Crimson Tide to Play a Large Group of Wide Receivers on Saturday

One of the most unproven position groups in all of the SEC is Alabama's wide receivers group.

The losses of Isaiah Bond and Amari Niblack to Texas, Ja'Corey Brooks to Louisville, Malik Benson to Florida State, and Jermaine Burton to the NFL, have been well documented and the returning production is scarce.

Kobe Prentice and Kendrick Law are the only players from last year's team who caught more than 15 passes.

Germie Bernard, the transfer from Washington, is adjusting from being the No. 4 to the No. 1 wide receiver on the depth chart while multiple underclassmen will see significant playing time as well.

In game one against Western Kentucky, Kalen DeBoer and his staff plan to use a variety of pass catchers.

"I think naturally we’ll substitute different packages,” DeBoer said . “We’ve always done that. It gets a lot of guys different chances to get out of the field, different combinations. They might line up in different spots. So, that naturally happens."

"Early in the season, you want to give as many guys that you think can be in the mix a chance. That being said, you got to make sure you can execute and guys can get into a rhythm as well. So I’d say we’re fairly confident with anywhere from 5 to 7…We run a lot of ones and twos in every practice, like most people do. We have six solid guys, for sure, and there’s a couple there that are pushing pretty hard.”

Wide receivers coach JaMarcus Shephard discussed the inexperience and growth of the group this offseason.

"This group hasn’t had a ton of experience out there but they’re going to get it,” Shephard said. “It’s on the way, it’s coming here soon. The practices really are their experience, so you know, even in saying that, I’ve given them plenty of experience in practice. Now being in a game environment, it really isn’t a lot different. We put them through so much in practices that really i’d hope for the games to be a lot easier than what we already do in practice.”

Bernard has been the leader of the group and thrives because of his previous experience in the system at Washington.

"Germie has been exceptional,” Shephard said Wednesday. “His leadership with his group, shoot, his leadership with the entire team has been exceptional. He has really put himself out there in a lot of ways, and he did not do that at the prior place. This has been a moment for him to really push the envelope with his leadership amongst everyone involved on this team.

"He fights every single day,” Shephard said. “He gives it everything he has. He takes every rep he possibly can, but at the same time he is standing behind guys coaching them up. I can see coaching in his future.”

Shephard focus on blocking during the offseason has been crucial as well and one player has stood out in that phase of the game.

“Kendrick has really developed himself into being our enforcer at the position,” Shephard said. “I take a lot of pride in the group blocking on the perimeter and being violent in our blocking, but having tremendous technique.

"We were talking yesterday, alright, we all know who, we all know how, but it is about who wants to block. That is what it’s all about. We know where to go, we know the technique for it, now it is about desire and want to. That young man always has the desire and want to every single play, every single time, without exception to block on the perimeter. I really can’t tell you how much I appreciate him and how he brings that mentality to the group. I can always point to him and his actions.”

All the talk around the group has been positive, and Saturday night fans will see if that talk turns into execution.

Related: Alabama commit Keelon Russell has eyes on third state title