Alabama football is looking to play five to seven wide receivers in Saturday’s matchup against Western Kentucky.
One of the players that will be first on the field for Crimson Tide fans is Germie Bernard. The transfer playmaker from the University of Washington has felt at home with the Tide. He arrived in the spring for Alabama and put on a show in the spring game at Bryant-Denny Stadium, catching three passes for 122 yards receiving. Bernard, a Las Vegas native, played on a Pac-12 Championship team last year and appeared in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. He knows the system Kalen DeBoer, Nick Sheridan, and JaMarcus Shephard brought from Washington and has been coaching his position group.
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Bernard sees this offense averaging 40-plus points per game with Jalen Milroe at quarterback.
Shephard knows how valuable Bernard is to the team. He views him as a coach on the field.
Alabama WRs Coach JaMarcus Shephard raves about transfer WR Germie Bernard’s leadership:
“Germie’s leadership in the room, shoot, his leadership with the team has been exceptional.”
Shephard said Bernard has put himself out there in ways he didn’t at Washington.@TDAlabamaMag pic.twitter.com/nGDA6g44Ew
— Stephen M. Smith (@CoachingMSmith) August 28, 2024
“Germie has been exceptional,” Shephard said Wednesday. “His leadership with his group, shoot, his leadership with the entire team has been exceptional. He has really put himself out there in a lot of ways, and he did not do that at the prior place. This has been a moment for him to really push the envelope with his leadership amongst everyone involved on this team.”
Shephard said Bernard’s knowledge and understanding of how things are suppose to look are valuable.
“He fights every single day,” Shephard said. “He gives it everything he has. He takes every rep he possibly can, but at the same time he is standing behind guys coaching them up. I can see coaching in his future.”
Bernard has made the transition to learning DeBoer’s offense easier for Kendrick Law, Kobe Prentice, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Cole Adams, and Jaren Hamilton. He’s also helped freshmen such as Ryan Williams, Caleb Odom, Rico Scott, Amari Jefferson, and Aeryn “Bubba” Hampton catch on too. Bernard’s involvement has Williams, Odom, and possibly Scott be in a position to see many reps against the Hilltoppers. Alabama fans are excited to watch Bernard elevated his game and others this season.
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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.
