TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — In a season marked by transitions and adjustments, one standout story has emerged from spring practice for Alabama Football.
Wide receiver Kobe Prentice, hailing from Calera, Ala., has quickly become a focal point in the team’s offensive resurgence. With a new playbook in hand, Prentice is showcasing his skills and leadership with the new-look Crimson Tide getting ready to kickoff the 2024 season.
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As the Alabama offense adjusts to their new scheme under head coach Kalen DeBoer, Prentice’s adaptability and talent have shone brightly. With the mentorship of wide receivers Coach JaMarcus Shepard, Prentice has found his rhythm, making significant strides in his game.
“If I could tell y’all what he’s gonna do […] I would tell y’all that young man has led the room,” Shepard said on Tuesday. “He really has. He’s probably the most experienced guy as far as playing, but certainly he’s led the room in terms of ‘Hey, get me the football,’ and that’s been great to see from him.”
In his sophomore campaign last season, Prentice demonstrated his ability on the field in flashes, tallying 18 receptions for 314 yards and securing two touchdowns. His contributions were pivotal in key matchups, earning him recognition as a rising star within the Crimson Tide roster after recording an additional 31 receptions for 337 yards and adding two touchdowns as a freshman in 2022.
Prentice himself is confident in his ability to adapt to the changes brought about by the new offense, believing it to be more tailored to his strengths.
“I love this offense,” Prentice said. “I do. We throw it around a lot, and we kind of balance it as we run the ball a lot too. Guys flying around. I love this offense.”
Despite his terrific spring, Shepard believes there’s still room for Prentice to expand his repertoire and knowledge of the new system.
“He definitely has to get in his playbook more,” Shepard said. “And that’s all of them. So, that’s the bottom line. That’s the expectation. Get in your playbook more and more, and that’s hard, man. We throw a lot of things at you. If you watch the film on what we do as an offense, we throw a lot of different concepts at defenses. So he definitely really needs to make sure he knows every single detail of what we’re doing within the offense. I’ll tell you what […] he’s probably learned it as good as anybody in the room.”
As Alabama prepares for a new season, all eyes will undoubtedly be on Prentice as he continues to elevate his game and solidify his place as a key playmaker for the Crimson Tide.
