TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — For a second straight week, Jerry Jeudy galloped effortlessly past defenders on his way to the end zone. Matched up against a safety, the sophomore receiver beat his man before running down a deep ball from quarterback from Tua Tagovailoa for an 81-yard touchdown on Alabama’s second play from scrimmage during its 39-10 victory over Missouri.
Plays like that have become common for Jeudy. Two weeks ago against Arkansas, he embarrassed two Razorbacks defenders, beating them to the perimeter en route to a 60-yard score. Both defenders appeared to have good angles on Jeudy, but neither was able even to touch him as he whizzed down the field.
“Just more want-to,” Jeudy explained. “I just want to get there faster than my opponent I guess.”
Jeudy leads all Alabama receivers with 252 yards after the catch this season, an impressive stat considering he shares a receiving corps with speedsters like Henry Ruggs III and Jaylen Waddle who have both clocked sub-4.4 times in the 40-yard dash. Ruggs flashed that speed against Missouri as he was clocked at 24 miles per hour by Alabama’s Catapult system during an 83-yard touchdown that was ultimately called back. Jeudy, 6-foot-1, 192-pounds, admits he's never moved that fast.
“Actually when I get a ball I actually feel slow,” Jeudy said. “But when I actually watch it … I don’t know why but I just feel slow when I get the ball. I’m actually running fast, I guess.”
Jeudy might not have the same burst as the rest of Alabama’s starting receives, but he’s far from slow. The former five-star was clocked with a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash during Alabama’s spring workouts his freshman year. Although, he’s perfectly fine with that speed being kept a secret from opposing defensive backs.
“They’ll probably say I’m pretty slow,” Jeudy said. “but when you get close to me, you’ll see that speed.”
Jeudy appeared to be calling opponents closer to him when he posted a picture of himself motioning in a Missouri defensive back with the caption “Come press.” The receiver later explained, “I just thought that quote would go well with the picture,” stating he was comfortable against all types of coverages.
Maybe defenses should heed Jeudy’s advice anyway. Only two of the receiver’s team-high nine touchdown receptions have come against press coverage as he’s typically been allowed a chance to build up speed for big plays downfield. Those who go up against him on a daily basis claim guarding the receiver is a challenge regardless of how you line up against him.
“It’s hard to do [either],” Alabama defensive back Shyheim Carter said. “He’s a very great wide receiver with his route-running, catching, and smarts, he’s very good.”
On top of his nine receiving touchdowns, Jeudy also leads the team with 26 receptions for 705 yards through seven games. At this rate, he is on pace to smash Amari Cooper’s single-season receiving touchdown mark of 16 while also challenging Cooper’s single-season receiving-yard record of 1,727 yards.
“People have mentioned it to me,” Jeudy said. “I just come out there and do what I’m supposed to do to help the team win.”
Jeudy will have an opportunity to add to his stats this weekend as he faces a Tennessee defense fresh off of giving up 322 yards through the air during a 30-24 victory over Auburn. Alabama will play Tennessee at 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday on CBS.
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