JessN: 2025 Roster Rundown: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

[JessN]

2025 Roster Rundown: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
by Jess Nicholas, TideFans.com Editor-in-Chief

This week, our 2025 Alabama Preview continues with a look at the wide receiver corps and also the tight end group.

For this week, we look not only at the three starting wide receiver positions, but also the tight end spot, which at times breaks down into two positions, the inline Y-tight end position, and the H-back spot, which is a hybrid tight end/fullback position.

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2025 Roster Rundown: Wide Receivers and Tight Ends

This week, our 2025 Alabama Preview continues with a look at the wide receiver corps and also the tight end group. As stated in previous articles in this series, in recent years, we’ve waited…

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[AlistarWills]

Why do we have so many TE’s? Looking for a decent warm body to man the position? I mean we won’t run more than one on a regular basis, sometimes 2 in certain formations and 2 Y and a H in goalline/short yardage situations. No way they are all on scholarship.

 

[Rocky Mtn Bob]

WR and TE struck me as "thin" last season. Looking a lot better in both areas now.

 

[BamaMoon]

The big freshman with ride receiver skills sounds like a sleeper to leapfrog up the DC, as JessN notes.

But why so many TE's???

 

[BamaMoon]

Our WR room is about to be "elite" again. May never get to the 4 horsemen level, but if it approaches it we are in great shape.

Bama QBs ought to be salivating over the opportunity to throw to these guys!

BTW, some have questioned if TS can be a one and done. I think all he needs to do is do the basics and get the ball out on time and accurately to these guys (which is the MO of Grubb/Deboars passing scheme) and he'll be catching NFL scout's eyes!

 

[JustNeedMe81]

Why do we have so many TE’s? Looking for a decent warm body to man the position? I mean we won’t run more than one on a regular basis, sometimes 2 in certain formations and 2 Y and a H in goalline/short yardage situations. No way they are all on scholarship.

Not all is on scholarship. You're right. We'll see Lewis and Cuevas on the field together as Y and H at times.

 

[Jack Bourbon]

What happens with Mbakwe? May have been better off letting him leave.

 

[JustNeedMe81]

What happens with Mbakwe? May have been better off letting him leave.

nobody said anything about him? he's fine. He's on the team.

 

[arthurdawg]

What happens with Mbakwe? May have been better off letting him leave.

I think he'd be better off staying at CB... But maybe he will be a top WR down the road or see the light and move back. I think they felt he was a talent they could use at some point.

 

[BamaMoon]

I think he'd be better off staying at CB... But maybe he will be a top WR down the road or see the light and move back. I think they felt he was a talent they could use at some point.

I'm all for two-way players or for a defensive guy turning into a full-time offensive player if he has the skills to cross over. And, I know he's a former QB that is incredibly athletic and dynamic with the ball in his hands.

However, looking at our recent run on tall wide receivers, I'm not sure Mcbakwe fits our new MO. I mean, it's possible because we have some veteran holdovers who are more like his body-type.

I think the upcoming season will see this play out. If he makes waves on the field with his athleticism, he'll probably stay the course, but it would make little sense to me for him to be buried in the WR DC if he could be playing regularly on the DB side of the ball, especially if we need him more on that side!

 

[arthurdawg]

I'm all for two-way players or for a defensive guy turning into a full-time offensive player if he has the skills to cross over. And, I know he's a former QB that is incredibly athletic and dynamic with the ball in his hands.

However, looking at our recent run on tall wide receivers, I'm not sure Mcbakwe fits our new MO. I mean, it's possible because we have some veteran holdovers who are more like his body-type.

I think the upcoming season will see this play out. If he makes waves on the field with his athleticism, he'll probably stay the course, but it would make little sense to me for him to be buried in the WR DC if he could be playing regularly on the DB side of the ball, especially if we need him more on that side!

Agreed... CKD definitely seems to like his tall rangy guys. And we have several slot guys already.

 

[JessN]

The big freshman with ride receiver skills sounds like a sleeper to leapfrog up the DC, as JessN notes.

But why so many TE's???

Basically we don't know what we have exactly at tight end. I think they signed a bunch of guys, will let the pieces fall where they're going to fall, and adjust accordingly next year.

Plus, Knudson, Cuevas and Dalton are out of eligibility after this season and Lewis might be too (seen conflicting info as to whether he got his redshirt year back). Of the other guys, Hobson is a big-time project (probably a better fit at OG, which is where he played at Mississippi State), and Lindsey is a bit of a project. When you look at 2026, if Lewis is gone you will have Sammarco at Y with Edwards, and Pritchett at H with Lindsey or the walk-on Fox, or a signee.

Agreed... CKD definitely seems to like his tall rangy guys. And we have several slot guys already.

Going forward we'll see bigger guys at WR ... but it won't be universal. Remember that he brought Germie Bernard (6'1" at best) to Washington from Michigan State and then brought him again to Alabama, and also signed Lotzeir Brooks, who may be 5'9" if he's on his tiptoes trying to ask a cute girl out. This staff also like Cole Adams a lot. I think there will always be room for a couple of little guys in this offense, so long as they're either quick or, like Adams, they will catch meteorites even if still on fire.