TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — If it’s any consolation to the pile of Louisiana-Lafayette defenders Jaylen Waddle left dumbfounded Saturday, Alabama safety Xavier McKinney knows the feeling. Waddle zigged and zagged for 201 total yards and three touchdowns during Alabama’s 56-14 win over Louisiana-Lafayette leaving a trail of missed tackles and broken ankles in his wake.
“Man it sucks because you miss the tackle. It happens though,” McKinney said when asked about trying to defend his freshman teammate. “He makes you better because he’s good at open field, so you know when you’re going open field on him you’ve got to be on your P’s and Q’s and make sure your technique is right so that you’re able to make the tackle.”
Waddle certainly made things easier for his teammates Saturday. His first career score came on a 63-yard punt return in the first quarter. After fielding the ball at his own 37-yard line, he sidestepped a defender before picking up a crucial block from freshman linebacker Jaylen Moody which cleared a path down the right sideline. From there, Waddle dashed his up the field, shaking off an arm tackle at the ULL 19-yard line en route to the end zone.
“It’ fun for us,” said offensive lineman Ross Pierschbacher, who watched the play from the far sideline. “We’re getting ready for another series, and then he takes off. It’s like ‘Whoop, good job guys.’”
Waddle’s next highlight came late in the second quarter as he beat his man on a go-route, allowing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to drop in a perfectly-placed 20-yard pass in the end zone. The score marked Waddle’s first career touchdown reception but was just the begging to his big day on offense. The former five-star recruit later pulled in a 94-yard touchdown in the third quarter as he caught a short cross from Mac Jones before juking a defender and burning the ULL defense down the field.
“He’s a really explosive guy as a receiver and has really added depth to that core,” head coach Nick Saban said. “We’re really pleased with his development, and I think he’s a great addition to the depth of our team in terms of guys who can make explosive plays on offense.”
Waddle finished the game with three receptions for 138 yards, giving him 11 catches for 264 yards through Alabama’s first five games. That’s the same amount of yards Jerry Jeudy recorded through 14 games last season when he led all freshmen receivers and finished second on the team in receiving.
“I try to be a leader to him,” receiver Henry Ruggs III said. “Me, [Jerry] Jeudy and Smitty [Devonta Smith] work together to lead the young guys, and he’s just bought in. You can see he’s making plays. It’s exciting.”
Exciting for Alabama, at least. The rest of college football hasn’t enjoyed it one bit.
