Alabama Football: Speculation on 2023 WR Depth Chart

Alabama football has already lost five wide receivers from its 2022 roster to the transfer portal this offseason. On the surface, this sounds like it could be a disastrous situation. After a disappointing season from the position group, it seems more like a cleansing.

Traeshon Holden (Oregon) and Jojo Earle (TCU) were both projected starters in 2022, and remained members of the rotation when healthy. Aaron Anderson (LSU), Christian Leary (GT), and Tyler Harrell (TBA) never really contributed, but had lots of speed and generated hype throughout the season.

In my opinion, this exodus pares down a rotation that was far too crowded to begin with. Alabama’s wide receivers could not get enough reps to establish a rhythm or generate any consistency.

Heading into 2023, the Crimson Tide appears to have a pretty solid two-deep at the position, including five returners and one playmaking newcomer.

Junior Ja’Corey Brooks and senior Jermaine Burton both have the opportunity to assert themselves and become early-round draft picks. Brooks and Burton had solid but not exceptional seasons in 2022, appearing to get more and more comfortable as the season progressed. If they can build upon that success in 2023, they should be fixtures in the Alabama offense.

Jermaine Burton finished 2022 with 40 receptions for a team-high 677 yards and seven touchdowns. His biggest issue was consistency, as he seemed to disappear in a handful of games.

Ja’Corey Brooks was right behind Burton with 39 catches, 674 yards, and a team-high eight touchdown grabs. Ideally, this pair will continue to progress and will make another leap next season with a new quarterback and a new offensive coordinator.

Malik Benson joins the Crimson Tide as a junior college transfer. The speedy wideout was the top junior college prospect in the country, regardless of position. If he makes the impact many think he will, he could fairly quickly become WR1 in Tuscaloosa.

With Benson alongside Burton and Brooks, Alabama Football should have a dangerous trio of experienced pass-catching weapons on the perimeter.

Behind them, there is even more reason for excitement. Three freshmen came to Tuscaloosa in the 2022 class and made an impact in year one. Kobe Prentice, Isaiah Bond, and Kendrick Law all looked like future stars in fleeting moments. Each should be even more consistent as sophomores in 2023.

Prentice started from day one in the slot, and led Alabama receivers in receptions for over half the season. His opportunities seemed to dwindle as the year wore on, but he did make a long touchdown catch against Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl. Prentice finished the year with 31 catches, 337 yards, and two scores.

Isaiah Bond was arguably the fastest receiver on the 2022 roster, and was an explosive play waiting to happen. He made 17 receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown in his freshman season, making big plays against Arkansas and Tennessee and just missing on several others.

Kendrick Law came on late, not really breaking the rotation until November. He was able to make an impact in big SEC games against Ole Miss and Auburn, and made eight catches for 103 yards on the season.

Expect Prentice, Bond, and Law to all push for starting jobs in 2023. At worst, they should supplement the starting group. Other receivers that could compete for snaps include fellow second-year players Shazz Preston and Emmanuel Henderson.

The receiver room for Alabama football could be a classic case of addition by subtraction. I anticipate the group will be more reliable and productive in 2023.