Tag: Germie Bernard

3 Key matchups for the Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Alabama Crimson Tide

What are the key matchups to watch as the Oklahoma Sooners get set to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide?

The Oklahoma Sooners will take on the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday night in one of the more highly-anticipated matchups of the new-look SEC.

Even if the Sooners have struggled through the 2024 season, a battle of two of college football’s blue blood programs is the stuff reserved for the postseason or the occasional nonconference heavyweight tilt.

It’s been 22 years since the Crimson Tide stepped foot in Norman. When Alabama comes to town this week, they’ll seek to solidify their position as a College Football Playoff contender. The SEC title game isn’t out of the question, but they’ll need some help to get there. A win over Oklahoma and then next week in the Iron Bowl will pretty much solidify the Crimson Tide’s as at least an at-large bid.

Can the Oklahoma Sooners play spoiler this weekend and knock the Crimson Tide out of the playoff discussion? They’ll need to play a great game to do so and win these key matchups.

1. Oklahoma Run Game vs. Alabama Defense

The Alabama Crimson Tide come to Norman with a run defense allowing 132.2 yards per game, which is good for 53rd in the nation. Alabama held LSU to just 104 yards rushing on 24 attempts in a game that got away from the Tigers. The week before Bama allowed 169 yards rushing in their shutout win over Missouri.

In their losses to Tennessee and Vanderbilt, Alabama allowed 204 and 166 rushing yards.

It’s a unit that can be run, but much of it will depend on how much Alabama respects Oklahoma’s passing attack. They’re likely to crowd the box and force Oklahoma to beat them through the air. Still, even against crowded boxes, the Sooners need to lean into the running game.

The passing attack hasn’t been consistent all season, but the Sooners have found success on the ground over the last month.

The Sooners have to slow the game down and rely on the running game to keep the offense in favorable down and distances. Oklahoma doesn’t want to get into second- and third-and-long situations and be forced to pass.

Even if the game begins to get away from Oklahoma, they need to continue to lean into the running game with Xavier Robinson, Jovantae Barnes, Taylor Tatum, and Jackson Arnold.

Up Next: Can Oklahoma limit Explosive Plays?

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Will Alabama’s wide receivers fall flat despite improved offense in 2024?

Can the Crimson Tide WR’s step up in 2024, or will others from around the conference outshine them?

The SEC is a conference loaded with talent all across the football field and on the sidelines. As the game continues to evolve, teams will emphasize certain positions. In 2024, a long list of wide receivers will receive national attention for their skills and abilities. However, it’s been some time since the Alabama Crimson Tide had a group of receivers that turned heads.

When Nick Saban had an offense that consisted of Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith, Jaylen Waddle and others, it wasn’t easy to name another team that had such a star-studded corps of wide receivers. Since then, Alabama has had a few wide receivers, such as Jameson Williams and John Metchie III, be nationally-recognized named. However, there has lack of flash from the Crimson Tide receivers since then.

Recently, Matt Melton of College Sports Wire broke down five SEC receivers who could lead the conference in receiving yards. While no active players for Alabama made the list, former pass-catcher Isaiah Bond made the list at No. 4. Bond entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season and will now play for new conference foe, the Texas Longhorns.

Melton did include an honorable mention list, which featured new Crimson Tide wide receiver Germie Bernard, who transferred into the program this season from the Washington Huskies – following head coach Kalen DeBoer.

Though Bernard has the potential to be an impact player for Alabama and receive warranted recognition as a top wide receiver in the SEC, the overall unit is being overlooked.

In 2024, star quarterback Jalen Milroe returns with a motivated mindset and an improved set of skills. His growth throughout the 2023 season cannot be understated, especially considering he went from being benched early in the season to finishing the year ranked No. 6 in the final Heisman Trophy vote. With strong quarterback play comes opportunities for the wide receivers.

Not only will Alabama have Bernard, but the Tide will have Kendrick Law and Kobe Prentice returning and the team will have true freshman Ryan Williams on the field.

