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Some thoughts on the wide receiver positions at Alabama as the Crimson Tide approaches the start of spring drills.
Who's back?: 3 Calvin Ridley (Jr.); 7 Trevon Diggs (So.); 17 Cam Sims (Sr.); 16 T.J. Simmons(So.); 1 Robert Foster (Sr.); 81 Derek Kief (Jr.); 31 Xavian Marks (Jr.).
What we know: After leading the Crimson Tide in receiving yards (864); yards per catch (16.0) and touchdown receptions (eight) in 2016, ArDarius Stewart leaves UA with a year of eligibility on the table. Making Stewart's swan song production even more impressive was that he amassed his numbers in a little more than 11 games worth of action.
In his final season at Alabama, Stewart emerged as a home run threat, producing explosive plays both in the vertical and quick passing games. He did so while maintaining the physical presence he became known for during the early stages of his UA career. Whether it was as a blocker or picking up tough yards after the catch, Stewart played with an edge typically not found in players at his position.
As a sophomore, Ridley made it two for two in leading the Crimson Tide in receptions. He followed up a sensational true freshman season in 2015 -- one that saw him haul in a team-high 89 passes -- with 72 more grabs in 2016. His 161 career receptions to date are the most ever by an Alabama receiver in his first two years in the program.
Getting Ridley's yards per catch average up should be a focal point of the passing game during the offseason. While his two-year receiving yardage total (1,814) is on track to set a new UA career mark, his yards per catch average of 11.27 doesn't line up with his explosive skill set.
Making that happen will go hand in hand with the development of quarterback Jalen Hurts as a passer. Specifically, as Hurts becomes more proficient in the intermediate and deeper areas of the field, expect Ridley's yards per catch up average to approach a number similar to what Stewart posted last season.
When Stewart went down with a knee injury against Ole Miss in Week 3 of the 2016 season, it was Sims who got the call, making a pair of starts against Kent State and Kentucky. With Stewart sitting out a one-game suspension, Sims also got the nod against Chattanooga late in the season. He finished his junior campaign with 14 catches for 152 yards, second-most in both categories by a returning receiver.
After splitting time between offense and defense during fall camp and into the season, Diggs eventually settled in at receiver as a true freshman. Along with Sims, Diggs, who finished his debut campaign with 11 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, competed for snaps behind No. 3 receiver Gehrig Dieter last fall. In addition to his work on offense, Diggs returned 13 punts for 130 yards and seven kickoffs for 166 yards.
What we don't know: After taking up residence in Lane Kiffin's doghouse in 2016, might the change at offensive coordinator prove beneficial to Foster?
Coming off a season-ending shoulder injury a year earlier, Foster was already struggling to pick up reps last fall when a shotgun snap late in the Western Kentucky game careened off the former five-star recruit, leading to the highly-publicized "ass chewing" Kiffin received from head coach Nick Saban. After four seasons in the program, Foster's career at UA could come down to how he performs over the next five weeks.
Kief and Simmons join Foster in the group of secondary receivers from a season ago who will look to push for larger roles in 2017. Like Sims, Kief, who caught four passes for 31 yards in 2016, has good size, making him a potential target on third down and in the red zone. Simmons worked primarily on special teams as a true freshman a season ago, making one solo tackle in 12 games.
The "problem" for guys like Kief and Simmons is that Alabama continues to produce tight ends capable of flexing out to the perimeter, with Miller Forristall expected to follow in the footsteps of O.J. Howard where formation flexibility is concerned. With that, there's a premium placed on landing a spot in the top three of the wide receiver rotation.
To this point, Marks primary role has been that of a return man. As a sophomore, he returned five punts for 105 yards (21 yards per return) -- including a 75-yarder for a touchdown -- while also mixing in seven kickoff returns for 123 yards (17.57 yards per return) last season.
What we're about to find out: Ridley is a given at the top of the rotation, but the spots behind him are up for grabs. The expectation will be for veterans Sims and Foster to be heavily involved early in spring drills, with Diggs, a potential No. 1 receiver for the future, right there as well.
Most interesting, though, will be the impact early enrollees Jerry Jeudy and Tyrell Shavershave on the rotation. Jeudy possesses the same dynamic play-making ability that fellow south Floridians Ridley and Amari Cooper did before him,while the 6-foot-6 Shavers offers a combination of size and athleticism that is rare even for a place like Alabama.
With two more receivers -- Henry Ruggs III and Devonta Smith -- set to join the program in the summer, quality options won't be an issue for new position coach Mike Locksley. In fact, the thought of having a surplus of talented players at the spot likely had something to do with Saban's Signing Day comments about experimenting with a receiver or two in the defensive backfield (Saban specifically mentioned the career path of Cyrus Jones).
To be sure, Locksley is inheriting an abundance of speed and skill, attributes that will help ease the transition from Stewart to next Ridley's next running mate. Replacing the physicality Stewart brought to the table, however, may not be as easy.
