Alabama football will have a new face at wide receiver during Tuesday’s ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan. Jaylen Mbakwe, who spent the regular season as a cornerback, has been practicing on offense ahead of the game.

The move came after the freshman, who joined the Crimson Tide as a five-star recruiting out of Clay-Chalkville this season, announced his decision to enter the transfer portal, before quickly reversing course. After Saturday’s bowl practice in Tampa, Mbakwe received rave reviews from UA’s other offensive players.

“He looks good,” Alabama Milroe said. “He’s definitely talented. It’s been good to have him on our offensive side of the ball, and see him pick it up. It’s been quick, it’s been a quick turnaround going from DB to receiver, and how much he’s grasped in that short period of time. Imagine if we’d had him the whole season, how well he’d be playing for us. I’m definitely happy to have him on our side of the ball, he’s done a really good job.”

Milroe went on to describe which talents of Mbakwe’s impressed him.

“He tracks the ball really well,” the quarterback said. “The over-the-shoulder balls, tracking the balls, he’s done a really good job. That was definitely a wow moment for me. That’s a difficult task to track the ball over your shoulder, and he did a really good job.”

Mbakwe played on offense and defense in high school, emerging as a five-star recruit at cornerback. He contributed there for the Crimson Tide this season, finishing the regular season with an interception and 15 tackles.

He’s also no stranger to having the ball in his hands at the college level, serving as UA’s punt returner for much of the season as well.

“Bak, he’s a natural athlete,” Alabama wideout Germie Bernard said. “There’s things that we can fine-tune and stuff like that, but like I said, he’s a natural athlete. He’s catching the ball well. He runs great routes. He’s dissecting the playbook really well. And, man, I’m glad to have him on our side of the ball.”

Besides Mbakwe, Alabama will have just four scholarship wide receivers available for the ReliaQuest Bowl, due to a slew of transfer portal entries, as well as several injuries. Other names at the position include Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Rico Scott and Jaren Hamilton.

Alabama and Michigan are scheduled to kick off at 11 a.m CT Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPN.