The Alabama football roster has plenty of breakout candidates, considering all the change and new faces on the team.
That means there are several unknown or relatively unproven commodities. And a new coaching staff can mean new uses for players who might not have seen as big of a role in a different system.
For the purpose of the following list, here’s the criteria for a “breakout candidate:” 1. A player who has a chance to go from a reserve to making an impact as a starter or 2. A previous starter who has the potential to become a star.
More than five players could fit that description, but for the purpose of this exercise, we’ll keep it to five.
So, keeping all that in mind, here are five candidates to have breakout seasons for the Crimson Tide in 2024.
He’s not completely under-the-radar, considering he caught 34 balls for Washington a season ago. But he was in a receiving group with Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan. All three went in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.
Now, Bernard has a chance to be the alpha in Tuscaloosa. There are other talented players in the receiving room, but there’s an opening for someone to lead the way as the top receiver. Bernard has a chance to become that player and break out.
If the A-Day game didn’t make it clear, Bernard is on track to make an impact in 2024 and could break onto the national scene quickly. Three receptions for 122 yards will have that effect.
Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer, speaking at Yea Alabama’s Tide on Tour event in Birmingham on Tuesday, called Bernard a special person.
“He’s been a guy that’s been waiting for this opportunity,” DeBoer said Tuesday. “Played a significant role on our team last year at Washington. He’s ready for this moment. Had a great spring. Loves everything about the process, all the work it takes to put into it to get to where you want to be. He’s got big goals.”
