Here is the latest on Alabama tight end/wide receiver Jahleel Billingsley during Saturday’s game against Miami.
The Alabama Crimson Tide began their CFP National Championship defense on Saturday afternoon when they faced the Miami Hurricanes. With Alabama fans understandably hyped for the start of another season with championship aspirations, many were wondering what the status was for tight end/wide receiver Jahleel Billingsley.
Billingsley missed practices at the start of fall camp, meaning that he would have to play his way back into the starter’s role. On Wednesday, head coach Nick Saban said that Billingsley still had some work to do.
Nick Saban on Billingsley: “We’re just trying to get Jahleel to be a very responsible, disciplined person as well as a responsible, disciplined player. … How that happens is sort of up to him and his choice."
— Mike Rodak (@mikerodak) September 1, 2021
Jahleel Billingsley still in Nick Saban’s doghouse
What Saban said in the tweet above is similar to what he stressed a couple of weeks ago when asked if Billingsley made any progress in working his way back up the depth chart.
"“That’s up to him. That’s not up to me,” Saban said Saturday, via Mike Rodak of Alabama.com. “He knows what he’s supposed to do in practice. He’s known what he’s supposed to do. This is not a democracy. Everybody doesn’t get to do what they want to do. Everybody doesn’t get to do what they feel like doing. You got to buy in and do what you’re supposed to do to be a part of the team and do the things you need to do in practice every day. Sense of urgency, play fast, execute, do your job.”"
During Alabama’s game against Miami, Billingsley was spotted on the sidelines where a uniform, but without his helmet. In fact, cameras caught Saban talking with Billingsley. As of this writing, Billingsley has yet to check into the game.
Nick Saban talking to Jahleel Billingsley on the sideline pic.twitter.com/8xm6rzHFq0
— Patrick Greenfield (@PCGreenfield) September 4, 2021
Last season, Billingsley recorded 18 receptions for 287 yards and three touchdowns in seven games.
Based off Saban’s quotes leading up to the season-opener and after seeing Billingsley stand on the sidelines without wearing a helmet, it might be some time until we see the tight end on the field this season.
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