Summer workouts will be here soon for the Crimson Tide as the summer enrollees have moved in on campus.
In this series, the staff at Touchdown Alabama Magazine will project the starters for each position group.
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JaMarcus Shephard is one position coach that has Alabama fans very excited. In two seasons at Washington, Shephard coached Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan to getting drafted in April. Odunze was a first-round pick to the Chicago Bears.
Now, Shephard has a wealth of talent at the University of Alabama to mold. Jermaine Burton is now in the National Football League and the Tide lost some players to the transfer portal, so how will its starting rotation at wide receiver look?
A projection is below.
Wide Receiver (X)
-Kobe Prentice
-Caleb Odom/Cole Adams
Summary
Jalen Hale would have been Alabama’s starting X wide receiver, but Kobe Prentice takes the role with Hale rehabbing from an injury in spring practice.
Prentice is the most proven receiver on the roster. He possesses the speed, routes, hands, football knowledge, and blocking to anchor the room as a junior. Prentice has 49 career receptions for 651 yards and four touchdowns across two seasons.
Caleb Odom, a five-star freshman, could be the first big-bodied receiver since Julio Jones to work for the Tide.
He came as a tight end from Georgia, but the coaching staff moved him to receiver. He had an impressive spring, and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan has to create ways to get him on the field. Cole Adams made several nice plays in the spring game, showing his potential to earn time in the rotation. He brings routes, good speed, toughness, and reliable hands to catch in traffic.
Wide Receiver (H, slot)
-Emmanuel Henderson Jr.
-Ryan Williams/Aeryn “Bubba” Hampton
Summary
Emmanuel Henderson has the talent and skills needed for Alabama in the slot.
He came to the Crimson Tide as a running back in 2022, but he was moved to receiver.
Henderson has improved his routes, explosiveness in and out of breaks, and his football knowledge has grown as well.
He can operate on the outside or in the slot, yet his skill set fits the slot better. Ryan Williams and Aeryn “Bubba” Hampton are ballers as freshmen. Both can make a living in the slot, especially with the production Williams had at Saraland High School.
Prentice mentioned to reporters in the spring that Hampton has good routes.
It will be interesting to see if one of these two beats out Henderson.
Wide Receiver (Z)
-Germie Bernard
-Kendrick Law
Summary
Germie Bernard, a transfer from Washington, led Alabama’s wide receivers in the spring game.
He had three catches for 122 yards receiving. Bernard has positioned himself to be a starting receiver, but he may have to share his role with Kendrick Law. Law, a Louisiana native, is a utility knife for the Crimson Tide. He can play anywhere on the field within the offense. Law can line up as a running back and take carries, he came come in motion on jet sweeps or end arounds, he can take a pop pass for a huge gain, or he can play as a traditional wide receiver. Coach Sheridan has to use his versatility.
Other WRs in the room
-Jalen Hale (recovering from injury)
-Jaren Hamilton
-Rico Scott
-Amari Jefferson
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Stephen M. Smith is the senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
