As returning receiver Ryan Williams looks to bounce back from a down year, a new signee has made a bold promise that could shake up the depth chart and put the sophomore on high alert. WR Cederian Morgan, an early enrollee, shared a bold plan for the Tide faithful, setting up the stage for a WR battle in Alabama.

“They’ll see me making a lot of plays,” Cederian Morgan said during practice. “We’re gonna put some points on the board.” 

Morgan arrived in Tuscaloosa with significant hype. He was consistently ranked as a consensus 4-star and a top-five receiver nationally, but it’s his on-field production that truly tells the story. His dominance at Benjamin Russell High was undeniable, culminating in a senior season where he hauled in 82 passes for 1,400 yards and 16 touchdowns. That kind of production, combined with his 6’4” frame, immediately turned heads in Tuscaloosa, even among veteran players

A departing LB Nikhai Hill-Green saw Morgan during those early bowl and playoff prep practices, and his reaction on The Bama Standard podcast was telling.

“If I didn’t know he was an early enrollee, I would’ve thought he was already in the rotation to play,” he said. 

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Kalen DeBoer backed it up, pointing to Cederian Morgan’s movement skills, his hands, and how strong he is at the catch point.

“Really impressed with him,” he said. “Moves extremely well, very fluid, big hands, catches the ball, very strong at the point of attack with the ball. I know a lot of guys, players included, were impressed with what they saw just in a couple of practices that he was with us.”

NFL-bound WR Germie Bernard was one of them. Before heading to the 2026 NFL Draft, he didn’t sugarcoat what early enrollment can do because he lived it. He also made it clear that Cederian Morgan wasn’t just physically ready. 

“He is going to be a good player,” he said. “He’s a big wide receiver. He listens very well. He takes coaching. It’s exciting to see a guy like that come here early. It really helped me in the long run, and I think it’s gonna help him elevate him more, elevate his game.”

All the praise going to Cederian Morgan only means one thing for returning ER Ryan Williams, and that’s to protect his status as the starting wide receiver. 

Cederian Morgan to battle for starter status with Ryan Williams

The Crimson Tide’s receiver room has been completely overhauled, with NFL-bound Germie Bernard and several key transfers departing. This exodus creates a massive opportunity on the depth chart, leaving the door wide open for a new wave of talent, led by Morgan, to compete for snaps alongside returning wideout Ryan Williams.

Ryan Williams, who was electric as a freshman in 2024, is the obvious name to start. But last season, he slipped a bit, plagued by drop issues, recording 689 yards compared to his freshman season record of 865 yards. This slack could open doors for Cederian Morgan, who’s winning the staff’s favor. Even the sophomore is aware of the competition looming. 

“Adversity will come… it’s not IF it’s WHEN, and when that time comes, how will you respond?” he wrote on Instagram. 

Kalen DeBoer recently called early playing time for freshmen a “necessity,” not a luxury. OC Ryan Grubb went further, naming Cederian Morgan outright and saying he “won’t have to wait long” to see the field. The star WR already seems comfortable with that idea. And at Alabama, confidence is a prerequisite, and at Alabama, where confidence is a prerequisite, Morgan seems ready to prove he belongs.