Alabama wide receiver aiming to prove himself right with chip on his shoulder

Nov 22, 2025; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Rico Scott (11) runs the ball during the first half against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Leong-Imagn Images

Alabama football’s third-year wide receiver and Pennsylvania product Rico Scott is expected to have an expanded role within the Tide’s offense this fall.

Scott signed with the Crimson Tide as a four-star recruit in the 2024 recruiting class. After playing in four games and redshirting as a freshman, Scott earned more playing time last season. He played in all 15 of Alabama football’s games in 2025 and started in three of them.

With the departures of Germie Bernard to the NFL and Isaiah Horton to the Texas A&M Aggies, the Tide is looking to replace their production at wide receiver. All signs point to Scott having an opportunity to capitalize on their departures.

Lance Deane, who has trained Scott since the seventh grade, feels the wide receiver will showcase his full repertoire as a complete player in 2026.

“I would expect a complete football player, a complete receiver, one that’s gonna show you the selflessness in the run game, with being able to block, also being able to be special with the ball in his hand,” Deane told Touchdown Alabama. “That’s another thing that we have talked about being able to show, his ability to make guys miss and be special in short yardage situations. Then obviously, another thing that I’m super excited for is his deep-ball playmaking ability, with his ability to stretch the field. That is something he was always blessed with, and I would expect that he gets some opportunities with that this year for sure to showcase that.”

Scott pulled in 11 receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns last season. One of his scores came against Florida State in the Tide’s season opener when he turned a screen play into a tough run and a score. He got in the endzone for the second time that season with another tough run after the catch.

Rico Scott fights for the endzone and we got a one score game in Tallahassee 👀
pic.twitter.com/KR11jdvGWv

— SleeperCFB (@SleeperCFB) August 30, 2025

Ahead of what could be a momentous season for Scott, he is approaching the game with what Deane describes as a desire to prove himself right.

“I think he’s definitely got a chip on his shoulder,” Deana said. “I think he approaches everything with that. I think he feels like he has a lot to prove, and I think he’s gonna do that. I think if I had to sum it down to just the way he’s approaching things, I think he’s attacking things confidently, but at the same time with a chip on his shoulder that he’s gonna prove himself right, not necessarily prove others wrong.”

Deanne recently posted a video of Scott working on his change of direction and route running. The Alabama wideout looked explosive and fluid while going through various drills.

The skills he put on display should help him create separation this fall.

“I think he’s just continuing to prove he can play at different speeds and tempos,” Deane said. “He was always fast. He’s a 4.3 kid, but being able to manipulate things and control the pace and tempo of the game is one area that we continue to work on and one area that he’s improved on tremendously over the last year or so.”

Alabama WR Rico Scott is looking like he may be hard to cover this fall.

Video via lance717 IG. pic.twitter.com/eDcc3Xzteq

— Justin Smith (@Jdsmith31Smith) May 22, 2026

Scott switched from No. 11 to No. 7 during the spring, and it may have helped catapult him into a position to be a playmaker for the Tide out wide this season.