Last season, the Alabama Crimson Tide featured one of the nation’s top freshman wide receivers, the explosive 6-foot-1 Ryan Williams. In Alabama’s first year after Nick Saban’s departure, Williams earned Freshman All-American and first-team All-SEC honors, finishing with 48 receptions for 865 yards and eight touchdowns while helping the Tide to a 9-4 record.
However, this spring, another wide receiver—not Williams—is turning heads. Reports emerged on Wednesday highlighting Miami Hurricanes transfer Isaiah Horton as being “unstoppable” in spring workouts.
Former Alabama quarterback turned analyst Greg McElroy noted that Horton is seen as a playmaker who “can take the top off the defense and create big plays.” McElroy added that the Miami transfer has been “difficult to defend” throughout the spring. Head coach Kalen DeBoer, who replaced six-time national champion Nick Saban, along with fellow wide receiver Germie Bernard, has also praised Horton’s performance during the offseason.
In 2024, Horton caught 56 passes for 616 yards and five touchdowns. During a four-game midseason stretch, he hauled in 23 receptions for 242 yards and four touchdowns. A four-star recruit in the 2022 class, Horton originally signed with Miami before transferring after three seasons.
According to Ourlads, quarterback Ty Simpson is currently the projected starter under center, while Horton, Williams, and Bernard are expected to be Alabama’s top three wide receivers. Meanwhile, sophomores Cole Adams, Jaylen Mbakwe, and Jalen Hale will compete for playing time, though only Adams recorded a catch last season.
