Jaylen Mbakwe

Position:
WR
Height:
5-11
Weight:
190
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Clay, Ala.
High School:
Clay-Chalkville

NIL Opportunities

2025

Spent last season at defensive back before switching to wideout for the Tide's bowl game ... stuck with the receiver group this season while maintaining his role on special teams. Florida State: Worked in the return game while also seeing time on offense in Tallahassee. ULM: Contributed on offense and special teams ... rushed once for a four-yard gain to go with a 16-yard reception ... added one tackle on kickoff coverage.

2024

Came to Tuscaloosa as one of the top athletes before settling in at defensive back to start the year ... converted to wide receiver for the bowl game ... also worked on special teams ... totaled 15 tackles, including one for loss (-1 yard), to go with a pair of pass breakups and an interception ... added two punt returns for a combined 46 yards to go with a 15-yard kickoff return ... selected as a special teams player of the week by the Alabama coaching staff for his efforts against Mercer. Western Kentucky: Played extended minutes on defense while also working on special teams against the Hilltoppers ... finished with four tackles and a pass breakup in the opener ... also spent time on kickoff and punt return. USF: Saw time on defense and special teams ... returned one punt for a 28-yard gain. Wisconsin: Contributed on defense and special teams in Madison. Georgia: Broke up one pass in the top-five pairing. South Carolina: Earned extended playing time against the Gamecocks ... finished with five tackles, including one for loss (-1 yard). Tennessee: Picked off his first career pass with a nine-yard return ... also notched three tackles on the afternoon. Missouri: Exited the game early due to injury ... recorded one tackle and saw time at punt returner during his time on the field. LSU: Finished with one tackle against the Tigers. Mercer: Returned one punt for an 18-yard gain ... also posted a tackle on defense. Oklahoma: Worked on defense and special teams in Norman. Auburn: Contributed on defense and special teams in the Iron Bowl. Michigan: Moved to wide receiver for the bowl game ... returned one kickoff for a gain of 15 yards.

High School and Personal Data

Explosive athlete who contributed all over the field for Clay-Chalkville ... saw time at wideout, quarterback, defensive back and returner during his senior season ... a five-star prospect by 247Sports, PrepStar and ESPN.com ... also earned a five-star rating on the 247Composite and On3 Consensus lists ... rated as a four-star recruit by On3 and Rivals.com ... the second-ranked recruit overall on the ESPN300 ... also tabbed ESPN's No. 1 player in Alabama, the No. 2 corner nationally and the No. 2 player in the Southeast Region ... the nation's top-ranked athlete and the No. 2 player in Alabama by On3 and the On3 Consensus ... the Consensus' No. 17 recruit in the country and the No. 22 player nationally according to On3 ... PrepStar's top-ranked athlete and No. 4 player in the state who was also listed at No. 21 on the outlet's Top 150 Dream Team ... ranked the No. 18 prospect nationally, the No. 2 athlete and No. 2 player in the state on the 247Composite ... the nation's No. 28 player and second-ranked athlete while also being listed as the fourth-rated prospect in Alabama by 247Sports ... listed at No. 39 on the Rivals Top 100 list ... also tabbed as the site's No. 3 corner overall and the third-ranked player in the state ... selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game ... also earned a spot in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game ... coached by Drew Gilmer at Clay-Chalkville High School ... also ran track at CCHS ... chose Alabama over Auburn and Georgia among his nearly 30 offers.