Alabama has nine members of its highly-ranked 2026 signing class participating in bowl practices to assist with the team's preparation for the Rose Bowl. One of those signees is earning quick praise after just a couple of practices.
4-star WR Cederian Morgan, the No. 40 overall player in the 2026 class in the 247 composite (No. 3 in Alabama), has gotten off to a fast start in Tuscaloosa.
Both OC Ryan Grubb and senior WR Germie Bernard provided effusive praise for Morgan during Saturday's media availability.
"He's going to be a great player here. I am excited to watch his growth," Bernard said. ..."He's a big receiver. He listens very well. He takes coaching. He's eager to learn. He's been really, really good giving our guys on scout team a look."
"I know Cederian has been doing an awesome job over with the scout team for the defense, which is really cool," Grubb added.
Ryan Grubb and Germie Bernard have high praise for 4-star WR Cederian Morgan
At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Morgan is the big-bodied receiver that Kalen DeBoer and Grubb have always coveted. And at that size, he's got a college-ready body and should quickly be able to come in and push for early playing time.
Morgan is the only WR that Alabama signed in the 2026 class. With Bernard exhausting his eligibility, and junior WR Isaiah Horton making moves up NFL Draft boards, Morgan will have an early opportunity to push for a role in the Crimson Tide's offense next season.
That's not to mention Transfer Portal attrition, which will undoubtedly come with a player or two. There will be a real opportunity for Morgan, and getting off to a quick start during Rose Bowl preparation will give him a leg up once spring practice rolls around in March.
Alabama always seemed likely to look for a contributor at WR in the portal due to Bernard leaving, Horton possibly foregoing his final season of eligibility, and potential portal losses. Morgan might make that less of a foregone conclusion, though DeBoer and GM Courtney Morgan probably won't have much of a choice but to look for a depth piece or two to add to the WR room.
But Morgan could be the next freshman WR in Tuscaloosa to make an immediate impact, joining Ryan Williams last year and Lotzeir Brooks this year.