Forgotten about Alabama WR could be pushing for playing time in 2026

Every spring, there are a few names that dominate the conversation, but some of the biggest risers are often the players impressing quietly behind the scenes until their play suddenly forces its way into the spotlight. For Alabama, the last two months of headlines have been full of underclassmen beginning to make that kind of noise — players who may not have entered camp as projected starters but are steadily building trust with the coaching staff. In the mind of third-year Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer, one of many names that fit this mold accurately is Derek Meadows. 

DeBoer specifically dropped Meadows' name in the mix Monday evening during an appearance on 'Hey Coach' on the Crimson Tide network, when asked which young players have caught his eye this spring and have a shot at becoming contributors in the fall. 

Kalen DeBoer praises Meadows' as player who's made "nice plays all spring"

"A guy like Derek Meadows sticks out in my mind," DeBoer said. "You saw Lotzeir (Brooks) get on the football field at the receiver position, especially the second half of the season, but Derek is a long receiver that can really cover a lot of ground, has made a lot of nice plays here all spring." 

Meadows comes into his sophomore year being the forgotten man by most Alabama fans in the Crimson Tide's receiver room behind Ryan Coleman-Williams, Lotzeir Brooks, Noah Rogers, Rico Scott, and even true freshman five-star early enrollee Cedarian Morgan. Even though Meadows has yet to record a catch in his short career in Tuscaloosa, Meadows being mentioned by DeBoer says a lot when considering the fact that he's one of the few receivers on Alabama's roster who has the blend of size, length, and upside.  

At 6-foot-5 and 215 pounds, the former four-star gives Alabama a true boundary receiver in the red zone with a massive catch radius that can win above the rim. This part of Meadows' game was shown on Fridays during his high school career at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas, where he snagged 17 touchdowns while averaging 24.1 yards per catch. This type of big-play ability from the jumbo wide receiver is hard to ignore. 

If Meadows can continue to develop and carry his momentum from spring practice into A-Day this Saturday, he has a real chance to make a statement in front of coaches, fans, and spectators alike. And if he can successfully do so, this could be the moment that shifts him from an under-the-radar prospect to a key contributor in Alabama's offense in 2026.