CFB: Breaking Down the Alabama Wide Receiver Battle

Alabama might’ve just gone through the best four-year run of wide receivers in college football history. Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs all drafted in the first round in the last three years, with DeVonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle soon to follow them in the 2021 NFL Draft.

With that group off to the NFL, there’s a massive portion of production gone from five-star sophomore Bryce Young’s receiver room. Who is going to step up into that role in 2021?

‘Bama’s spring game this past Saturday (April 17th) gave us a brief preview, but of course, nothing is set in stone. Nick Saban didn’t mention anything that would give an indication of his plans for his 2021 WR room. Let’s look at some of the options.

John Metchie III (6-0 195, Junior)

Last year’s No. 2 receiver after the injury to Jaylen Waddle should be primed to compete for the No. 1 receiver role. Metchie, the former four-star recruit out of New Jersey, racked up 55 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns in 2020. He sat out of ‘Bama’s spring game dealing with an injury he suffered during the 2020 season and was taking it easy during spring practices. We’ll see if that allows another option to overtake Metchie or not, but regardless he will have a big role in Alabama’s 2021 offense.

Slade Bolden (5-11 191, Redshirt Junior)

Bolden emerged in the slot as a sophomore in 2020, seeing his targets tick up after the Jaylen Waddle injury. The former high school quarterback and Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year reeled in 24 catches for 270 yards and a touchdown, while also contributing on special teams. Bolden snagged five catches for 56 yards for the White team in Alabama’s spring game. Bolden is probably limited to just lining up in the slot, which could hurt him securing a spot if a younger receiver breaks out.

Javon Baker (6-2 195, Sophomore)

A former four-star recruit in Alabama’s 2020 class, Baker should see much more playing time in 2020. He saw action in the final nine games of 2020 and caught two balls for 15 yards. Baker only had one catch for 15 yards in the spring game. An unknown commodity to everyone outside of the Alabama program, but an enticing prospect nonetheless. 

Thaiu Jones-Bell (6-0 190, Sophomore)

Another four-star prospect in the 2020 recruiting cycle, Jones-Bell is another unknown ready to step into a larger role. He ranked as the No. 17 receiver in the 2020 class by 247Sports out of Hallandale Florida and Miami Carol City High School, catching 38 passes for 745 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior. Jones-Bell hardly saw the field as a freshman, catching only one pass all season and playing in three total games. He caught three passes for 52 yards in the spring game.

Agiye Hall (6-3 195, Freshman)

Hall was the star of ‘Bama’s spring game. You could look at this spectacular catch here, this one right here, or his team-leading four catches for 72 yards. A consensus top-100 player, ranked as the No. 56 overall player in the 247 Composite in the class of 2021 and the No. 11 player in Florida. Saban gave a glowing review of the freshman after the game, which bodes well as the year progresses.

Traeshon Holden (6-3 208, Sophomore)

Holden is the third 2020 recruit on this list, fresh off his nine-catch 89-yard performance

in the spring game over the weekend for the White team. Holden ranked as the 32nd-ranked WR in the class of 2020, and brings good size at 6-3 208. He played five games in 2020 but didn’t record a catch. 

Xavier Williams (6-1 190, Redshirt Junior)

A former four-star recruit in the class of 2018 out of Hollywood Florida, Williams hasn’t seen quite that much playing time in his three years on campus. He redshirted his freshman season before seeing slight action in both his redshirt freshman and sophomore campaigns. He caught three passes for 24 yards in the Alabama Spring Game.

Honorable Mention: Ja’Corey Brooks(6-3 185, Freshman), Christian Leary(5-9 190, Freshman)

Writer

-By: TJ Mathewson