After the fifth day of fall camp, Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said he’s “been really impressed” by a 6-foot-5 wide receiver that’s putting in the work this offseason.
Grubb said that sophomore Derek Meadows is “one of the hardest workers on the team”.
“Derek’s been showing up every day,” Grubb said. “Derek might be one of the hardest workers on the team, both in the classroom and on the field, and he’s a guy that just like any young player, sometimes they stay down when the plays are down and struggle to get back up there, and I’ve seen Derek just fight right back right away. Been really impressed.”
Alabama wide receiver Ryan Coleman-Williams is in the wide receiver room with Meadows, and Coleman-Williams says Meadows is right beside him when he’s getting work in on the JUGS machine.
“Just thinking about Derek going into the offseason, he had a good offseason his freshman year and made an impact in a couple of different ways in his first year, but this offseason just focused in on how he could be better,” Coleman-Williams said at Alabama’s media day. “That’s really what our entire room has been doing. Anytime I’m on the JUGS, he’s standing there right beside me just thinking about that. I’m just super excited for the opportunity that he has upcoming in this season.”
Coleman-Williams was high on Meadows after A-Day, saying Meadows was super consistent and is always ready to come to work every day.
Players on the other side of the ball like cornerback Zabien Brown are also showing love to Meadows ahead of the season.
“I think Derek Meadows is definitely going to emerge as a big-time player for us,” Brown said to Tide 100.9’s Ryan Fowler during an interview at SEC Media Days.
There’s a spot open in the Alabama offense for a third wide receiver as Coleman-Williams and wide receiver Lotzeir Brooks are expected to be starters once again this season. NC State transfer Noah Rogers went down with a leg injury in the spring, making the competition in the wide receiver room more interesting.
Meadows has impressed a lot of his teammates and staff members, but there are players like wide receiver Rico Scott and Cederian Morgan who were also mentioned by Grubb during his press conference on Monday.
There are snaps up for grabs, and the wide receiver room is looking to show up and show out this Thursday when Alabama football scrimmages on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
