What will Alabama football WR group look like in 2025?
In 2025, Alabama football will feature a new generation of receivers. How distinct is the question?
The top may remain largely unchanged. It looks like Ryan Williams will return for another season.
There will be a lot of fresh faces, though.
Germie Bernard, the former Washington/Michigan State wide receiver, can make a comeback. Will he, though?
When questioned following Saturday’s practice at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa in advance of the ReliaQuest Bowl, he remained evasive. At Raymond James Stadium, Alabama will play Michigan on Tuesday at 11 a.m. CT.
“To be honest, I’ve just been focused on the football game,” Bernard remarked. “I have been concentrating on that.”
The Crimson Tide will have their top two receivers back if he stays to play his last season at Alabama.
In 2024, Williams came in second to Bernard with 45 receptions, while Bernard led Alabama with 46. Bernard scored two touchdowns and 714 receiving yards. Williams recorded eight touchdowns and 857 yards.
Eleven receptions, 129 receiving yards, and one score were all more than any other receiver.
Therefore, output won’t be significantly affected by the loss of Caleb Odom, Emmanuel Henderson Jr., Kendrick Law, and Kobe Prentice at receiver to the transfer portal. But, given the volume of departures, the space will appear very different. Particularly if Bernard also makes the decision to go.
Through the transfer portal, Alabama acquired Isaiah Horton from Miami. In 2024, Horton caught 56 catches for 616 yards and five touchdowns, demonstrating his production and expertise.
Jaylen Mbakwe is also involved. The Clay-Chalkville native is playing wide receiver this week after playing cornerback throughout his first campaign. Alabama has few scholarship receivers available for the bowl game, which contributes to that.
Is Mbakwe going to stay a receiver in 2025?
Earlier in December, Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan stated, “I think it’s a little early to have a crystal clear version of what that would look like, other than we know that he’s a talented kid, he loves this place, and we’re glad that he’s here.”
Cole Adams will make a comeback. When healthy, he was contributing, but at one point, ailments kept him from playing as much and caused his season to end early. Amari Jefferson, Bubba Hampton, Jaren Hamilton, and Rico Scott are also eligible to return. Based on some of his flashes during his rookie season, Scott might be the player to monitor the most from that group.
Next up is Jalen Hale, a sophomore wide receiver who has missed the entire 2024 season due to a serious knee injury he had in the spring. Despite returning to practice with Alabama, he is not anticipated to participate in the bowl game. Watching what he can do in the upcoming season will be worthwhile. Hale caught five catches for 148 yards and one touchdown during his little time as a freshman. He might make a valuable addition to the receiving team.
