Alabama Football has a lot of returning production in its receiver room, and will add at least one playmaker to that group in JUCO transfer Malik Benson. The consensus among most Bama fans is that Benson will join Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton in the starting lineup with sophomores Isaiah Bond, Kobe Prentice, and Kendrick Law also heavily in the mix.
Still, Alabama Football returns other talented pass-catchers that could find their way onto the field. While they haven’t been able to crack the regular rotations at their respective positions yet, a full offseason in the strength and conditioning program could pay major dividends for these receivers.
Alabama Football: Tight end Amari Niblack
Sophomore tight end Amari Niblack joined the Crimson Tide as a 4-star recruit in the class of 2022. A product of Clearwater, Florida, he was highly touted as an athletic pass-catcher with a big frame. Niblack was ranked as the 146th best player nationally and the fifth best athlete.
In his first season on campus, Amari Niblack was able to gain valuable experience as a reserve tight end.
Niblack appeared in 10 games, mostly towards the tail end of lopsided Alabama wins. He only made one reception in his true freshman season, but it went for a 15-yard touchdown against UL-Monroe.
Niblack provides a skillset that is different from any other pass-catcher on the roster, so there is room for him to establish a niche for himself, perhaps as a jump-ball target in the red zone.
Alabama Football: Wide receiver Shazz Preston
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Shazz Preston was part of a loaded receiver haul for the Crimson Tide in 2022. He was a 4-star out of Louisiana, ranked as the 56th best player in the country and the fifth best wide receiver.
As a true freshman, he was not able to make the same impact as some of his classmates at the position, but Preston will have plenty of opportunities to shine going forward.
Shazz Preston appeared in five games in 2022, failing to record any stats. However, this game experience is a big step for a first-year player. This offseason could see Preston make the necessary adjustments to leapfrog some of his peers; he certainly has the talent to do so.
Shazz Preston is a physical receiver at over 200 pounds, and yet is able to maintain good speed. In the past, different members of the Alabama coaching staff have compared Preston to former Alabama receiver John Metchie. It is far too early to set Metchie’s level of production as an expectation for the redshirt freshman, but it is something he can strive for.
Whether or not Amari Niblack and Shazz Preston can play their way into the lineup in 2023, one thing is clear: whoever wins the quarterback battle for Alabama Football will have no shortage of gifted targets to throw to.