Alabama Football: Top Ten wide receivers in Crimson Tide history

Alabama football is known for traditional uniforms, tough defense and powerful rushing attacks. Though less known for receivers, the Tide’s ten best wideouts deserve recognition.

Historically, Alabama football has not been well known for prolific passing attacks. Even with the golden arms of Joe Namath and Ken Stabler, the Tide run game, plus a stingy defense has been the recipe for winning. In the 12 games in Crimson Tide history with the most pass attempts, six were losses.

It has been a long while since an Alabama football coach preached the old dictum, “three things happen when you pass and two of them are bad.” Bear Bryant took wishbone offenses to a new level with the addition of deep passes. Offensive coordinator Homer Smith was a wizard in the design of balanced run-pass attacks. Until the very end of his Crimson Tide stint, Lane Kiffin’s offenses featured explosive passing. Last season, the Alabama passing attack soared to a new high with Tua Tagovailoa leading a passing offense that produced 4.854 yards.

The ten best Crimson Tide wide receivers of all-time are measured by their college careers. Divining the best former Crimson Tide, NFL receivers would be a completely different exercise. Last season’s Biletnikoff winner, Jerry Jeudy will bump someone off this list once his Alabama football career ends. He is already in the Crimson Tide record books.

The list is subjective though it includes players that hold Alabama football statistical records. Players from run-dominated eras are not punished for their relatively modest numbers. Some leeway is given in one case when the position definition of an end was a good bit different from today.