Alabama has its most inconsistent group of wide receivers in the Nick Saban era.
Some players, including Ja’Corey Brooks, have flashed potential, but no one has emerged to show Bryce Young he can depend on them regardless of the situation. Jermaine Burton, a transfer from Georgia, has not been the playmaker that Crimson Tide fans were expecting. Traeshon Holden has dropped several passes, and Tyler Harrell (another transfer) has yet to play for Alabama.
RELATED: Where is Christian Leary for Alabama’s offense?
Kobe Prentice and Isaiah Bond, both freshmen, have had good moments.
Prentice finished with a team-high nine receptions for 66 yards against Tennessee. Coach Saban and his staff have recruited several four and five-star athletes at receiver, but its most explosive weapon has yet to have an opportunity to be impactful.
People have been calling for Christian Leary to be more involved in Alabama’s offense, but it has gone to no avail. Prentice and Bond enter games before Leary, and the Tide continues to stick with Burton and Holden over Leary. As a South Florida native, Leary has the elite speed to take plays for touchdowns. He was an electric player at Edgewater High School in football and track and recorded a marquee A-Day performance. Alabama fans saw him catch five passes for 106 yards, including a 52-yard touchdown reception from Jalen Milroe. Leary served as the team’s “emergency” running back in 2021 and made plays.
He is one of the fastest players on the team, but the Tide has him collecting dust on the bench.
Alabama has always had big-play receivers such as Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Henry Ruggs, Jaylen Waddle, and Jameson Williams. John Metchie probably was not as explosive as the others mentioned, but Bryce Young trusted him because he showed he was consistently prepared to make plays. No one in the receiver room is giving Young the sure confidence that they are the No. 1 option. Leary needs to have a chance to show what he can do. He could be the answer Alabama needs, but will Saban and Bill O’Brien go to him? He is the weapon that has been neglected, and he should not be.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
