TUSCALOOSA, Ala. _ Even though two of the University of Alabama’s three starting wide receivers have been sidelined by injuries, the Crimson Tide is still averaging 333 passing yards per game, which ranks fourth in the Southeastern Conference.
Granted part of that is junior Amari Cooper making 25 receptions for 319 yards, which leads the nation in both categories, but some other younger receivers have been contributing more.
“They’re gaining more confidence,” Coach Nick Saban said. “We also had an illegal motion penalty and some things like that from that group of young guys not doing things, like Robert Foster catches the same pass Amari Cooper catches, and there’s a certain spot that he’s supposed to run and he doesn’t run to it and he probably would have walked into the end zone if he did. So it’s those kind of things that young players have to learn it’s important to do things right, correct, right technique and it takes a lot of repetition.
“It’s called development.”
Senior DeAndrew White (shoulder) has returned to practice but isn’t expected to play Saturday against Southern Miss (6 p.m. ET, ESPN2). Senior Christion Jones sustained a ankle bruise last week against Florida Atlantic.
In their place, sophomore Chris Black made his first career start while redshirt freshmen ArDarius Stewart and Robert Foster, and true freshman Cam Sims, have seen their first game action with the Crimson Tide.
Of them, only Sims doesn’t have a reception yet.
“Obviously he’s a true freshman, but he’s made a lot of improvement, really impressed me,” Black said. “He’s only gonna get better.”
Christopher Walsh has covered Alabama football since 2004 and is the author of 19 books. In his free time, he writes about college football.
