Alabama football: Do we have the wrong freshman WR on our radar?
Alabama football has a clear need at wide receiver. After losing its top three players at the position to the NFL, the competition is wide open for replacement options.
Yes, it’s true that Georgia transfer Jermaine Burton, veteran Traeshon Holden and rising sophomores such as JoJo Earle, JaCorey Brooks and Agiye Hall are expected to either start or contribute. But there might be room for one of Alabama’s many talented freshman pass-catchers to get into the mix as well.
For anyone who keeps up with my work, you know that I’ve been pounding the table for Aaron Anderson.
First off, he’s the highest-rated wide receiver in Alabama’s 2022 class for a reason. At just over 5-foot-8, 185 pounds, he possesses a frame and skillset similar to that of former Crimson Tide standout Jaylen Waddle. On3 describes Anderson as a “compactly-built slot receiver with dynamic open-field ability and refined receiver skills.”
That note perfectly summarizes the New Orleans (La.) Edna Karr product.
Not only is Anderson oozing with talent, but he’s also one of only two first-year receivers to enroll early. That automatically gives him a leg up on other freshmen such as Shazz Preston, Isaiah Bond and Kobe Prentice. But are we not giving enough attention to Alabama’s other early enrollee?
Last week, Alabama coach Nick Saban was asked about Kendrick Law.
“He’s done a nice job,” Saban told reporters. “He’s a guy that could play multiple positions if that creates value in your opinion. But he has done a really good job at receiver. He’s got some speed. He’s got some size. He runs good routes. He’s got really good hands.
“He’s picked up on things and sort of has the right mindset to be able to deal with some of the frustrations that young players go through when they’re trying to learn a system and making more mistakes than they’re used to, probably. But he plays through it, and he’s made a lot of plays.
“I think that he’s the guy that might be able to help us if he continues to develop.”
OK, secret time.
Going in, I thought Law would be too unpolished to contribute early. I’ve always believed that he’s got tremendous upside long-term, but maybe we’re not being bullish enough on his potential impact in the short-term.
What stands out the most about Saban’s comment is how Law handles adversity.
That’s a rare trait to possess at such a young age, and should be something that helps him grow into being a mentally tough receiver. Throw in Law’s physical gifts, and it’s easy to see why Alabama coveted him so much coming out of Shreveport (La.) Captain Shreve. This isn’t a lowly-rated prospect, after all.
The On3 Consensus rankings have him as a top-100 player (No. 97 overall), the No. 4 athlete and the No. 9 player from the state of Louisiana.
With all that said, I still believe Anderson is the freshman receiver with the best chance at earning early playing time. But after Saban’s recent comments, I’ve now moved Law into the “keep an eye on him” category.
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