WATCH: Alabama football celebrates Jermaine Burton's 21st birthday with pool tradition
Less than six months ago, Jermaine Burton was on the sideline in Indianapolis, winning a national championship with the Georgia Bulldogs. Now, he’s playing for the other side, hoping to be the next great wide receiver out of the transfer portal for the Alabama Crimson Tide. While he may have been a rival a short while ago, Burton is already fitting into team culture.
Celebrating his 21st birthday on Tuesday, Burton got the same treatment any Alabama player would be on their special day — a nice, ice-cold bath. Crimson Tide players grabbed the wide receiver and gave him a couple of swings before launching him into the cold tub.
Defensive back Malachi Moore posted the video on Instagram, saying Burton “thought he was safe” from the tradition. Instead, he got a fully clothed bath in what was probably a scorching day in Tuscaloosa.
You can watch the full moment here.
Burton is projected to have a huge season for Alabama, hoping to be the main target for quarterback Bryce Young. According to the On3 transfer portal rankings, Burton was the No. 9 overall transfer in the country. He was the second wide receiver, just behind USC’s Jordan Addison.
Like Jameson Williams from last year, there are no true eye-popping numbers from Burton. With Georgia, he put up 497 yards and five touchdowns on 26 receptions during the 2021 national championship-winning team. With the Crimson Tide, much larger numbers are expected under offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien.
The season might be a little over two months away but Burton seems to find himself fitting well into the Alabama locker room. An ice bath may not have been the most ideal way to celebrate his special day but at the end of the day, Burton was just having some fun with his teammates.