Stellar Jaylen Waddle Shines in Loss to Auburn

Sophomore wide receiver played the game of his life during the Crimson Tide's loss to the Tigers

AUBURN, Ala. — The game of football is a game of winners and losers.

The Alabama football team left Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn as the losers; a 48-45 upset at the hands of in-state rival Auburn, dashing all College Football Playoff hopes for the Crimson Tide and its fans.

However, in a game where the Crimson Tide and the Tigers fought tooth and claw, one performance stood above them all: Alabama sophomore wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

Waddle played his heart out on The Plains, accounting for four Alabama touchdowns and finishing the game with four receptions and 98 receiving yards.

Of Waddle's four receptions, three of them were touchdowns. The other touchdown came off of a 98-yard kickoff return with five minutes remaining in the second quarter to quickly answer an Auburn pick-six.

“He’s a dynamic returner," Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. "He’s got great speed, reads the blocks well, understands how to hit these things so that you can make big plays and that was obviously a big play in the game.”

The kickoff-return touchdown was the first for the Crimson Tide since Josh Jacobs returned a kick to the house against Louisville in 2018.

“It was just a good play call by [Alabama special teams coordinator Jeff Banks],” Waddle said. “I mean great by the kickoff return team just setting up, and then just hit and try not to get caught.”

Waddle's second touchdown came in the final minute of the first half, a 58-yard reception from redshirt-sophomore quarterback Mac Jones.

Jones found Waddle for his third touchdown in the third quarter, then for his fourth in the fourth quarter. The former was a 12-yard reception, with his final touchdown of the day being 28 yards.

After the game, a visibly disappointed Waddle explained what the Crimson Tide needs to do in the future to make sure to not make some of the same mistakes again.

“We got to be more disciplined in what we do,” Waddle said. “That penalty really hurt us but hats off to Auburn. They played a great game and they came out victorious.”

The penalty Waddle referred to was the illegal substitution penalty on the Alabama defense that essentially locked the game for Auburn.

Waddle was quick to defend his quarterback Jones as well.

“I mean we have his back regardless,” Waddle said. “Any way we have his back even if it’s not the Iron Bowl. That’s just how we is.

“He’s got poise. That’s him.”