Kobe Prentice explains number change, how 2022 experience helped his game

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Even after a loss, Alabama’s coaching staff selected players of the week, and the lone representative from the Crimson Tide offense was receiver Kobe Prentice.

In the 34-24 loss to Texas on Saturday, Prentice led the Alabama receiving corps in receptions (5), targets (6) and receiving yards (68). The sophomore wideout converted three first downs on the night, recorded a long gain of 28 yards and averaged 13.6 yards per reception.

“It’s like what Nick Saban preached to us all week – to have the mental toughness and effort to go out there and be able to play at high level,” Prentice said on Tuesday afternoon.

A camp standout as a 2022 recruit, Prentice proceeded to shine in preseason camp last August, which catapulted him up the Crimson Tide’s receiver pecking order. As a true freshman a year ago, Prentice played in all 13 games and made three starts before finishing fourth on the team in receptions with 31 – and turning those into 337 yards and two touchdowns.

Making his Naylor Stone Media Suite debut on Tuesday, Prentice shared how his experience last season as a newcomer helped him gain confidence going into Year 2 at Alabama.

“It definitely helped being able to get on the field last year as a freshman,” Prentice said. “Coming back this year is just using that experience I got last year in the big games, it definitely helps. … Just being more comfortable on the field as far as reading defenses, being able to adjust.”

Prior to the Crimson Tide’s first game of the 2023 season, Prentice changed jersey numbers. The Calera, Ala., native wore No. 80 last year but claimed the vacant No. 6 before the start of his sophomore campaign. He explained the decision to change things up Tuesday.

“I grew up an Alabama fan,” Prentice said, “So watching DeVonta Smith play receiver here, I always aspired to walk in his footsteps, I guess.”

Prentice is one of three second-year receivers that are once again making an impact for the Alabama offense, along with Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Law. Bond ranks second on the team in both receptions (6) and receiving yards (110) through the first two games. Law has yet to catch a pass, but the sophomore has played plenty and is UA’s top kickoff returner.

“Those are my guys,” Prentice said of Bond and Law. “We bond in the locker room, as well as on the field and off the field. I think coming into this season, they’re a lot more comfortable on the field, as you can see. In Game 2, they both played good.”

Prentice and the rest of the receivers will look to build on their strong start to the season as the Tide tries to bounce back from an early-season loss. Based on what one of Alabama’s veteran defensive players has seen from the sophomore, he sees a bright future for Prentice.

“I feel like Kobe Prentice is a guy who likes to compete,” said cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry. “Him and Isaiah Bond, I’ve kind of been on them since they were freshmen, just talking to them and help them guys improve as players because I see the talent that they have.

“Guys like Kobe, I feel like work very hard, ask me questions about, like ‘How were you able to guard that route? What could I have done better?’ Guys that even care enough to know or care enough to ask a question about what he did wrong in his wrong, asking a DB, that’s very ahead.”

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