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Devy Notes: Alabama and Ohio State’s Wide Receiver Hauls

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Emeka Egbuka
Bruce Matson Posted On July 21, 2021
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Alabama and Ohio State snagged seven wide receivers in the 247Sports top-15 composite rankings in the 2021 recruiting class. Both of these programs are hoarding talent at the wide receiver position. We just saw Alabama send Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle to the NFL. Now it looks like they are going to have another batch of wide receivers who are ready to take over college football.

Over the last couple of years, Ohio State has been building an army at wide receiver. Brian Hartline has been the main catalyst to the team’s ability to recruit top-tier talent. Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson have been key staples to the passing offense. What many people don’t know is that the team is has been building the wide receiver talent up over the last couple of years. The Buckeyes are ready to deploy an offense that is ready to throw the ball all over the yard.

Both collegiate programs are looking to fill the devy and dynasty pools with talent. This year’s recruiting class is no different. Let’s get more acquainted with their wide receiver recruits, so we know what’s coming down the pipeline from both of these schools.

ALABAMA

Jacorey Brooks

Brooks a five-star recruit from Bradenton, Florida. 247Sports had him ranked as the second-best wide receiver in the 2021 recruiting class. Like most five-star athletes, he received offers from many of the top power-five schools. According to MaxPreps, he caught 86 balls for 1,187 yards and 16 touchdowns during his junior season.

Brooks packs an incredible blend of size and speed on the field. His 6-foot-3 frame allows him to box out defenders at the catch point. He moves very well for his size. We consistently see him bully defenders with his ball skills and athleticism. The most underrated portion of his game is his release. He can put the defensive back on skates with his first couple of steps off the line of scrimmage, making it easier for him to win downfield.

According to DLF’s Devy ADP, Brooks is being drafted as the WR29 with an ADP of 59.00. His upside is uncapped due to his physical gifts and the fact he’s playing for a collegiate program that breeds wide receivers for the next level.

Agiye Hall

We saw Hall’s stock increase after Alabama’s spring game where he made multiple big plays. The four-star recruit was ranked seventh in his class by 247Sports and fifth in their composite rankings. He posted an astounding 37.30-inch vertical jump at The Opening Regional.

Hall has the potential to be one of the best wide receivers in college football right out of the gate. He can climb that ladder and make tough contested catches look easy. When we watch the tape, his burst and long speed stick out like a sore thumb. Given his size-adjusted athleticism, he’s a mismatch for most defenses on the field. On top of that, his hands are sticky and he can reel in passes away from his body and over his head.

Right now, we are seeing him get selected as the WR18 in devy drafts. He is usually falling anywhere between the late third to the early fourth round. This might be the cheapest we get to acquire him because if he continues to do what he did in the spring game, then his value in both devy and dynasty will soon skyrocket.

JoJo Earle

247Sports has Earle ranked right behind Hall in their composite rankings. He was heavily recruited by a lot of schools in the SEC before he landed in Alabama. Earle also ran track where he set a personal record by running an 11.16 in the 100 meters. At the Opening Regional, he posted a 37.10-inch vertical jump and a 4.28-second shuttle.

When it comes to burst and long speed, Earle is the guy to hang your hat on from this recruiting class. He can manipulate the momentum of the defenders and use his speed to weave in and out of traffic. Once he sees daylight, he’s gone. On top of that, he will rapidly accelerate to top speed, making him very dangerous if he gets the ball in open space.

He is also very aggressive at the catch-point. His assertiveness allows him to play bigger than what you would think his 5-foot-9 and 170-pound frame. We are going to see him draw comparisons to Henry Ruggs and Jaylen Waddle. Earle is set to be Alabama’s field-stretcher for the not-so-distant future.

Christian Leary

Alabama’s final four-star wide receiver from this year’s class is Leary. 247Sports has him ranked as the tenth best wide receiver in their composite rankings. He committed to the Crimson Tide in June of 2020 and signed with the team in December. Leary was recruited by a bevy of power-five programs before making his final decision to play ball for Alabama.

