Which Alabama football receivers will fill void left by John Metchie III injury? Bill O'Brien weighs in
DALLAS — Alabama football enters the matchup against Cincinnati's two elite corners without its second elite receiver.
John Metchie III is out with an ACL injury, leaving Alabama without its leader in receptions (96). Metchie also has caught eight touchdowns with 1,142 yards through the air.
Only Jameson Williams has more yards (1,445) and receiving touchdowns (15) on Alabama's roster. He will be available to go against Cincinnati's corner duo, Coby Bryant and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner, but Metchie won't.
"When you lose a guy like Metch, it's not easy," Alabama offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien said Tuesday. "He can do so many different things for us, and he's just a great guy. So his presence in the room is missed and all those things."
As for who steps up at the other starting receiver spot, it remains to be seen as the No. 1 Crimson Tide (12-1) prepares to face No. 4 Cincinnati (13-0) in the Cotton Bowl at 2:30 p.m. CT on Friday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
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Other receivers stepping up in Metchie's absence
O'Brien was asked Tuesday which receivers have emerged after Metchie suffered the knee injury in the SEC Championship Game, and he first mentioned freshmen Ja'Corey Brooks and JoJo Earle.
"I think that those guys have stepped up," O'Brien said. "I've seen improvement from Agiye Hall. I've seen improvement from a lot of different guys."
Brooks was the Iron Bowl hero, filling in for Williams when he was ejected for targeting. Brooks caught the touchdown to send the game to overtime. Earle has been out since the New Mexico State game, but if he is available, he is more of a slot receiver. Metchie played more on the outside.
"Then you have your guys that you know are dependable and trustworthy that are going to be there, the veterans, Jameson Williams and Slade Bolden," O'Brien said. "Cam Latu. Jahleel Billingsley had a good couple weeks. So we're excited about the opportunity and, really, the guys that have some opportunities that maybe they haven't had all year, hopefully, they'll be able to step up and make some plays on Friday."
Alabama hasn't forgotten most recent trip to Texas
The Crimson Tide has lost only one game over the past two seasons, and it occurred when Alabama last traveled to Texas.
Texas A&M beat Alabama 41-38 on Oct. 9, and the feeling of that loss isn't easily forgotten.
"We never want to feel that hurt again," running back Brian Robinson Jr. said. "So we take that to the weight room, we take that to the practice field, we take that to the film room and continue to get better so we don't make the same mistakes we made to lose that first game."
Say goodbye to Wendy's
For Gardner to reach the level he has, he had to ditch Wendy's.
Gardner had an All-American season and has a good chance to be a first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. ESPN's Todd McShay put him 15th overall in a mid-December mock draft.
Part of that is thanks to him being challenged by Brady Collins, Cincinnati's director of football sports performance, to reach 200 pounds. In the process, Gardner became stronger and better.
Gardner said it took plenty of discipline to reach that goal because he always liked eating junk food.
"I spend so much money on Wendy's it don't make sense throughout the week," Gardner said. "But I feel like I'm able to play faster even though I put weight on. I feel like I've gotten bigger and faster and stronger, which is good. And it helped my technique at the line of scrimmage and down the field."
Contact Alabama reporter Nick Kelly: nkelly@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter: @_NickKelly
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Bill O'Brien on which Alabama football receivers will step up
