*Jaylen Waddle, Alabama Football News: Draft Scout Player News

09/16/20 - WR *Jaylen Waddle, Jr/2021, Alabama

Jaylen Waddle had to catch lightning in a bottle with every touch in 2019. He was a wide receiver behind two first-round draft picks and two Biletnikoff Award semifinalists, making receptions few and far between. He was by far the nation's best returner, but he only got 20 chances to return a punt and five to return a kick. All in all, Waddle averaged 20.8 yards per touch but only got the ball 4.07 times per game. In Waddle's case, playing more equates to playing differently. As Waddle is poised to step into a bigger role in Alabama's offense this fall, he had to take on some new responsibilities that come with a more all-encompassing role, a reality he has embraced. "I think he's excited about the challenge and the opportunity of being an every-down player in our offense and not just a specialty player," Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said.

As a wide receiver, Waddle being on the field more often means he's going to be targeted and running routes on fewer of his snaps, leaving him to block for the run. Waddle said he's been working on hand placement in blocking. There is also the prospect of playing multiple wide receiver positions, given being on the field for more than specialized snaps, and the potential need to do so should COVID-19 quarantines impact depth in the position group. Waddle said the way UA's offense is structured makes it easier for wide receivers to move among wide receiver positions. "I think we don't try to learn a certain position. We try to learn a concept, so you're not just out there - you don't really know where you're going to be based on the concepts," Waddle said. "You've got to learn every concept. We try to learn that way." - Montgomery Advertiser

Jr/2021