Leary has that Florida speed. He’s another player who can turn on the jets and win downfield. His high school team relied heavily on him as a kick and punt returner. Opposing teams could not match his speed. His highlight film is pretty much a track meet with him blowing past defenses on a consistent basis.

As we already know, Alabama reloaded the cupboard with wide receiver talent. Leary’s speed will give him chance to carve a role within the offense. It’s going to be interesting to see if that will be enough for him to develop into a productive asset down the line. Going forward, this wide receiver unit is only going to get better.

OHIO STATE

Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka earned the crown as the top wide receiver in this year’s recruiting class. He has an all-time rank of 226 among all players listed in 247Sports composite rankings. Like all five-star recruits, he was highly coveted by all of the top power five schools. He was very active in Ohio State’s spring game, catching seven balls for 123 yards. There’s a lot of buzz circling Egbuka as we head into his freshman season.

I had a lot of fun watching Egbuka’s highlight tape. He’s a very aggressive player. Not only is he stout on the offensive side of the ball but he was a playmaker on defense as a defensive back. Egbuka is very assertive when it comes to getting in and out of his breaks. He has a natural feel for the game which allows him to make quick decisions. We see him consistently climb the ladder and rise above defenders to bring down catches. His ball skills set him apart from most wide receiver prospects.

DLF’s Devy ADP currently has him as the WR24 in startup drafts with an ADP of 52.33. There’s some risk involved when it comes to investing in freshman wide receivers because there’s a lot of unknown when it comes to their long-term player value. However, this might be the cheapest devy and dynasty gamers might be able to acquire him during the course of his career.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

The NFL bloodlines run deep with Harrison. He is the son of former Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison. The four-star prospect is considered one of the more technical receivers in this year’s recruiting class. 247Sports had him ranked as the 14th best wide receiver. He committed to Ohio State in October of 2019 and officially signed in December of 2020.

The impact Harrison is creating for Ohio State on the practice field is already putting him on notice. He was the first freshman to shed his black stripe this off-season. In Ohio State’s spring game he caught seven passes for 49 yards and one touchdown. There’s a lot of hype surrounding this kid and I wouldn’t be surprised if he carves out a bigger role in the offense by the end of his freshman season.

Harrison is college-ready. He knows how to set up defenders before breaking off his routes. He moves very well for his size. His footwork is superb which allows him to those sharp cuts we see him make while running routes. The ball-skills are also there. Harrison knows how to use his 6-foot-4 and 184-pound frame to his advantage.

His tape shows him using his hands to make tough catches while contested. Explosiveness and long speed are something we need to see him improve on during his time at Ohio State. If he can become more sudden in his movements, then we could see him develop into one of the best wide receivers in the country.

Jayden Ballard

Ballard is the other big recruit the Buckeyes managed to sign in the 2021 recruiting class. He’s a four-star recruit from Massillon, Ohio. Other than Ohio State, he received offers from Penn State, Maryland, Michigan State, Pitt, Notre Dame, and Washington State. With Egbuka and Harrison Jr. stealing the limelight, Ballard has become a forgotten addition to the Buckeye’s wide receiver room.

Just from observing his highlight tape, it’s easy to see that Ballard will provide some deep speed to the offense. He can track the ball while it’s in the air and is a master of the speed cut. The team is stacked with talent at the wide receiver position and they are going to continue to bring in top-shelf prospects.

I’m concerned with his ball security. There are times where he will let the ball hang and run with the ball like it’s a loaf of Wonder Bread. He also neglects to sell his route before his break. Has no awareness of inside and outside leverages of the defensive back and doesn’t appropriately attack the DB’s midline before making his cut. This lends the notion that he wins with pure athleticism and ball skills while on the field. With that being said, it’s going to be interesting to see where he fits with this team going forward.

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Devy Notes: Alabama and Ohio State’s Wide Receiver Hauls
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