Some Alabama fans were concerned Tuesday night upon hearing the news of Holmon Wiggins leaving the Crimson Tide to perform the same job for a Southeastern Conference opponent.
Wiggins, 43, is headed to Texas A&M as a wide receivers coach on Mike Elko’s staff.
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The California native makes a lateral move after serving as the assistant head coach on offense for the Crimson Tide.
He was an elite recruiter for Nick Saban, but how much is Alabama really losing with Wiggins going west?
It is not much at all if one breaks it down. Wiggins is a west coast connection in recruiting for the Tide; however, Alabama has another California coach on staff with Robert Bala. Bala, a native of Oceanside, Calif., spent a lot of time coaching junior colleges and an NFL team (Oakland Raiders) in the state before landing this opportunity at Alabama. Wiggins is credited with putting the last bit of polish on names such as Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs III, Jaylen Waddle, and Jameson Williams to become first-round NFL Draft picks, but he did not develop them. Wiggins arrived at Alabama in 2019; however, Jeudy, Smith, Ruggs, and Waddle were already there before him and Michael Locksley developed them. Jeudy and Smith were established 1,000+ yard receivers in 2018 under Locksley, and Jeudy won the Fred Biletnikoff Award in 2018. Ruggs became a playmaker as a freshman in 2017 and grew more in 2018 with 11 touchdowns under Locksley. Waddle earned SEC Freshman of the Year in 2018 under Locksley, posting 45 catches for 848 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Williams had some development at Ohio State (2019, 2020) under Brian Hartline before having a breakout season for Alabama in 2021 during his lone year in Tuscaloosa.
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John Metchie, a former four-star in the 2019 class for Alabama, was the lone receiver Wiggins developed well.
In the last two seasons, Wiggins has not excelled in getting his position group to create separation from defensive backs.
He did not have his players consistently winning their one-on-one routes, working back to the quarterback, and putting pressure on defenses. Alabama loses a recruiter, but Wiggins was the not the marquee coach and teacher needed at the position.
This is probably why Saban had no issues with him making the move to Texas A&M. Saban has an opportunity to upgrade his staff by getting a teacher and developer in the wide receiver room. Alabama has not had a 1,000-yard receiver since Williams and Metchie did it together in 2021. It has lacked explosive production from the receiver position as of late.
The Tide needs a change at that spot, and we will see where Saban goes to fill the role.
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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.
