Alabama Football: Can Malik Benson be a one-and-done talent?
![Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams runs away from Mercer cornerback TJ Moore (25) after catching a pass [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F943811cf86b0125093223c3353a548115278fa96eb07d3e3b1c2693647770370.jpg "Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams runs away from Mercer cornerback TJ Moore (25) after catching a pass [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]")
In addition to landing plenty of blue-chip talent from the high school ranks, the 2023 recruiting class for Alabama Football included the top two JUCO prospects in the nation.
Junior wide receiver Malik Benson was unanimously considered to be the no. 1 junior college player in the country, and is one of the most highly-anticipated new additions to the 2023 Alabama Football roster.
Benson is expected to start right away, and could even be the top target on a team that is returning its top two wideouts in Ja’Corey Brooks and Jermaine Burton. If he meets the lofty expectations that much of the fan base has placed on him, Malik Benson may only be in Tuscaloosa for one season.
Similar to Jameson Williams in 2021, Benson could step in and be a game-breaker on the perimeter for the Crimson Tide. In fact, 247Sports’ national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu chose the former Bama standout as his player comp for Malik Benson.
Like Williams, he is a big-play receiver with track speed and the ceiling to be a first-round draft pick. Now it’s time for Benson to convert that potential into on-field production.
The junior receiver was relatively quiet on A-Day before racking up some numbers on the game’s final drive to finish with five receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. There is still no indication of who will be Bama’s quarterback in 2023, but Benson seems to have a fairly good rapport with redshirt sophomore Jalen Milroe.
Regardless of who wins the QB job, Malik Benson figures to be a favorite target. His ability to generate explosive plays should help the Tide’s new signal-caller acclimate to big-time college football.
From 2018 to 2021, Alabama Football produced six 1,000-yard receivers in four years. This run allowed Bama to make a claim to the title of Wide Receiver U.
However, the 2022 group didn’t necessarily help that argument, as the Tide didn’t even have a receiver eclipse 700 yards for the year.
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I expect Malik Benson to have a breakout season, start another run of 1,000-yard receivers in Tuscaloosa, and ultimately depart for the 2024 NFL Draft.