Here’s how Alabama football’s wide receivers shape up heading into fall camp

Alabama football returns six members of its 2023 receiving corps and brings in transfer portal addition Germie Bernard from Washington.

The Crimson Tide receiving group also brings in five true freshmen from its 2024 recruiting cycle, including five-star signee Ryan Williams, who reclassified to graduate a year early and enroll at Alabama this summer. Williams is a two-time Alabama Mr. Football award winner and was a unanimous five-star prospect out of Saraland, Alabama.

Jermaine Burton was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, while Alabama lost four other receivers to the transfer portal: Malik Benson (Florida State), Isaiah Bond (Texas), Ja’Corey Brooks (Louisville) and Shazz Preston (Tulane).

Another change for the Alabama wide receiver group is new offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, along with assistant head coach/co-offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard. Both followed DeBoer from Washington and played a role in the Huskies offense that had one of the strongest receivers corps in the nation and ranked No. 2 in the nation averaging 344 passing yards per game.

Here is how Alabama’s wide receiver room looks heading into fall camp. Every scholarship player and any notable walk-on is mentioned:

The options for Alabama football at wide receiver

Projected starters: Germie Bernard, jr.; Kobe Prentice, jr.; Kendrick Law, jr.

Reserves: Cole Adams, r-fr;, Jalen Hale, so.; Jaren Hamilton r-fr.; Emmanuel Henderson, jr.; Ryan Williams, fr.; Aeryn Hampton, fr.; Amari Jefferson, fr.; Caleb Odom, fr.; Rico Scott, fr.

Bernard played under Kalen DeBoer at Washington in 2023, where he appeared in 14 of 15 games, starting in seven of them, with 34 receptions for 419 and two touchdowns. He also contributed on special teams, returning 10 kickoffs and three punts.

Prentice and Law both return for their third season at Alabama. Prentice saw time in 13 games and recorded 18 receptions for 314 yards and two touchdowns, while Law appeared in 13 games with 15 receptions for 135 yards. Law also contributed some on special teams, with 17 kickoff returns for a combined 405 yards.

Alabama adds five true freshman wide receivers from its 2024 recruiting class to its roster: Ryan Williams, Aeryn Hampton, Amari Jefferson, Caleb Odom and Rico Scott. All five were blue-chip prospects in the Crimson Tide’s 2024 recruiting cycle

2024 SCHEDULE: Alabama football schedule 2024: Game times for Georgia, Wisconsin, USF, Western Kentucky

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The upside

Alabama was a run-first team under coach Nick Saban, but expect to see more of a pass-heavy attack under the offense of that of DeBoer and Sheridan. DeBoer employed a shotgun attack that had a large emphasis on the short passing game with vertical routes. With that, he coached both the NCAA leaders in passing yards (Michael Penix Jr., 4,903) and receiving yards (Rome Odunze, 1,640).

Alabama lost its top-three receiving yards leaders from 2023, two of those being Bond and tight end Amari Niblack — who both transferred to new SEC foe Texas. The other is Burton, who led the Crimson Tide with 39 receptions for 798 yards in 2023.

Prentice ranked fourth on the team in 2023 with his 314 yards. Him, alongside Bernard, return the most experience for the Crimson Tide. Bernard also had a good showing at A-Day with three receptions for 122 yards.

Bernard also brings in two years of college experience. He played his freshman year at Michigan State, where he played in all 12 games and caught seven passes for 128 yards and two touchdowns to go with six kick returns for 119 yards.

One question or concern

After suffering a knee injury during spring practice, Jalen Hale’s health is uncertain heading into the season.

Hale took to X, formerly Twitter, to update those on his condition on May 6.

“Blessed to see another day,” the post read. “And to all my supporters I’m rehabilitating good – one day at a time – don’t count me out – the return will be epic.”

Hale saw time in 13 games during his freshman season at the Capstone, recording five receptions for 148 yards and a touchdown vs. Ole Miss.

Breakout candidate

Williams came out of high school as one of the top receiving prospects in the country.

The 6-foot-1, 165-pound Williams was the second-rated prospect in Alabama and the third-rated wide receiver in the class per the 247Sports Composite. He joins Alabama after recording 72 catches for 1,324 yards and 19 touchdowns, while carrying the ball 30 times for 261 yards and seven touchdowns during his junior year at Saraland.

Williams was originally committed to coach Nick Saban and decommitted in the wake of his retirement. However, shortly after DeBoer was named head coach, Williams once again pledged his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

Williams is technically only supposed to be a senior in high school come this fall, having reclassified to join the 2024 class. Will he be able to make an immediate impact? It’s likely that he can, but there’s no certainty.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Here’s how Alabama football’s wide receivers shape up heading into fall