After a promising freshman year at cornerback, former 5-star recruit Jaylen Mbakwe shocked many by entering the transfer portal in December. Though there were whispers of a lucrative seven-figure offer from an SEC school—likely Ole Miss—the primary reason for his move appeared to be leverage: Mbakwe wanted to switch from cornerback to wide receiver.
Alabama’s coaching staff ultimately agreed, and Mbakwe began practicing at wideout during bowl prep, even logging limited snaps in the ReliaQuest Bowl due to the team’s depleted receiver depth from injuries and transfers.
The switch, however, raises eyebrows. Mbakwe saw early playing time as a freshman at cornerback and was poised to contend for more this season despite Alabama’s depth in the secondary. Now, he’s starting over at a position he’s never played—he was a high school quarterback at Clay-Chalkville—and forfeiting a full year of development in the defensive backfield.
Mbakwe’s athleticism is unquestionable—it’s why he was a 5-star prospect in the 2024 class—but the leap to wide receiver in college is steep. His raw talent doesn’t stand out as much against college competition, and he lacks the route-running and technical skills that polished receivers rely on.
Cracking the WR rotation will be tough. Alabama’s projected 2025 starting trio—Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, and Isaiah Horton—is essentially set. That leaves Mbakwe fighting for a spot as WR4 or lower, and he’s already trailing behind fellow sophomore Rico Scott, who has earned high praise from coaches and former players alike.
Scott looks like the clear frontrunner for the No. 4 receiver role. Behind him, Mbakwe must also compete with returning receivers Jalen Hale and Cole Adams, both of whom bring more experience. On top of that, freshmen Lotzeir Brooks and Derek Meadows are generating buzz—Brooks in particular is viewed as a breakout candidate.
Given the current depth chart, Mbakwe isn’t expected to see meaningful snaps at receiver in 2025 unless it’s on special teams as a returner or during mop-up duty. And things might not improve in 2026. Bernard will graduate and Horton could leave for the NFL, but Alabama still retains Ryan Williams and rising talents like Scott, Brooks, and Meadows. Plus, the 2026 recruiting class includes three wideouts, including 5-star Cederian Morgan.
While playing time at corner wouldn’t have been a breeze, Mbakwe had a head start with a year of training and glimpses of promise at the position. Now, he’s starting from square one.
Players with Mbakwe’s elite athleticism usually arrive at college aiming to be NFL-ready in three years. But unless he earns a significant role soon, his timeline could shift. If 2025 ends with him mostly riding the bench, he’ll need a clear path to start in 2026—or he may be headed back to the transfer portal for a second straight offseason.