SPORTS

After Nick Saban radio praise, freshman JoJo Earle has big half for Alabama football

Cecil Hurt
The Tuscaloosa News

After earning praise as “Waddle-like” from Alabama coach Nick Saban on his Thursday night radio show, Alabama freshman JoJo Earle displayed some flashes of similarity to the Crimson Tide’s 2020 star Jaylen Waddle in Saturday’s first half against Mercer. 

"JoJo Earle is just a freshman, little No. 10, but I think this guy is special, he can be special," Saban said Thursday night. "He’s also a really good returner, and we’re trying to get him to be a little bit more confident back there commanding, especially in punt return, which is what he’d really be good at. He’s a little Waddle-like when it comes to that."

Earle, a freshman from Aledo, Texas, had four catches for 29 yards in the first half and added two punt returns for 45 yards, including a 29-yarder. 

Mercer defensive back Lance Wise (0) makes a tackle on Alabama wide receiver JoJo Earle (10) Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, in Bryant-Denny Stadium. [Staff Photo/Gary Cosby Jr.]

He was one of the major stories in the Crimson Tide 2021 recruiting class when he flipped his commitment from LSU to Alabama on National Signing Day on the early signing date last December.