Throughout the week of the ReliaQuest Bowl, Alabama football’s Jaylen Mbakwe has appeared in a new role. On Monday, Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer said the freshman’s move to wide receiver is likely to stick moving forward.

During the weekend, Miami quarterback Cam Ward — a projected first-round pick — played only the first half of the Hurricanes’ Pop-Tart Bowl against Iowa State. DeBoer said it was not in the plans when asked if something similar could happen for Alabama.

Alabama football's switch of Jaylen Mbakwe from CB to WR for the ReliaQuest Bowl could be a permanent move. Here's why that could be a bad idea.

TAMPA, Fla. — Jaylen Mbakwe is back on offense. In Alabama football's first practice ahead of Tuesday's ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan, the freshman cornerback is practicing with the wide receivers, a position he played at Clay-Chalkville High School in Pinson, Alabama.

Jaylen Mbakwe seems to have made the full transition from defensive back to wide receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide.  The former five-star played the entire 2024 regular season at defensive back.

At least in the brief media viewing period of Alabama football practice that lasted about 10 minutes. The Crimson Tide practiced for the first time on Friday at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl, and Mbakwe was working with the wide receivers during that period.

During Alabama’s on-site bowl prep for Michigan, true freshman defensive back Jaylen Mbakwe has worked with the Crimson Tide wide receivers. Mbakwe has even changed numbers, moving from the No. 9 he wore all season to the now-vacant No.

Alabama football's Jaylen Mbakwe is moving to WR for the ReliaQuest Bowl, but is his switch from cornerback permanent? UA's Kalen DeBoer weighed in