The 2019 Alabama Crimson Tide will go down in history as being one of the most offensively talented teams in Alabama football history.
The wide receiving corps, also referred to as the “Rydeout Boyz,” consisted of Biletnikoff winner Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, Devonta Smith and Jaylen Waddle.
Jeudy headlined the group, while Ruggs quietly flashed his speed. Smith and Waddle were both big impact players, but didn’t necessarily receive the same amount of hype as the others.
With Jeudy and Smith both foregoing their senior seasons and declaring for the 2020 NFL Draft, there is a need for a new leader to step up and take charge of the group.
This unofficial position is going to carry a lot of weight moving into the 2020 college football season.
In years prior, they had some sort of comfort knowing Tua Tagovailoa would most likely be the one sending the ball their way. However, now that he has also departed from the university to pursue an NFL career, this leader must set the tone for the wide receiver corps as a quarterback battle ensues.
Smith, the rising senior, put up some very impressive numbers on the board in 2019 – so good, that many believed he might have declared for the NFL draft.
In the 2019 season, Smith accumulated 1,256 yards off of 68 catches for 14 touchdowns. However, it was difficult to generate exposure on a national scale when Jeudy and Smith are also making headline-worthy plays.
Waddle has always been seen as the young one – Jeudy, Ruggs and Smith were all members of the 2017 recruiting class. Now, a junior, he will be one of the oldest members of the receiving corps.
The stats Waddle put up in 2019 weren’t the most attractive, but with three fellow receivers ahead of him eligible for the draft, we shouldn’t have expected a career season.
Waddle managed 560 yards off of 33 catches for six touchdowns. Nothing crazy, but still solid.
The real question is: who will be the leader this upcoming season?
With the impending quarterback battle, it has to be a player that is able to adapt easily. With a majority of the receivers being underclassmen, it has to be a player that can relate with them.
The player that ought to lead the Alabama receiving corps in 2020 is Jaylen Waddle.
He may not have the most flashy numbers at the end of the season, and he may not be the name at the top of the box score at the end of the game, but he embodies everything this leader needs in order to keep this positional group elite.
The junior wide receiver from Texas has proven he has the ability to adapt, as he is a multi-positional player – slot receiver and return specialist.
He is also used to being one of the youngest, this will help him guide the underclassmen through their first or second seasons.
All of this will also contribute to his potential draft grade. As a junior Waddle is now eligible for the NFL draft.
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