Alabama Crimson Tide football Nick Saban Calvin Ridley Jalen Hurts Trevon Diggs Cam Sims Jerry Jeudy
Who's back?: 3 Calvin Ridley (Jr.); 7 Trevon Diggs (So.); 17 Cam Sims (Sr.); 16 T.J. Simmons(So.); 1 Robert Foster (Sr.); 81 Derek Kief (Jr.); 31 Xavian Marks (Jr.).
What we know: After leading the Crimson Tide in receiving yards (864); yards per catch (16.0) and touchdown receptions (eight) in 2016, ArDarius Stewart leaves UA with a year of eligibility on the table. Making Stewart's swan song production even more impressive was that he amassed his numbers in a little more than 11 games worth of action.
In his final season at Alabama, Stewart emerged as a home run threat, producing explosive plays both in the vertical and quick passing games. He did so while maintaining the physical presence he became known for during the early stages of his UA career. Whether it was as a blocker or picking up tough yards after the catch, Stewart played with an edge typically not found in players at his position.
As a sophomore, Ridley made it two for two in leading the Crimson Tide in receptions. He followed up a sensational true freshman season in 2015 -- one that saw him haul in a team-high 89 passes -- with 72 more grabs in 2016. His 161 career receptions to date are the most ever by an Alabama receiver in his first two years in the program.
Getting Ridley's yards per catch average up should be a focal point of the passing game during the offseason. While his two-year receiving yardage total (1,814) is on track to set a new UA career mark, his yards per catch average of 11.27 doesn't line up with his explosive skill set.
Making that happen will go hand in hand with the development of quarterback Jalen Hurts as a passer. Specifically, as Hurts becomes more proficient in the intermediate and deeper areas of the field, expect Ridley's yards per catch up average to approach a number similar to what Stewart posted last season.
When Stewart went down with a knee injury against Ole Miss in Week 3 of the 2016 season, it was Sims who got the call, making a pair of starts against Kent State and Kentucky. With Stewart sitting out a one-game suspension, Sims also got the nod against Chattanooga late in the season. He finished his junior campaign with 14 catches for 152 yards, second-most in both categories by a returning receiver.
After splitting time between offense and defense during fall camp and into the season, Diggs eventually settled in at receiver as a true freshman. Along with Sims, Diggs, who finished his debut campaign with 11 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, competed for snaps behind No. 3 receiver Gehrig Dieter last fall. In addition to his work on offense, Diggs returned 13 punts for 130 yards and seven kickoffs for 166 yards.
What we don't know: After taking up residence in Lane Kiffin's doghouse in 2016, might the change at offensive coordinator prove beneficial to Foster?
Coming off a season-ending shoulder injury a year earlier, Foster was already struggling to pick up reps last fall when a shotgun snap late in the Western Kentucky game careened off the former five-star recruit, leading to the highly-publicized "ass chewing" Kiffin received from head coach Nick Saban. After four seasons in the program, Foster's career at UA could come down to how he performs over the next five weeks.
Kief and Simmons join Foster in the group of secondary receivers from a season ago who will look to push for larger roles in 2017. Like Sims, Kief, who caught four passes for 31 yards in 2016, has good size, making him a potential target on third down and in the red zone. Simmons worked primarily on special teams as a true freshman a season ago, making one solo tackle in 12 games.
The "problem" for guys like Kief and Simmons is that Alabama continues to produce tight ends capable of flexing out to the perimeter, with Miller Forristall expected to follow in the footsteps of O.J. Howard where formation flexibility is concerned. With that, there's a premium placed on landing a spot in the top three of the wide receiver rotation.
To this point, Marks primary role has been that of a return man. As a sophomore, he returned five punts for 105 yards (21 yards per return) -- including a 75-yarder for a touchdown -- while also mixing in seven kickoff returns for 123 yards (17.57 yards per return) last season.
What we're about to find out: Ridley is a given at the top of the rotation, but the spots behind him are up for grabs. The expectation will be for veterans Sims and Foster to be heavily involved early in spring drills, with Diggs, a potential No. 1 receiver for the future, right there as well.
Most interesting, though, will be the impact early enrollees Jerry Jeudy and Tyrell Shavershave on the rotation. Jeudy possesses the same dynamic play-making ability that fellow south Floridians Ridley and Amari Cooper did before him,while the 6-foot-6 Shavers offers a combination of size and athleticism that is rare even for a place like Alabama.
With two more receivers -- Henry Ruggs III and Devonta Smith -- set to join the program in the summer, quality options won't be an issue for new position coach Mike Locksley. In fact, the thought of having a surplus of talented players at the spot likely had something to do with Saban's Signing Day comments about experimenting with a receiver or two in the defensive backfield (Saban specifically mentioned the career path of Cyrus Jones).
To be sure, Locksley is inheriting an abundance of speed and skill, attributes that will help ease the transition from Stewart to next Ridley's next running mate. Replacing the physicality Stewart brought to the table, however, may not be as easy.
Alabama Crimson Tide football Nick Saban Calvin Ridley Jalen Hurts Trevon Diggs Cam Sims Jerry Jeudy
