Alabama Football: Can Calvin Ridley break Amari Cooper’s records?

Amari Cooper holds all six of the major receiving records for Alabama football. Can Calvin Ridley break Amari’s records?

Amari Cooper is the finest wide receiver to ever don a crimson jersey. Maybe it can be argued Don Hutson was as good but the styles of football in the different eras do not offer a fair comparison. Julio Jones at this point is a better professional receiver. That is where the comparisons end. As a collegian, Cooper was better (or as good) as any Alabama football receiver EVER.

Junior Calvin Ridley is likely training for his final season as an Alabama football player. Not that he has said that to anyone. Calvin is a normally quiet, soft-spoken young man. He does not bandy about words needlessly. At the end of the 2017 season, Calvin’s NFL plans will become known.

Until then he is focused on being more of a team leader in 2017. To be clear, Calvin has led with his actions since he was a freshman. Words are another matter, but according to Rainer Sabin of al.com, Calvin intends to be more vocal in 2017.

"“I would say I’m now the leader the wide receiver group, I want to take that role on and not only to my group but my team, and be one of the captains on the team. That’s what I feel like I need to do … I lead by example already, I think, I just need to speak up some. I don’t say too much.”"

Ridley’s receptions, yards and touchdowns were all down last season. Most of that was scheme, though some can be attributed to Jalen Hurts’ late season passing struggles. There have been no public complaints from Ridley.

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Wide receivers under Nick Saban are expected to block and the best Alabama football wideouts take pride in that role. In 2017, Ridley did more blocking than racing for deep balls. Look for that to change under Brian Daboll as the Tide looks to throw downfield more in 2017.

Can Calvin break any of Amari’s records? Ridley already holds the Alabama football freshman receiving yards record with 1,045 yards in 2015.  A productive 2017 will allow Calvin to set the Alabama record for career receptions. Calvin needs 68 receptions in 2017 to break Cooper’s record of 228.

Amari’s other five records appear to be safe from a Ridley assault. Calvin is within reach in 2017 of becoming the Alabama football No. 2 rrecord holder for career receiving yards and career touchdowns.

Whatever the numbers become in Calvin’s Alabama football career, he will celebrate them with quiet appreciation. Bamainsider.com reported Calvin’s response to how excited he was about a new wide-open offense,

"“It’s exciting, but you have to work on all types of things to help us. Even if it’s short things, it doesn’t matter.”"

To Calvin’s credit, he does not sound too concerned about the record books.

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Take two more minutes and enjoy these Calvin Ridley highlights from 2015.

RTR Forever!