmas.
Smith totaled four catches for 79 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown reception from Jalen Hurts. He has 1,036 yards receiving on 78 catches with seven touchdowns. Smith has two 100-yard outings this season, but he gave a solid performance versus the Giants despite dealing with a knee injury. Philadelphia has clinched a playoff spot, but Smith is looking for an NFC East crown.
Waddle, a first-round pick in 2021, has the Miami Dolphins in the playoffs.
He had only one receptions in Sunday’s 22-20 victory for the Dolphins over the Dallas Cowboys, but Waddle is a 1,000-yard receiver for a third straight year. He is the first player in franchise history to have three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Waddle has 72 catches for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns.
Cooper, Smith, and Waddle all won national championships for Alabama football. Smith became the first receiver in school history to win the Heisman Memorial Trophy (2020), but he and Cooper won the Fred Biletnikoff Award.
All three players were special at Alabama, and are doing very well in the league.
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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.
