Alabama Football Spring Position Update: Wide Receivers
When it came to the receiving corps, Alabama was looking for two things in particular to add from the transfer portal for the 2022 season, experience and explosiveness. And, not to be greedy or anything, it hoped to find both traits in one person.
Hey, it worked last year with the addition of Jameson Williams from Ohio State, and it looks like the Crimson Tide may have found gold again.
Jermaine Burton, who played against Alabama in both the SEC Championship Game, and National Championship Game, transferred from Georgia to play in the passing game that has led to the last two Heisman Trophy winners.
“Jermaine Burton was somebody that we recruited out of high school that we thought was a really, really good player," Nick Saban said at the beginning of spring practices. "He had a fairly productive year at Georgia. They have a lot of good players at his position, and he had some production this year. But probably might have seen a better opportunity because we're a little bit more wide open and throw the ball more with a good quarterback."
Moreover, he gives the Crimson Tide a badly-needed veteran presence at the position after Williams, John Metchie III and Slade Bolden all moved on to the NFL.
Ja'Corey Brooks was able to carve out a significant role in Alabama's rotation late last season, and obviously has the inside lane on securing a starting job this season. But he's still just a sophomore.
Otherwise, Traeshon Holden is the elder statesman of the group as a junior, yet hasn't made a career start.
"He's been a real positive addition to the receiver corp," Saban said about Burton during the first full week of spring practices. "He's got quickness, he's got speed, he's got really good hands, he runs good routes. And again, a little more experience, a little more maturity, really helps these guys learn and understand how to do things. And understand the importance of doing little things right because they've played in games and they've played against good competition.
"So he's really done an outstanding job."
According to those who saw Alabama's second spring scrimmage, which was closed to the public and media, Burton's big-play ability was on display while scoring a pair of touchdowns.
2022 Alabama Crimson Tide Wide Receivers
Kendrick Law
Ja'Corey Brooks
Christian Leary
JoJo Earle
Aaron Anderson
Jermaine Burton
Thaiu Jones-Bell
Traeshon Holden
Incoming ...
Overall, Alabama has a ton of talent at the wide receiver spots, but a lot of it is unproven. Promising sophomore Agiye Hall was recently suspended from the team and has placed his name in the NCAA transfer portal.
His departure leaves the Crimson Tide with eight wide receivers this spring, including two early enrollees. It'll add three more freshmen over the summer.
This is the sixth story in a position-by-position series on the Crimson Tide this spring.