Nick Saban calls out media, addresses Jahleel Billingsley improvement

On3 imageby:Tim Verghese09/22/21

TimVerghese

Alabama head coach Nick Saban addressed what he saw from tight end Jahleel Billingsley’s in practice, that led to Billingsley seeing the field more and scoring his first touchdown of the season in Saturday’s win against Florida.

“He’s doing what he’s supposed to do,” Saban said. “He practices better, he’s more engaged, he’s more focused on what he’s supposed to do and he’s having more positive performance on the field which is what any player is supposed to do.”

Saban continued, taking a shot at the media in the process.

“Did any of you play sports?” He asked. “The coach is supposed to play the best players right? And it’s up to the players to do what they’re supposed to do so they get to play because they become one of the best players. So that’s what he’s doing now. Maybe if you didn’t play that’s not something you quite get. So to answer you’re question, he’s doing what he’s supposed to do.”

It’s been quite a journey for Jahleel Billingsley to see the field after he was presumed to be one of Alabama’s top offensive weapons in the 2021 season.

The tight end missed the early part of fall camp due to COVID protocols. After his return, Saban stated Billingsley would have to “work his way back up the depth chart.” The legendary head coach wasn’t lying. In the first depth chart released before the season, Billingsley was listed as third-string behind Cameron Latu and Major Tennison.

After Alabama’s second scrimmage of fall camp, Saban sent a strong message on if his tight end is making progress to climb up the depth chart.

“That’s up to him,” Saban said. “That’s not up to me. He knows what he is supposed to do in practice. He knows what he is supposed to do. This is not a democracy. Everybody doesn’t get to do what they want to do. Everybody doesn’t get to do what they feel like doing. You’ve got to buy in and do what you’re supposed to do to be a part of the team and do the things you need to do in practice every day.” 

In Alabama’s first two games of the season, Billingsley did not record a catch. Finally, in the conference opener against Florida, Jahleel Billingsley hauled in his first catch of the 2021 season, a 26-yard touchdown that saw the tight end tip-toe down the sideline to stay in bounds and get the ball in the end zone.

Last season, Jahleel Billingsley recorded 18 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns, adding five kickoff returns for 89 yards.

After being discussed as a potential first-round draft pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Billingsley is back on track, after a slow start to his 2021 campaign on and off the field.