Alabama has a talented group of receivers battling for playing time this year. With Ryan Coleman-Williams and Lotzeir Brooks returning, that's a lethal one-two punch at WR. Even with NC State transfer Noah Rogers on the shelf with an injury, there's Rico Scott, Derek Meadows, and Cederian Morgan, who all seem capable of getting on the field and providing quality snaps.
Problem is, there's a whole bunch of question marks behind those guys.
With Rogers expected to miss the first few weeks, Alabama has five guys they know they can depend on. After that, you're talking about a JUCO transfer in Tyler Henderson who, while he has received praise from Coleman-Williams this offseason, is an unknown. After that, it's former walk-on MJ Chirgwin and a trio of freshmen the Tide took fliers on in the 2026 class: MJ Mathis, Aubrey Walker, and Amari Sabb. None of whom are expected to play much of a role this season.
Depth at WR is a legitimate concern. The high-end talent is there, but the truth is that Kalen DeBoer and company can't withstand much in terms of attrition at the position this year.
What could work to compensate for that, however, is a deep and talented crop of tight ends. With the NFL moving to more 12- and 13-personnel looks, DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb might follow suit. They might not have a choice.
With Kaleb Edwards, Danny Lewis Jr., and Marshall Pritchett as experienced returners from last season, along with the addition of Oklahoma State transfer Josh Ford, it's a deep and talented TE room that may be capable of shouldering more of a burden in the passing game.
Kalen DeBoer and Ryan Grubb may have to utilize the TE room even more for Alabama in 2026
Capable blocking TEs like Ford and Lewis could be the key in unlocking the Alabama run game. A balanced TE like Edwards can block and be a serious threat as a receiver. Pritchett is more of a receiving TE, but he's coming into his own as a blocker, too. It's a close group in that room, and they're pushing each other to get better all-around.
"We all have kind of different skill sets, and I think that’s what makes us such a close unit,” Pritchett said, via Alabama on SI. "I go out there as the receiving tight end, like if Jay (Lindsey) wants some advice on how to run a better route, I can give him that. But when I go and I gotta block pass pro, I know I can go up to Jay and ask him about the footwork he takes, the hand stuff he takes, same with Kaleb, same with Josh.
“That’s the difference in our room. Although we’re incredibly competitive, it’s a big help-each-other-out kind of environment, because we all want to eat.”
It's a room that has a lot of potential. DeBoer and Grubb are always studying the best to try to get better. The best in the NFL have been getting bigger and more powerful, transitioning to more two- and three-TE looks with guys who are capable blockers and who can go out and catch passes.
Alabama should have that kind of room in 2026. With depth at WR a legitimate concern, having the number of capable tight ends that Alabama has on the roster is a luxury that the coaching staff will certainly look to use to their advantage.
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