Jaylen Mbakwe isn’t going anywhere.
“Roll Tide,” he said Tuesday to AL.com during Alabama football’s Rose Bowl media day, noting that he’ll be sticking around for a third season in Tuscaloosa.
Mbakwe hasn’t been on the field as much his second season as in his first. While he was getting meaningful reps at defensive back as a true freshman in 2024, he opted to move to wide receiver.
With a loaded receiver room including Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Isaiah Horton and Lotzier Brooks, among others, snaps have been hard to find. Still, Mbakwe wanted to make the move.
“It was really just me as a player and who I am,” Mbakwe said. “Love the competition. Love being competitive. Just love football all around, so it was just me being me and just taking it all in, putting my head down, keep working. And it shows at practice.”
Mbakwe joined the Crimson Tide as a five-star prospect out of Clay-Chalkville, recruited by Nick Sabana and sticking with the class through the transition to Kalen DeBoer. He played all over the field in high school, including at quarterback.
Having not spent much time on the bench before arriving in Tuscaloosa, not being on the field has required Mbakwe to learn a new talent.
“Patience has been a big key for me,” he said. “This year, I’ve had a lot of patience. Just like I said, being level-headed, staying grounded, leaning on God, like I said. Just being who I am, being where my feet are. Like I always say, when my time comes I’ll make the best of my opportunities.”
Mbakwe has made three catches for 55 yards so far this season. He has also played a role on special teams for Alabama.
He offered up one area where his experience as a DB has helped him make the transition to offense.
“Knowing coverages,” Mbakwe said. “That translated very well. Also, from high school, being a quarterback, all that translated as well. Just that was the biggest thing, knowing the coverages and stuff like that.”
He also discussed the most difficult parts of moving to receiver.
“Just knowing the progression of the quarterback,” Mbakwe said. “Knowing where I got to be at that specific time, just little things like that. Just little things for me to be on time with the quarterback.”
Alabama’s receivers group will look different in 2026. Bernard is off to the NFL due to exhausting his eligibility, and there’s always a surprise or two across rosters when the transfer portal opens.
However, Mbakwe wasn’t thinking that far ahead yet. The Crimson Tide faces No. 1 Indiana in Tuesday’s College Football Playoff Rose Bowl quarterfinal, with a chance to keep its national championship hopes alive.
Mbakwe praised Alabama’s upcoming opponent.
“They’ve very great defensively,” Mbakwe said. “Don’t make no mistakes. Great DBs, great front seven. So they’re great. We just got to play within our game, make no mistakes. Everybody be in the right position to make plays.”
The Crimson Tide and Hoosiers are scheduled to kick off at 3 p.m. CT on Thursday. The game will be aired on ESPN.
