Kalen DeBoer discusses Jaylen Mbakwe’s move from DB to WR
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Kalen DeBoer on Thursday talked about Jaylen Mbakwe’s progress since moving from defensive back to wide receiver. Mbakwe was a contributor for the Alabama defense and special teams before suiting up at wideout in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan.
This offseason, he’s focusing on receiver.
“He’s doing the things he needs to do every day to just keep focusing on him and being better. That’s what I appreciate about him,” the Crimson Tide head coach told reporters at a Thursday media availability. “He’s finding his way into the return game. He did a nice job with that last year.”
The Tide will obviously be leaning on players like Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard to lead the charge among the wide receivers. That said, it sounds as if Mbawke might still have a role to play.
“I think that room, there’s some guys at the top, and then there’s another pack of guys that are gonna be important to us throughout the entire year. They might be in certain packages,” Kalen DeBoer said. “(Mbakwe) would be, certainly, one of those guys who are just gonna keep fighting, keep scrapping.”
While wide receiver isn’t new to Mbakwe as he played at that position in high school, DeBoer is hoping that the sophomore is able to respond when called upon.
“(He’s) carving out a role there and, he and the other guys will keep carving out their roles, and the more opportunities they get, I think they’ll take advantage of,” he said.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
