2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Wide Receiver

The pass-catching unit may be the best of any on the team — with a mixture of veteran names and electric youth.

The Alabama Crimson Tide lost a lot of talent from its 2022-23 team that won 11 games and the Sugar Bowl. Bryce Young, Will Anderson Jr., Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch, Jordan Battle — the list goes on and on.

One position group that remains mostly intact? Wide receiver.

The wide receiver group took a lot of criticism last season — and for good reason. Gibbs, the Crimson Tide’s starting running back, led the team in receptions. Jermaine Burton and Ja’Corey Brooks didn’t fully live up to expectations while Kobe Prentice and Isaiah Bond were somewhat inexperienced — and it showed at times.

It wasn’t awful — but at Alabama, the bar is high. The Crimson Tide has nine current wide receivers in the NFL. Yet, nobody on last year’s team looked like a sure-fire NFL star yet.

2023-24 could be different.

Alabama lost Traeshon Holden, JoJo Earle, Tyler Harrell and Christian Leary to the transfer portal. However, none of those losses will be a huge wreck to the Crimson Tide’s depth chart this season.

Burton’s decision to return will tremendously help Alabama — he seemed to figure things out down the stretch of the season, racking up 352 yards and four touchdowns on 18 receptions in the Crimson Tide’s final four games. Brooks, the hero of the 2021 Iron Bowl, was second on Alabama in receiving yards in 2022-23 — expect a big step from him this year.

How about Bond, Prentice and Kendrick Law? The three sophomores all showed big-time potential when on the field last year. All three will exchange time in the slot for the Crimson Tide this year — and all three have the ability to create explosive plays.

You may not know his name yet, but you will soon. Malik Benson could be the next high-impact transfer for Nick Saban. Benson was the top-ranked JUCO player in the country out of Hutchinson Community College in Kansas — setting the school’s all-time record for receiving yards with 2,152. He could be the guy that gets Alabama’s passing offense over the top in 2023-24.

Projected Depth Chart

WR-X: Ja'Corey Brooks (Jr.) | Jermaine Burton (Sr.) | Jalen Hale (Fr.)

WR-Z: Malik Benson (Jr.) | Kendrick Law (So.) | Thaiu Jones-Bell (Sr.)

WR-H: Isaiah Bond (So.) | Kobe Prentice (So.) | Emmanuel Henderson Jr. (So.)

2023-24 Alabama Wide Receivers

Ja'Corey Brooks

A reliable option and a significant contributor in the Crimson Tide's receiving corps. Also worked on kick return. Led UA and tied for third in the SEC with eight receiving touchdowns. Averaged a team-high 17.3 yards per catch to rank sixth in the conference. Caught 39 passes for 674 yards to go with the eight scores. Added seven kickoff returns for 106 yards to go with a blocked punt on special teams

Selected by the Crimson Tide coaches as a special teams player of the week for his output against ULM and Auburn. Named an offensive player of the week by the Alabama coaching staff for his play against Vanderbilt, Tennessee, Mississippi State and LSU.

Malik Benson

Widely regarded as the nation's top junior college prospect out of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. A five-star recruit by On3.com and a four-star by the remaining recruiting services. The unanimous top-ranked junior college player in the country, regardless of position. Caught 43 passes for 1,229 yards and 11 touchdowns in 11 games for head coach Drew Dallas at Hutchinson as a freshman, earning first team NJCAA DI All-America honors. Followed that up with 923 receiving yards and 10 more touchdowns on 54 receptions as a sophomore, breaking the Hutchinson C.C. school record for receiving yards with 2,152.

Isaiah Bond

Saw time in all 13 games with one start, splitting time at receiver and on special teams. Totaled 17 receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown. Added one punt return for a gain of 34.

Jermaine Burton

Earned a spot in the Crimson Tide's wide receiver rotation after transferring in from Georgia. Started 12 games while seeing time in all 13 contests. Tied for sixth in the SEC for touchdown catches with seven. Totaled 40 receptions for a team-high 677 yards. Selected to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award. Earned honorable mention preseason All-America honors from Pro Football Focus. Selected as one of the offensive players of the week by the Alabama coaching staff for his efforts against Austin Peay.

Kendrick Law

Expanded his role as the season wore on, working on special teams and at wideout. Played in 11 games, totaling 103 yards on eight receptions. Added five tackles on the Crimson Tide's coverage units. Selected as a special teams player of the week by the Alabama coaching staff for his efforts against Texas A&M.

Kobe Prentice

Put together an impressive fall camp to earn a significant role in the wide receiver rotation. Played in 13 games with three starts. Ranked fourth on UA for receptions with 31 totaling 337 yards and two touchdowns.

Emmanuel Henderson Jr.

Worked primarily at wide receiver after coming to UA as a running back. Saw time in all 13 games at both wideout and on special teams. Caught one pass for 14 yards while contributing three tackles. Selected as one of the Alabama coaching staff's special teams players of the week for his play against Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, LSU and Auburn.

Jalen Hale

One of the most explosive athletes in the 2023 recruiting class. A three-sport star at Longview High School where he excelled in football, basketball and track and field. No. 42 nationally on the 247Composite and the No. 7 wide receiver. The On3 Consensus ranked him as the No. 49 player nationally, No. 9 receiver and No. 6 player in Texas.

Thaiu Jones-Bell

Saw time in four games with one catch for five yards.

Cole Adams

One of them most versatile playmakers in the country. A consensus four-star recruit. Ranked 184th on the Rivals250 and listed as the No. 30 receiver and No. 2 player from the state of Oklahoma. No. 268 in the ESPN300 and ranked as the No. 30 wide receiver, No. 58 player in the Midlands Region and No. 5 player in Oklahoma. The 247Composite rated him as the No. 41 receiver, No. 5 player in the state and No. 287 nationally. No. 263 nationally, the 36th-ranked wide receiver and the No. 5 player in the state according to the On3 Consensus.

Jaren Hamilton

A talented wide receiver with top-end speed. A four-star prospect on the 247Composite, ranking 258th nationally, the No. 31 receiver and 50th-ranked player in Florida. On3 ranked him No. 106 in their rankings, listing him as the No. 17 wide receiver and the No. 23 player in Florida. The No. 47 receiver according to 247Sports.

Shazz Preston

Played in five games during his first season with the Crimson Tide.

See Also:

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Cornerbacks

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Safeties

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Running Backs

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Offensive Line

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Defensive Line

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Interior Linebacker

2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Tight Ends