Alabama wide receiver Jalen Hale suffers lower leg injury during practice

According to On3’s BOL, Alabama wide receiver Jalen Hale suffered a lower leg injury during Tuesday’s spring practice. While the severity of it is not currently known, an ambulance was called to the facility.

A scary situation for a player hoping to have a breakout season in Tuscaloosa.

“BOL has confirmed sophomore WR Jalen Hale suffered a lower leg injury during practice on Tuesday,” the post on the BOL Round Table said. “We do not know the severity of the injury to this point. We will confirm an ambulance was called to the facility. We will update once additional details are confirmed.”

Hale did not make too much on-field impact during his true freshman season, only having five receptions. However, when the ball was in his hands, Hale made the most out of it. Averaging 29.6 yards per reception, he finished with 148 yards and a touchdown.

There was hope Hale could put up similar averages while seeing his role expand under head coach Kalen DeBoer. Not too long ago, fellow wide receiver Kobe Prentice was speaking about how much Hale has grown throughout the offseason, believing he would be a great player for Alabama.

“Jalen Hale, he’s matured a lot more,” Prentice said. “He’s more dialed in. He’s prepared to take over a bigger role this year. He’s got sneaky speed. So, you got to watch out for that. Gets in and out of his breaks real smooth. So, I think he’ll be great for us.”

Hale played high school football at Longview (TX) High School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 38 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Rankings, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Alabama hoping for better wide receiver production in 2024

Alabama’s three leading receivers from a season ago are no longer with the program. Jermaine Burton, who led the way with 798 yards, is preparing for the NFL Draft. And then Isaiah Bond and Amari Niblack entered the NCAA transfer portal and are both now Texas Longhorns.

Somebody will have to step up and even with the Hale injury, there are multiple candidates.

Prentice is certainly one, showing flashes at times during his two years on campus. Germine Bernard was brought over with DeBoer from Washington after sitting behind the Huskies’ three-headed monster in 2023.

True freshman and former Five-Star Plus+ prospect Ryan Williams will be a popular name around Tuscaloosa as well. He was a huge recruiting win for the new Alabama staff following Williams’ decommitment due to Nick Saban‘s retirement.