Alabama's attrition at WR allows freshman DB to change positions ahead of bowl game vs. Michigan
The Alabama Crimson Tide will field a team on New Year's Eve that looks very different than the one they had all year long in college football. No position group encapsulates that more than the WR room, where the Tide are down to only four scholarship players after transfers and injuries. That means opportunities for […]
The Alabama Crimson Tide will field a team on New Year's Eve that looks very different than the one they had all year long in college football.
No position group encapsulates that more than the WR room, where the Tide are down to only four scholarship players after transfers and injuries.
That means opportunities for others against Michigan, including freshman DB Jaylen Mbakwe:
Mbakwe to stick at WR?
“I think you’ll see us continue to move in this direction with him,” DeBoer said when asked about the freshman prepping at WR. “He’s really been focused on the offensive side, really all of bowl prep. It was natural, No. 1 because of numbers, but No. 2, just because I think of what he can do as a football player.”
For Mbakwe, he was currently situated as the corner number five or six on the depth chart, with plenty of names in front of the young freshman. So between that, his high school experience as a pass catcher, and the pure lack of bodies at WR, it's a perfect landing situation for him.
"He’s certainly got the skill set,” DeBoer added. “Really excited about what he can do for us there at that position. He’s got the speed. He’s had the ball in his hands all through high school, running the offense there at that level, and then we’ve used him in the punt return game, the return games, so we’re really comfortable with what he can bring to the table. Now it’s just learning the position, learn the offense.”
Playing WR for Kalen DeBoer tends to come with perks. Of course we have evidence of that at UA with Ryan Williams, but think back to his time at the University of Washington with three players who were drafted this year via Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja'Lynn Polk.
“He’s really embraced [being a receiver],” OC Nick Sheridan said of Mbakwe on Friday. “Very attentive. Quick learner. [Wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard] is doing a great job of bringing him up to speed on some of those things. He’s been good.”
