The Alabama Crimson Tide is synonymous with football royalty. The term gets thrown around rather loosely, but Bama’s run atop the CFB pedestal was dynastic. How’d this ‘blueblood’ achieve that very monicker? For one, the house that Nick Saban built has been a revolving door of high-rated recruits. Tuscaloosa has seen more 5-stars than downtown LA. They’ve produced more NFL players than any program. Now, the responsibility to keep adding to this rich lineage of players rests on Kalen DeBoer’s shoulders. All while he tries to get his feet set after an underwhelming first season. An unlikely source of hope has just presented itself to alleviate the stacking pressure on DeBoer.

“True freshman” just doesn’t equate to the same anymore. The days of cagey high schoolers making the step up are almost a thing of the past. No more cagey, only courageous. Athletes now are ready off the cuff. Bama’s own Ryan Williams is a testament to this. The 18-year-old is the latest descendant in the storied ancestry of wide receivers to traverse through Bama. Speaking of a lineage of wide receivers, a new one from the class of ‘25 is already making noise.

Spring football is an opportunity for new players to leave a first impression on coaches, their peers, and fans alike. After seeing what he brings to the table, a couple of Bama analysts are more than just waxing lyrical about 4-star Lotzeir Brooks. They want him to see playing time from the jump and think he’s akin to a Bama great and star NFL wideout.

Lotzeir Brooks didn’t roll into Alabama with as much fervor as some of his predecessors. But star ratings and evaluations based on high school films only last till you get through the door. It’s a clean slate from there on out. Brooks is proving to Kalen DeBoer and fans alike that he’s got more to him than first assumed. He’s clocked 22.1 mph and is threatening to enter into the rotation out on the perimeter alongside Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard. Over “The Bama Standard Network” YouTube channel, Stephen M. Smith was asked about what he’s seen from Lotzeir Brooks in spring camp so far. 

“Watching Brooks so far in practice, I love the speed. I love the play-making ability,” said Smith. He proceeded to point to something safety Bray Hubbard said about Brooks. Which Kalen DeBoer ought to take notice of. Smith recalled, “Hubbard said something in player interviews. He said it’s hard to sit in front of this kid. It is very hard. When you have a defense back already complimenting you early about how hard it is to defend you, that means something.” He then made a comp that may seem hyperbolic on first instinct. But makes sense if you give it time to marinate. “I go back to the Ryde Outs,” said Smith before bestowing massive praise on Brooks.

“Jaylen Waddle [was] a four-star guy. Jaylen Waddle didn’t get to Alabama until the summer, and Waddle just blew everybody away…when you look at Brooks, there’s some Waddle there possibly,” claimed Smith. Dolphins’ star Waddle was an enigma back in college. He formed the fabled “Ryde Outs” 4-headed monster alongside fellow WRs Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs, and DeVonta Smith. One of the greatest receiving corps. in CFB history. No pressure, Lotzeir Brooks! Stephen Smith did elaborate on why he thinks the comparison is warranted. Sensationally, Waddle isn’t even the only member of the Ryde Outs Smith likened Brooks to. Kalen DeBoer would probably want to quell it a little, but the hype train has well and truly caught steam.

Lotzeir Brooks presents Kalen DeBoer with a good problem to have- the problem of plenty

“He’s got some shiftiness to him,” said Stephen M. Smith regarding Lotzeir Brooks. He implied this shiftiness reminded him of Jaylen Waddle’s own twitch and ability to change direction on a dime. A feature of his game that’s become a little slept on in the shadow of Tyreek Hill at Miami. Smith also reckons Brooks shares a trait with Henry Ruggs III.

“There’s also Henry Ruggs -like speed. We all knew Henry Ruggs could catch a slant pattern, [and] he’s gone. You’re not catching Henry. So there’s some Henry Ruggs [and] there’s some Jaylen Waddle shiftiness there when you can look at Brooks,” he remarked. Ruggs’ NFL career ended prematurely when he was involved in a motor incident that killed the driver of another car. He’s currently incarcerated. A travesty that he threw his career away and deprived football of his talents. 

On a less somber note, Lotzeir Brooks is seemingly going from strength to strength. Kalen DeBoer can do with a receiver who can offer his offense a different dimension. Coach DeBoer faces a conundrum. Throw Brooks into the deep end and trust the talent to float or err on the side of caution. After all, not every true freshman receiver is ready from Day 1 like Ryan Williams or Jeremiah Smith. It’s not as if Brooks is a complete unknown—he did have north of 4,600 yards through high school. A ton more about him and his role should become conspicuous between now and fall.