He came into this season for Alabama football with the most production of anyone at the wide receiver position on the roster, but what has happened to Kobe Prentice?
The junior from Calera (Ala.) High School is having his worst season statistically of his career.
He opened the first seven games of his freshman campaign with 28 catches for 279 yards and a touchdown in 2022. Prentice finished last year with 18 receptions, including two for touchdowns.
The 5-foot-10, 188-pounder has struggled to get out of the blocks and produce this season.
Prentice has eight catches for 107 yards and a score. His lone touchdown reception came in week two of Alabama’s season on Saban Field at Bryant-Denny Stadium versus South Florida.
The former four-star is a playmaker, yet something has limited him from having marquee production.
Crimson Tide fans have been wondering about Prentice throughout the year. JaMarcus Shephard, the Tide’s wide receivers coach, gave insight into the situation in Wednesday’s media availability for coaches.
Alabama’s wide receiver room has dealt with injuries. Cole Adams, a redshirt freshman, is out for the season with a lower body injury he sustained against Missouri. Kendrick Law suffered an injury versus Georgia and missed a couple of games.
Prentice sustained a concussion against Vanderbilt and has missed time, but Shephard is not putting a ceiling on how good Prentice can be for this offense. Alabama has three significant games left on its schedule, starting this week with LSU.
“Right now, I don’t know if there is a ceiling for where Kobe Prentice could be,” Shephard said. “He just has to continue to develop and push himself to be at the level he wants to be because he does not know where that actually could end up taking him.”
It is not late for Prentice to turn things around.
Key LSU players listed as questionable ahead of Alabama game
He has an opportunity against the Tigers to have an impactful game. Alabama has talent in its receiver room, but Prentice has the most playing experience among everyone. It is time for him to show out in a big way on Saturday at Tiger Stadium.
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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.
