There’s a show at Clay-Chalkville on Friday nights. Jaylen Mbakwe is a worthy conductor.
There are the 2,238 team all-purpose yards spread around the offense. The 38.3 points Clay averages. And even a defense that’s produced 8.5 tackles for loss per game. For the most part, Mbakwe — the No. 1 player in Alabama’s 2024 class, per 247Sports Composite — is in the mix of it all. He’s even taken a turn conducting the Cougar Band from field level after an early-season win.
Mbakwe, who celebrated a birthday on Monday, is in the midst of a pretty great year. He recorded 1,000 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions as a sophomore; Won a state championship with an undefeated Clay (currently 5-1) in December; Committed to his home-state Tide in July.
Yet, if you’ve been at Jerry Hood Field this year, and know Mbakwe’s makeup, something has been missing. The 6th-best junior cornerback in the country didn’t line up in the secondary for the first five weeks of the season.
It’s a strategy implemented with some high school prospects, namely quarterbacks who project to play another position at the next level (like 2023 Alabama commit Brayson Hubbard). Teams wishing to balance the roster list players on the depth chart at one primary slot and secondly, for big situations, at their projected college position.
“Talking to Alabama coaches with everything that’s set up for me after I committed, I feel like I can go in and start at DB like right away,” Mbakwe told AL.com. “I felt like receiver is the best to play right now and I can still make my money at DB in the NFL.”
It’s selfless that Mbakwe, a national recruit that multiple have evaluated as NFL-caliber, has taken on the role for Clay’s repeat chances. It’s interesting that he said he wouldn’t have done this if he hadn’t made his verbal commitment earlier this summer. It’s not shocking that the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder is excelling.
Clay-Chalkville head coach Drew Gilmer once said about Mbakwe, “you name it, he can do it.” Through six games, he’s averaged a team-best 23.6 yards a reception with four touchdowns. He’s returned punts. Against powerhouse Thompson on Sept. 23, Mbakwe played both sides of the ball for the first time and made three tackles with three catches.
He missed defense, Mbakwe admitted. He enjoys the battle between two competitors on the boundary, just more from the other side of the line of scrimmage. He said he tries to bring a “Jalen Ramsey-type mentality” on the field. It peaked open against Thompson with one a near-suplex tackle on a screen pass. Against the Warriors, Mbakwe didn’t leave the field for nearly the opening eight minutes of the contest.
“He knows we gotta get our best players on the field and he’s our best player,” Gilmer said. “So it is what it is.”
There’s the joke that defensive backs can’t play wide receiver because they can’t catch. Mbakwe scoffed at that. Teammate and three-star running back Rodreckus Clay said Mbakwe is an “athlete.” Five-star Bama commit Tony Mitchell, who defended Mbakwe last week, lumped Mbakwe and four-star Mario Craver as the “top in their class.”
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Mbakwe was the team’s leading-reciever in August as Craver missed the Cougars’ first two games. He had just started adapting his ability to read route concepts as the intended pass-catcher, using his speed to rush past defenders. The added attention on Mbakwe didn’t stop him on Aug. 26 against Hueytown after a double-move led to a 37-yard touchdown. Craver took his praise of Mbakwe further.
“He’s just tall and athletic and he’s got great recovery speed,” Craver said. “I think DB is where his heart is at. But he could definitely play reciever at the next level.”
For now, Mbakwe will enjoy the dual nature of his 11th-grade campaign. Though Craver could tell Mbakwe grew tired throughout the week and under the lights against Thompson, bouncing from offense to defense, Craver noticed how Mbakwe looked more excited.
Cougars fans may not see an opponent that forces Mbakwe to double his snap count until the playoffs in November. Though for the time being, Mbakwe will take his spot at the center of one of the most dynamic teams in the state, waving at the crowd while they swing cut-out posters of Mbakwe flexing back.
Nick Alvarez is a reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @nick_a_alvarez or email him at NAlvarez@al.com.
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