Alabama Head Coach Kalen DeBoer Explains Lack of Snaps for Noah Rogers

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- NC State transfer wide receiver Noah Rogers has played just 12 snaps for the Crimson Tide after his return from a lower-body injury he suffered on A-Day. He's caught just one pass - a 36-yarder against the Gamecocks in his first game back in action.

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The buzz coming out of spring practice prior to his injury was that Rogers was unstoppable, and yet, since he returned, he doesn't appear to have a big role in Alabama's offense. Rogers played just one snap in the Tide's 31-20 win over Texas A&M, and played just two in the Tide's 26-10 loss to Tennessee.

"... honestly, when I heard how many snaps he got after the game, I was a little bummed," Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb said after Tennessee. "Some of that was just, you know, due to lack of length of drives, you know, just not being sustainable and staying on the field, and poor performance on third down. So that part was a little bit tough."

Despite the lack of snaps, Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer still expressed confidence in Rogers on Wednesday's SEC coaches call.

"Noah's done a really good job coming along in the practices. I think a lot of it is just the other guys that are also - or have taken steps forward throughout the course of the season. Rico showed up in a big way this last weekend, and he's been pretty consistent both as a receiver and as a blocker," DeBoer said.

"I think also just personnel grouping and things like that, with what we've done with more tight ends. There's less reps for the wide receivers. We really think highly of Noah. He's a really good football player, and we want to find ways to incorporate him into the offense on a higher level with more opportunities, but that always means that you're taking someone else off the field as well."

Alabama has seen a large portion of its offensive success out of 12 personnel (two tight ends, two wide receivers, one running back). While Ryan Coleman-Williams's injury opened a spot on the depth chart for another receiver to take his place, when the Tide has gone to 12 personnel, it's been Rico Scott (career day vs. Texas A&M with six receptions for 156 yards) and Lotzeir Brooks (29 receptions, 488 yards, 1 TD on the season) on the field for the Crimson Tide. With Alabama hoping to return Coleman-Williams when it takes on LSU next week, receiver reps will continue to dry up as the Tide's top target returns.

Alabama is on a bye this week before traveling to Baton Rouge to face No. 15 LSU on November 7.

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Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.