What Kobe Prentice learned during freshman year, where he aims to improve
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Kobe Prentice took a more mental approach in his first year at Alabama.
A camp standout as a 2022 recruit, Prentice proceeded to shine in preseason camp last August, which catapulted him up the Crimson Tide’s wide receiver pecking order. As a true freshman a year ago, Prentice played in all 13 games and made three starts before finishing in fourth place on the team in receptions with 31 – and turning those into 337 yards and two touchdowns.
It didn’t take the summer enrollee long to get on the field last season, but his early impact wasn’t because of his athletic gifts, he explained Friday in between working at a youth football camp.
“I learned that the game’s a lot faster and everybody out there is pretty much on the same athletic level,” Prentice told BamaOnLine at the Next Gen Tuscaloosa Youth Football Camp. “It’s all mental, so the person who’s the most mentally strong will be the most successful.”
Prentice started Alabama’s season opener against Utah State and finished his collegiate debut with five catches for 60 yards. He was the only true freshman to start the first game of the 2022 campaign, and while he only made two starts after that, he continued to play a first-team role in Year 1 with the Tide. Entering Year 2, he will look to continue doing that, among other things.
On Friday, he shared with BOL the areas he is looking to improve this offseason.
“I’m looking to be a better teammate, the best one I can,” Prentice said. “And coming off the ball and adjusting to defenses faster.”
After UA wrapped up its 15 spring practices, Prentice was one of several wideouts that spent a week in Tampa with quarterback Jalen Milroe. Prentice didn’t tip his hand too much, calling the training at House of Athlete “a great experience.” Since then, the entire team has reconvened in Tuscaloosa, and the second-year receiver provided a brief update on UA’s summer workouts.
“It’s been going well,” Prentice said. “Guys are getting after it. We’ve been working hard. Everyone’s bought in.”
Prentice serves as Next Gen Camp counselor
Prentice and current teammate Caleb Downs, a true freshman safety for the Tide, joined former Alabama running back Brian Robinson at Hillcrest High School on Friday as counselors for the Tuscaloosa Youth Football Camp. They worked with the roughly 50 campers, ranging from 6-16 years old, in various drills and also answered questions, signed autographs and posed for photos to end the day.
“It means everything,” Prentice said of the experience. “We were all young at some point, so it’s good to be out here and to be able to give back to the community and to be able to help young kids in any way I can.”
Playing his high school ball an hour east of Hillcrest at Calera, Prentice grew up idolizing former Alabama wide receivers and hopes the campers gain what he did from Friday’s youth camp.
“I went to everyone I could,” Prentice said. “I looked up to guys like Calvin Ridley, Julio Jones, people like that. Any chance I could meet them, I tried to meet them. I hope they’re able to learn and grow as a player, as an individual and take back to their schools what they learn here.”
Not a member, Alabama fans? Join BamaOnLine!
Have you subscribed to BamaOnLine.com? You can sign up now for SIX MONTHS of premium access for just $1! Or, you can also get monthly access with your first month being 50% off. Get access to premium articles covering the University of Alabama athletics and recruiting content and also join thousands of Crimson Tide fans on the BOL Round Table message board! CLICK HERE!
