Alabama Football: Ranking Alabama’s top 2021 NFL Draft prospects

3. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Junior

Speaking of wide receivers, Waddle might be the top of them all in 2021. He had to wait for his moment in his first two years on the team, but he certainly made the most of his opportunities. He averaged 17 yards a catch as a sophomore and scored eight total touchdowns.

Waddle and Ruggs on the same team was simply unfair, as they were practically always the two fastest players on the field. He will likely get more schemed touches on screens and RPO slants with Ruggs in the NFL.

Waddle is a bit undersized, but he plays with a tenacity. His NFL comp could easily be Tyreek Hill due to his height and speed. Also like Hill, Waddle has an impact on special teams. He can flip the field on punts and take it to the house on kickoffs. We saw this multiple times last season. I’d be scared to punt to this guy.

To put it simply, Waddle has to have an increased role in the offense in order for the Tide to succeed. Thankfully, that should almost certainly happen. We will get to see just what he is capable of as a junior before he likely declares for the 2021 draft as a first-round lock.