Since 2015 Nick Saban has seen eight wide receivers go in the first round. Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Henry Ruggs III, Jerry Jeudy, Jaylen Waddle, Devonta Smith, and Jameson Williams. I’m not even counting Julio Jones. In 2020, Alabama was the first program to ever have two receivers go in the first round of the same draft. Then they doubled down and did it again in 2021. They also had the first wide receiver Heisman winner since 1991. This ain’t your Daddy’s Alabama. Tuscaloosa churns out wide receivers, and Agiye Hall was slated to be the next “guy”.
Agiye Hall had a higher recruiting grade than the entire Alabama receiving corps coming into the 2021 season. After an impressive spring game, fans were excited that Hall was living up to the hype. Still, it’s hard to break into the rotation as a true freshman on a stacked Alabama roster.
Hall spent the majority of the 2021 season on Alabama’s sidelines. He played in seven games but they were mostly blowouts. He finished the regular season with four receptions for seventy-two yards. Rumor around the campus was that he wasn’t happy with his playing time.
When John Metchie III went out for the season in the SEC Championship game, Hall seemed to be the logical replacement. But come playoffs, it became clear that Iron Bowl hero Ja’Corey Brooks got the nod. Also a true freshman. The rumors Hall’s displeasure grew louder.
Jameson Williams was well on his way to winning Alabama their 19th championship catching four balls for sixty-five yards in the first quarter. That is until his ACL got snatched. It was doom and gloom for Alabama fans, but for Agiye Hall it was opportunity calling. He took that opportunity…. and wiped his ass with it.
Agiye Hall was abysmal in the National Championship against Georgia. Sure he had two catches for fifty-two yards. But his drops are what cemented themselves in the minds of Alabama fans. Bryce Young was still slinging the rock without his top two receivers while staring down a defense that had five 2022 first rounders on it. Hall bounced this 3rd and 11 off his chest while Alabama was threatening and still up by three points. Fans poured on the insults for Hall’s drops to the point that he made his Twitter avatar him dropping a touchdown vs. Georgia. Which is pictured below.
Following the Championship loss, Saban was not so subtle about the young receivers that didn’t step up. He was quoted nearly a month later at the Alabama Coaches Association saying, “So now we were playing with guys that typically didn’t have to play at those positions. So the lesson to be learned was there were three guys - and I’m not calling out any names - that basically didn’t do the things they needed to throughout the season because they were frustrated with their circumstance.”
Coach didn’t have to say any names. It was clear who the three were and Agiye Hall was the biggest culprit. In early April when Saban was asked about Agiye’s suspension and earning his way back to the team he said:
“We’ll he already had that opportunity once. So, um, I don’t know what his plans are for the future.”
Well that’s all that drunk Sarkisian needed to hear. It was confirmed two weeks later that Agiye Hall was transferring to Texas. Hall’s face was plastered all over my feed with him wearing a stupid cowboy hat confirming his transfer to UT.
Hall went on a petty tour after that. He trashed the Alabama fan base and culture to 247 Longhorn’s insider Chip Brown. And even went on to favorite Schefter’s tweet about Jerry Jeudy’s arrest in Colorado. I couldn’t wait to see his ass on September 10th.
But wait, not so fast.
The internet sleuths noticed that Agiye Hall has yet to be added to Texas’ roster. While Longhorns beat writer Brian Davis pointed out that he wouldn’t have been added until the summer enrollment date of May 31st, that wasn’t nearly the most damning evidence that the grass isn’t greener in Austin. Agiye Hall has removed all Texas content and pictures from his social media platforms. Which is athlete for “fuck y’all”.
While it could mean nothing, one thing I’ve learned with Agiye Hall is that smoke normally means fire. Xavier Worthy is the clear cut number one reciever right now for Texas. It was rumored that USC even tried to poach him for a significant NIL. And it’s been no secret that the Longhorns have been courting projected first round pick and transfer portal darling, Jordan Addison. If Sark did indeed land another big WR transfer, Agiye Hall could once again find himself taking a back seat.
Isn’t that a shame. I truly hope it turns out to be all smoke and mirrors. I want to see him in orange on September 10th. I get that he’s still just a kid and I really wish that I could wish him all the best. But that’s just not how college football fandom works.
Hall spent the majority of the 2021 season on Alabama’s sidelines. He played in seven games but they were mostly blowouts. He finished the regular season with four receptions for seventy-two yards. Rumor around the campus was that he wasn’t happy with his playing time.
When John Metchie III went out for the season in the SEC Championship game, Hall seemed to be the logical replacement. But come playoffs, it became clear that Iron Bowl hero Ja’Corey Brooks got the nod. Also a true freshman. The rumors Hall’s displeasure grew louder.
Jameson Williams was well on his way to winning Alabama their 19th championship catching four balls for sixty-five yards in the first quarter. That is until his ACL got snatched. It was doom and gloom for Alabama fans, but for Agiye Hall it was opportunity calling. He took that opportunity…. and wiped his ass with it.
Agiye Hall was abysmal in the National Championship against Georgia. Sure he had two catches for fifty-two yards. But his drops are what cemented themselves in the minds of Alabama fans. Bryce Young was still slinging the rock without his top two receivers while staring down a defense that had five 2022 first rounders on it. Hall bounced this 3rd and 11 off his chest while Alabama was threatening and still up by three points. Fans poured on the insults for Hall’s drops to the point that he made his Twitter avatar him dropping a touchdown vs. Georgia. Which is pictured below.
Following the Championship loss, Saban was not so subtle about the young receivers that didn’t step up. He was quoted nearly a month later at the Alabama Coaches Association saying, “So now we were playing with guys that typically didn’t have to play at those positions. So the lesson to be learned was there were three guys - and I’m not calling out any names - that basically didn’t do the things they needed to throughout the season because they were frustrated with their circumstance.”
Coach didn’t have to say any names. It was clear who the three were and Agiye Hall was the biggest culprit. In early April when Saban was asked about Agiye’s suspension and earning his way back to the team he said:
“We’ll he already had that opportunity once. So, um, I don’t know what his plans are for the future.”
Well that’s all that drunk Sarkisian needed to hear. It was confirmed two weeks later that Agiye Hall was transferring to Texas. Hall’s face was plastered all over my feed with him wearing a stupid cowboy hat confirming his transfer to UT.
Hall went on a petty tour after that. He trashed the Alabama fan base and culture to 247 Longhorn’s insider Chip Brown. And even went on to favorite Schefter’s tweet about Jerry Jeudy’s arrest in Colorado. I couldn’t wait to see his ass on September 10th.
But wait, not so fast.
The internet sleuths noticed that Agiye Hall has yet to be added to Texas’ roster. While Longhorns beat writer Brian Davis pointed out that he wouldn’t have been added until the summer enrollment date of May 31st, that wasn’t nearly the most damning evidence that the grass isn’t greener in Austin. Agiye Hall has removed all Texas content and pictures from his social media platforms. Which is athlete for “fuck y’all”.
While it could mean nothing, one thing I’ve learned with Agiye Hall is that smoke normally means fire. Xavier Worthy is the clear cut number one reciever right now for Texas. It was rumored that USC even tried to poach him for a significant NIL. And it’s been no secret that the Longhorns have been courting projected first round pick and transfer portal darling, Jordan Addison. If Sark did indeed land another big WR transfer, Agiye Hall could once again find himself taking a back seat.
Isn’t that a shame. I truly hope it turns out to be all smoke and mirrors. I want to see him in orange on September 10th. I get that he’s still just a kid and I really wish that I could wish him all the best. But that’s just not how college football fandom works.
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