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SEC Sports
Alabama’s most underrated receiver is hidden in plain sight
Germie Bernard led Alabama football in receptions during the 2024 season. He's back for another year as he leads the Crimson Tide receivers.
Every night, Germie Bernard goes to his handmade posterboard calendar.
It has a box for each day of Alabama football training camp. Bernard wrote a different Bible verse inside each one.
As part of his evening routine, the Crimson Tide receiver reads that day’s scripture then crosses off the box. That’s after a day featuring plenty of prayer and a morning routine that includes reading the Bible at the football facility while eating breakfast.
Bernard’s in the book of John right now.
“It helps me be consistent,” Bernard told AL.com. “I feel like when you’re rooted in Christ, you don’t really get too high or too low.”
The grounded approach prevents Bernard from getting pushed and pulled by the forces of public opinion, particularly in the moments when he gets overshadowed by teammates. He’s not the video game cover star with a Nike deal.
He’s also not the shiny new transfer from Miami. But on a roster full of talented receivers, Bernard is arguably the most dependable.
“Germie Bernard is one of those guys you want on your offense,” defensive lineman Tim Keenan III said. “Very unselfish, but when he gets that ball, he’s going to make something with it. He’s definitely a playmaker.”
Bernard returns this season as a starter and the team’s leader in receptions, but it often feels like he’s hidden in plain sight within the discourse around the Crimson Tide.
Bernard led Alabama with 50 catches in 2024, which was two more than freshman phenom Ryan Williams. According to Pro Football Focus, Bernard dropped only 3.8% of his targets. Williams dropped 12.7% of his targets.
Williams had 71 more receiving yards and six more receiving touchdowns than Bernard, but much of Williams’ production came in the first quarter of the season.
After the Sept. 28 win over Georgia, Bernard caught 37 passes for 644 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Williams caught 32 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns.
Williams made the All-SEC preseason first team heading into this season. Bernard was nowhere to be seen on the first, second or third teams.
“I love it for Ryan,” Bernard said. “For him to come in and have an impact at such a young age, nobody is really doing that. I am very, very happy for him and I’m supporting him every step of the way. As for me, I just continue to do what I do. People are going to recognize it or not.”
Alabama wide receivers Germie Bernard (5) and Ryan Williams (2) celebrate a touchdown by Bernard during the second half of an NCAA college football game against South Carolina, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.AP
It connects to a lesson Bernard learned through his dad when Bernard was entering his freshman year of high school. When Bernard was deciding whether to go to Las Vegas football powerhouse Bishop Gorman, his dad provided wise counsel.
You can go to any school. If you just do what you do, people are going to find you. You can’t take away what God has planned for you. Just continue to work.
To this day, Bernard’s approach echoes that advice. This offseason has been no different. He went to California in the spring to work with Tony Ball, a longtime college receivers coach who now trains receivers for his company Going Deep.
Bernard’s explosive power this offseason stood out to Ball, who has known Bernard since high school. He also noticed how much more physically imposing Bernard was from the year prior.
“He’s hungry,” Ball said. “He wants to be the very best he can be.”
Bernard has been fine-tuning his game, specifically working on route stems (the initial part of his routes) and getting out of his breaks better.
Bernard also has been repping difficult catches. Three to four times a week, he uses the JUGS machine, which rockets a football to the receiver practicing with it.
Each time, Bernard said he catches at least 200 balls. He breaks them up into four segments of about 50, with each portion a different type of catch.
Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard (5) runs after a catch past Auburn linebacker Dorian Mausi Jr. (12) during the second half an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)AP
As the senior in the group, Bernard tells the other receivers to always catch the ball with their eyes. Don’t try to make the play with only their hands.
“It’s all about focus,” Bernard said. “If you can focus, catching the ball is really, really easy.”
Focus describes Bernard well. He’s focused on his preparation to make sure he’s ready to provide dependable hands again this season.
He’s focused on leading the receivers as Alabama looks to revamp the offense and return to the College Football Playoff. And he’s focused on his Christian faith, each and every day.
“I know that one day I’m going to be where I want to be and I’m going to be doing what God wants me to do,” Bernard said. “The hard work is going to pay off … I just continue to worry about myself and not what other people have to say.”
