On3 Roundtable: Evaluating Alabama’s growth at wide receiver, offensive line
Alabama has been drawing heavy criticism this offseason for having multiple question marks throughout the offense. Whether it be at quarterback, wide receiver, or on the offensive line, Nick Saban has some weeding out to do before the start of the 2023 season.
The QB battle is an entirely different conversation in itself, but the WR and OL groups have made vast improvements since the end of last year.
Heading into 2023, Ja’Corey Brooks, Jermaine Burton and Malik Benson, along with the three sophomores, Kobe Prentice, Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Law, will be Alabama’s top three wideouts. BamaOnLine’s Jimmy Stein thinks this group can surprise some people in 2023.
“My biggest concern at receiver is the quarterback getting them the ball. I like the group as a whole because they were so young last year. But they’re still young this year and it’s the same guys. … Four of the top six guys are still young and inexperienced,” Stein told Clint Lamb at the On3 Roundtable. “That just shows how diaper young they were a year ago when we were almost entirely dependent on Brooks and Burton … It’s going to be better [in 2023].
“Now, how much better? I’m not sure. To me, it’s a big step in the right direction. Will it be one of the best wide receiver groups in the country? I don’t know that, it seems like a bit much for me, but I do think that it’s going to be improved.”
Burton and Brooks, Bryce Young‘s No. 1 and No. 2 wideouts from a year ago, combined for 79 receptions for 1,351 yards and 15 touchdowns for Alabama last season. The former true freshman trio of Prentice, Bond and Law combined for 56 receptions, 665 yards and three touchdowns.
Other than Burton and Brooks, Prentice was the only other wide receiver to log more than 30 receptions in 2022.
For the offensive line, Elijah Pritchett, Kadyn Proctor, Seth McLaughlin, Darrian Dalcourt and Tyler Booker all figure to be at the forefront of the improved Crimson Tide effort in the trenches.
“The offensive line as a run-blocking unit, still I think there is some more improvement to go there,” Stein said. “… I think Alabama could maybe have three first-round selections eventually up front. To me, it’s about the players and you have three crazy talents there. … The offensive line, I believe, will take another step forward. They did from ’21 to ’22 and they’ll take another step [in 2023].”
Alabama put their offensive line and wide receiving corps to the test once their 2023 campaign kicks off on Sept. 3 against Middle Tennessee State. Although, their first real test comes the following week when they host Quinn Ewers and the soon-to-be SEC-bound Texas Longhorns.