One quality sets Alabama football apart from the rest in being “Wide Receiver University.”
Whether it was Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs III, DeVonta Smith, or Jaylen Waddle, each one possessed the same trait as a freshman. The Crimson Tide had playmakers that carried a professional mindset. Jones started the trend, but players after him kept the baton of performing higher than their classification. Cooper was a 1,000-yard target during his freshman season in 2012. Ridley impressed teammates in the summer of 2015 with his routes and also became a 1,000-yard weapon. The trio of Jeudy, Ruggs, and Smith found ways to make highlight efforts as freshmen in 2017.