The team calls him “Unc” or “Uncle Germ.”
Either way, it is a compliment.
Germie Bernard has become the go-to player for Alabama on and off the field for the Crimson Tide this season, coach Kalen DeBoer explained on Saturday during an appearance on “College GameDay.”
“He’s a solid guy through and through,” DeBoer told the popular college football pregame show. “He knows what his foundation is and who he is as a person. He just carries that over, and he’s the veteran. He came in, and he had to feel it out a little bit coming into a new place last year.
“Day after day, he has been who he is. Obviously, an amazing football player, but they look to him a leader, a mentor and he’s taken on that role as the ‘Unc.’
Bernard transferred from Washington to Alabama last season. In his first year, he caught 50 passes for 794 yards and two scores.
This year, the 21-year-old already has four touchdowns on 20 catches and 310 yards.
“When I made that decision to get into the portal, he said he would love to have me back,” Bernard told “GameDay.” “I’m very blessed to take a chance on me.
“It’s been a really great relationship for me honestly. I can go to him anytime and be vulnerable with him.”
Bernard spent the 2023 season playing for DeBoer on the Washington team that made the College Football Playoff and lost in the national championship game to Michigan. Bernard started seven games while appearing in 14 of them, catching 34 passes for 419 yards. He caught two touchdowns and rushed for two.
Last year, he said it was a no-brainer why he made the move to Tuscaloosa.
“The recipe that he has of winning,” Bernard told AL.com. “If you look at his track record at every school that he’s been to, he’s winning. And they have a great offense that is going to get receivers the ball and be explosive and that’s something I wanted to be in.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