Sure, it’s a new season with a new-look roster, a coach roaming the sidelines not named Nick Saban and a difficult regular season schedule. However, there is an expectation to perform at the highest possible level every single week in Tuscaloosa, and the roster remains talents and they are led by a coach that has proven he’s capable of winning big-time games.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football as the 2024 college football season approaches.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Alabama DB Malachi Moore compares new teammate to former Tide fan-favorite

See why Malachi Moore believes an incoming transfer should have fans excited.

Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore spoke with the media at SEC media days on Tuesday morning. Moore had high praise for incoming transfer and wide receiver Germie Bernard.

“Germie Bernard reminds me of John Metchie when he was here, the way he runs routes and stems and has creativity within his routes.”

That is high praise from Moore. Metchie III had an impressive career in Tuscaloosa. He finished his career in Tuscaloosa with 155 receptions for 2,081 yards and 14 touchdowns. Following the conclusion of his junior season, Metchie III was drafted in the second round by the Houston Texans.

Bernard’s career numbers are not close to Metchie III. A lot of that stems from the fact that Bernard sat behind three elite wide receivers a season ago in Seattle. Despite limited playing time at Washington, Bernard managed to reel in 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns.

The ceiling seems to be very high for Bernard. If expectations were not already high, they are now following Moore’s comparison for Bernard. If Bernard is able to perform similarly to Metchie III, this offense could be very difficult to navigate this season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program.

Could an incoming transfer define Alabama’s 2024 season?

The 2024 Alabama football season will be interesting to say the least.

New head coach Kalen DeBoer did not shy away from using the transfer portal in the 2024 offseason. The Alabama Crimson Tide will have new players joining the program via the portal on offense, defense and special teams. SEC Unfiltered’s Cole Thompson is under the impression that incoming transfer wide receiver Germie Bernard is going to have a strong junior campaign at Alabama.

Thompson believes that Bernard will be a quarterback’s dream. Thompson said that Bernard is “a big-bodied receiver who can attack the ball in the air, body defenders in the open space, and turn contested catches more so into 80/20 balls rather than 50/50.”

While Thompson does state that he is uncertain as to whether or not Bernard will be the Crimson Tide’s No. 1 receiving target, he was adamant that Bernard would play a key role in Alabama’s offense next season.

The Washington Huskies transfer has proven that he has what it takes to thrive in an offense led by Kalen DeBoer. As a sophomore at Washington, Bernard reeled in 34 catches for 419 yards and two touchdowns. He averaged 12.3 yards per catch for the Huskies.

There is a strong chance that Bernard doubles his number of receptions and receiving yards. The expectation is that Bernard will be one of the catalyst for Alabama’s offensive success in 2024.

=Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding the Alabama football program.

Alabama WR ranks as a top-5 ‘draft gem’ in college football

One of Alabama’s newest players is being respected as a top-five player in college football.

In recent seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program has had plenty of success recruiting wide receiver talent out of high school and through the transfer portal. The development of that talent is also noteworthy, as numerous receivers found their way into the NFL via early rounds of the draft, and cemented themselves as high-quality players at the professional level.

While those were all under the leadership of legendary head coach Nick Saban, he is now retired, leaving former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer to be the man at the helm of the historical program.

One of DeBoer’s biggest recruiting victories of the offseason was when he successfully obtained a commitment from junior wide receiver Germie Bernard, who played under DeBoer at Washington.

In 2023, Bernard appeared in 14 games, catching 34 passes for 419 yards and two touchdowns. His role is expected to be much larger at Alabama, being one of the leaders of the receiving corps for starting quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Recently, Bernard was tabbed as a ‘draft gem’ by CBS Sports’s Blake Brockermyer, who ranked the new Crimson Tide receiver No. 5 on the list of top prospects for the 2025 NFL draft.

“Big-bodied receiver who can attack the ball in the air, body defenders and high point in contested catches,” writes Brockermyer. “He is expected to be Jalen Milroe’s security blanket after an impressive spring.”

