Alabama Football: 2020 Wide Receiver and Tight End position group preview

The Alabama football wide receiver roster has lost two NFL first-rounders. Check out who steps up to replace Jeudy and Ruggs III and if tight ends be improved in 2020.

Replacing Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III will not be easy for Alabama football receivers coach, Holman Wiggins. Jaylen Waddle and Devonta Smith are of comparable quality to the exiting-to-the-NFL pair. It can be argued the Waddle and Smith duo has all the attributes of Jeudy and Ruggs, and perhaps more.

No matter how good, two elite wideouts are not enough. The wideout rotation requires depth, six deep. As was the case in 2019, four guys need to share the heavy load.

Performance by the 2020 tight end group needs to surpass last season. Jahleel Billingsley can be an impact player. His talent and his use by Steve Sarkisian, Billingsley is basically as a wide receiver. Graduate transfer, Carl Tucker is a bit closer to a traditional, dual-role tight end, who can also be a receiving threat.

In Alabama football 4-wide sets

A  rotation of 5-7 players will be used.

1. Devonta Smith (Senior)
2. Jaylen Waddle (Junior)
3. John Metchie (Sophomore)
4. Jahleel Billingsley (Sophomore)
5. Slade Bolden (Redshirt Sophomore)
6. Tyrell Shavers (R-Jr) or Xavier Williams (R-So) or Chadarius Townsend (R-Jr)

The talents of Waddle, Smith and Billingsley are well known. John Metchie impressed in a backup role last season. Slade Bolden is well suited to be a possession receiver out of the slot. The remaining three have all the required physical tools. Shavers needs to become more sure-handed. Townsend has bounced back and forth between receiver and running back. If his route-running is precise enough, he is a threat after a catch. Williams needs playing time to showcase his skills.

There is also a chance one or more of the freshmen can earn playing time. Speaking of Javon Baker, Traeshon Holden and Thaui Jones-Bell, Nick Saban said,

"we also feel really good about the guys we got. We’ve had other guys play at that position as freshmen. If those guys can develop quick enough, maybe they can contribute next year, as well"

Baker was at one time the most highly rated recruit of the freshmen, but he has academic requirements to meet before enrolling this summer. Jones-Bell and Holden are already enrolled.

The 2020 Tight Ends

Alabama football returns plenty of experience. Along with Billingsley and Tucker, Major Tennison and Miller Forristall are established in the program. Both have pass-catching ability. The only weakness for the pair has been blocking. For that reason, Kendall Randolph was frequently used in two, tight end sets.

Redshirt sophomore, Cameron Latu and redshirt senior Giles Amos also return. Amos was a pleasant surprise to the Alabama football staff last season. The very athletic Latu could be poised to be the next surprise.

How much 248 pound, Carl Tucker can improve the Tide’s blocking at the position is unknown. The other concern about the tight end group is not having enough depth to absorb multiple, serious injuries. It is not known when summer enrolling Caden Clark will be able to practice. Last fall, Clark tore his ACL and MCL. Clark is not expected to be fit enough for any contact work in fall camp. So far, the sure-handed redshirt sophomore, Michael Parker has not added enough weight to fill a traditional tight end role.

Check out the following links for other 2020 Position Group Previews. Defensive Back Preview; Linebacker Preview.