Alabama’s receiving corps should still be loaded

Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks (17) returns the opening kickoff as Auburn Tigers take on Alabama Crimson Tide in the Iron Bowl at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.

Alabama swung and missed in its attempt to land five-star Auburn transfer Cam Coleman this offseason. The Crimson Tide also saw leading receiver Germie Bernard’s eligibility expire and fellow starter Isaiah Horton transfer to Texas A&M. 

Still, there’s plenty of room for optimism when it comes to Alabama’s upcoming receiving corps. 

Ryan Williams is back in the fold for a third season and will be motivated to rebound from a disappointing sophomore campaign ahead of his first draft-eligible year. Meanwhile, Lotzier Brooks will be looking to build off a promising debut season, while redshirt sophomore Rico Scott appears poised to take on a more prominent role. The Tide also added speedy N.C. State transfer Noah Rodgers and brought in a top-50 recruit in Cedarian Morgan at the position. 

Before Alabama breaks for spring camp this month, here’s a look at what the Tide will be working with in its receiving corps. 

Projected starters 

WR X — Ryan Williams 

WR Z — Noah Rogers 

WR H — Lotzier Brooks 

This projection is more about who is expected to be Alabama’s top targets and less about their defined role in the offense. If last season is any indication, Brooks will take most of his snaps in the slot. However, the 5-foot-9, 191-pound receiver is also capable of lining up on the perimeter. The same is true for Williams (6-foot, 178 pounds), who worked evenly out of the slot (244 snaps) and out wide (234 snaps) last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Rogers spent the majority of his time out wide for N.C. State, but also has the traits to move inside on occasion. 

That being said, this is the best projection of how Alabama’s typical three-receiver set should look. 

Brook’s shiftiness and ability to make plays in open space make him the best fit for short crosses over the middle. That should allow Alabama to utilize Williams’ deep-ball abilities more similarly to how it did during his freshman season, when he averaged 54.3 yards per reception on passes that traveled 20 or more yards past the line of scrimmage. 

While Williams and Brooks are shoo-in starters, Alabama’s third first-team opening figures to be a position battle to watch this spring. That being said, Rogers (6-2, 197) appears to be the natural replacement to Bernard due to his success in the intermediate passing game. According to PFF, Rogers earned a 94.9 grade, hauling in 11 receptions for 140 yards and a touchdown on the 17 balls thrown to him that traveled 10-19 yards past the line of scrimmage. Last season, Bernard recorded 20 receptions for 396 yards and three touchdowns on the 33 intermediate passes that came his way. 

No one in the above projected trio matches the size lost by Isaiah Horton (6-4, 208). However, Alabama can bring in Derek Meadows (6-5, 212) and Morgan (6-4, 210) when it needs a bigger target on the field. 

Biggest breakout — Lotzier Brooks 

Brooks displayed his high ceiling during Alabama’s playoff win at Oklahoma when he recorded a season-high five receptions for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns. At his best, the dynamic receiver is reminiscent of former Tide standout Jaylen Waddle, who donned the same No. 17 jersey. 

Brooks’ acceleration off the line of scrimmage allows him to gain a step on defenders. He’s just as deadly with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by the nine missed tackles he forced last season, which ranked second most among Alabama’s receivers, according to PFF. Four of those missed tackles came in his dominant performance against a top-40 Oklahoma pass defense. 

“He’s got twitch,” Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer said following the playoff win over the Sooners. “He’s got the ability to separate. And then he’s really good with the ball in his hands.” 

Brooks’ ability to make plays in the short passing game should provide a quick go-to target for whoever Alabama uses as its first-year starter at quarterback. That should help draw defenders in, allowing the Tide to use his home-run speed to take the top off of opposing defenses on deep balls. 

Biggest question — Can Cedarian Morgan make an immediate impact?  

Morgan signed with Alabama as the No. 3 player in the state and No. 5 receiver in this year’s class, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. The Alexander City native offers elite athleticism, averaging a double-double on the hardwood while registering a 6-8 high jump. Those skills translate onto the football field, where he caught 82 passes for 1,419 yards and 16 TDs during his season at Benjamin Russell High School last year. 

“Really impressed with him,” DeBoer said during a media appearance in Montgomery last month. “He moves extremely well. He’s very fluid with big hands and catches the ball well. He’s very strong at the point of attack. I know a lot of guys, players included, were impressed with what they saw just in the couple of days he has practiced with us.”

While Morgan will still need to adjust to the college level, he offers a blend of size and athleticism unmatched by anyone else in Alabama’s receiving corps. He’ll have to work his way up the depth chart over the next few months, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him carve out an early role in the Tide’s offense.