Alabama football at wide receiver is loaded with youth and talent

The young Alabama football wide receiver group is loaded with talent. Check out the top six at wideout, plus a couple more who could surprise.

Unlike concerns about depth on the Alabama football defense, particularly at inside linebacker, the Tide had depth at wide receiver. Most of that depth is young but it is not all inexperienced. Looking for position groups where the Alabama Crimson Tide is loaded with talent? Include the wide receivers along with the running backs and outside linebackers.

Alabama football has so much talent at wide receiver, probably only two wideouts will be added in the 2019 signing class. Let’s take a close look at the top six wideouts for 2018 and others who could also step up.

Alabama football must replace three WR starters from 2017, Calvin Ridley, Robert Foster and Cam Sims. Barring injury, the three wide receiver, 2018 starters will be Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III and Devonta Smith. The transition will be easy for the Crimson Tide.

The second and third 2017 leaders in receiving yards were Jerry Judy with 264 yards and two touchdowns and Henry Ruggs III with 229 yards and six touchdowns. National Championship game hero, Devonta Smith had 160 yards and three touchdowns. The freshman trio played in every game.

Unlike 2017, when Calvin Ridley was by far the most frequent passing target, defenses will not be able to key on a certain receiver in 2018. Much like the defensive line, wideout is a rotation position for Alabama football. The second team unit does not get equal snaps but it gets meaningful snaps. Let’s review the players most likely to earn the second team role.

Who makes up the second team WR unit?

Seniors Xavian Marks and Derek Kief have a chance for expanded roles based upon program experience. Don’t discount Kief. He has size and coaches believe he can be counted on to perform consistently.

Marks has more game experience. He is elusive once the ball is in his hands. He is the smallest guy in the 2018 unit and as such is best suited as a slot receiver. Marks would be a second-team lock for 2018 if it were not for true freshman, Jaylen Waddle.

Waddle is a natural slot receiver and he can be explosive. Waddle has so much talent, he can be expected to rotate into games more often than other second unit players. Fans, insiders, media members and probably all the coaches expect Waddle to become a Crimson Tide superstar.

Redshirt freshmen, Tyrell Shavers and Chadarius Townsend could easily join Waddle in the 2018 second unit.  Shavers is 6-foot-6 and needed to add weight last season. He could create problems for opposing defensive backs. Townsend was a high school QB who was learning the position last season. He could become the surprise wideout who jumps forward in 2018.

The other true freshmen, Slade Bolden and Xavier Williams will also compete for playing time. Bolden is a versatile player, whose only weakness might be speed. He also played RB and QB in high school. Xavier Williams is another south Florida receiver that will not go unnoticed. He might be a year away but he too has a bright future.

Next: Why Tua will start against Louisville

Nick Saban likes to repeat that in order for a QB to start, he must win the team. As far as the current roster of Crimson Tide wide receivers, Tua appears to have already done that.