It will be interesting to see how Bernard performs in the new environment with a new quarterback, but the same head coach. His stats, while relatively underwhelming, don’t give fans a strong idea of his strengths and weaknesses, as the sample size is still somewhat small.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Pre-Spring Position Preview: Breaking down the Alabama WRs

A closer look at the Alabama wide receivers ahead of spring practice

Before we know it, new Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer will hit the practice field with his Crimson Tide players for the first time when spring practice gets underway in March.

With the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban, there have not been this many question marks surrounding the football program since 2007 when Saban took over.

Contrary to popular belief, Alabama still has one of the most talented rosters in the country and should be right in the thick of the college football playoff conversation.

As the anticipation builds leading up to spring practice, Roll Tide Wire will preview each position group. We have already looked at the quarterbacks and the running backs, so now we will shift our focus to the Alabama wide receivers.

Alabama lands two Washington transfers during recruiting weekend

Alabama lands two Washington transfers during recruiting weekend.

In what was likely the first big recruiting weekend of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama this past weekend, the Crimson Tide landed a pair of commitments from two players, Parker Brailsford and Germie Bernard.

Both Brailsford and Bernard had previously entered the transfer portal last week, with both also having played under DeBoer at Washington.

Brailsford, who is rated by 247Sports as the top interior offensive lineman in the transfer portal this offseason, started along the Huskies offensive line this past season, with a majority of those starts coming at center. An All-Pac-12 Second Team selection, Brailsford is now the likely favorite to start at center for Alabama in 2024, as prior starter Seth McLaughlin transferred to Ohio State earlier this offseason.

Bernard is coming off a breakout 2023 season in what was his first with the Huskies, as the wide receiver transferred from Michigan State after the 2022 campaign. The wideout had 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns a year ago, while also rushing for 43 yards and two more scores on 13 attempts.

In addition to those numbers, Bernard also saw time on special teams this past season, averaging 23.3 yards per return on 10 kickoff returns. Bernard also returned three punts for 43 yards.

Brailsford and Bernard are the second and third Washington transfers to make their way to Tuscaloosa since DeBoer was named head coach, joining quarterback Austin Mack.

Former Michigan State football WR Germie Bernard transferring to Alabama from Washington

Former Michigan State football WR Germie Bernard transferring to Alabama from Washington

Back in 2022, Germie Bernard transferred from Michigan State football to Washington, where he caught 34 passes for 419 yards and two touchdowns this past season.

After Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer left to become the new coach at Alabama, Bernard entered the transfer portal, and now he will follow his old coach to Tuscaloosa, announcing his commitment to Alabama on Sunday.

On3 had it first:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.

Alabama lands commitment from Washington transfer WR Germie Bernard

After taking an official visit to Alabama this weekend, Washington transfer wide receiver Germie Bernard announced his commitment to the Crimson Tide.

The Alabama football program received some promising news on Sunday evening. Washington transfer wide receiver Germie Bernard announced that he was transferring to Alabama. Bernard took an official visit to Tuscaloosa this weekend.

Bernard, a Nevada native, spent one seasons at Michigan State prior to transferring to Washington. In East Lansing, he reeled in seven receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

Upon transferring to Washington, Bernard became a quick target for quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Over the course of the season, Bernard had 34 receptions for 419 yards and two touchdowns.

Bernard can contribute at wide receiver and on special teams for the Crimson Tide. He was used in a variety of different ways in the Huskies offense this past season. The good news for Bernard is that he will reunite with former Huskies play-caller and current Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb in Tuscaloosa.

I would expect Bernard to play a pivotal role in Alabama’s offense next season. He has the potential to do some really special things in Tuscaloosa with quarterback Jalen Milroe throwing him the ball and Grubb directing the offense.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest news regarding the Alabama football program.

Michigan State football: 2023 transfer tracker

Tracking Michigan State’s transfer portal activity in 2023:

The transfer portal is seeing a record number of players entering to look for new homes around college football.

Michigan State is no exception, and it will see its fair share of attrition within the roster. On the flip side, the Spartans are looking to bring in a large number of transfers to enhance the roster and fill holes left through graduation, transfers and other departures.

Take a look at Michigan State’s 2023 transfer tracker of outgoing and incoming transfers:

Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on Twitter @Cory_Linsner.