One of Alabama football’s questions heading into the 2023 season was who the No. 1 receiver would be. The group was plagued by drops in 2022 and needed to improve.

One game in, nobody’s guaranteed to be the featured wideout. But the Crimson Tide didn’t have any drops in the 56-7 win over Middle Tennessee State and feels more confident entering the Texas game.

“We’ve been working this whole time to do what we can this season,” Jermaine Burton, who had three catches for 62 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown, said after the game. “Like I said last time, just get on the JUGS and just staying out there, just doing something extra. Just minimize those chances (for drops.) It’s been good.”

Burton could have left Alabama for the NFL after the 2022 season. He led the team with 677 receiving yards last year, and only dropped two passes.

But the receiver who transferred to Alabama from Georgia after the 2021 season, thought he could take another step for the Crimson Tide. He headed back to school.

In the week leading up to Alabama’s battle with Texas, Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium, Nick Saban praised the 6-foot, 194-pound senior’s maturity.

“You don’t (find) discipline when you go on the field,” Saban said Wednesday. “You get it in your life when you start getting up in the morning and start making choices and decisions about what you’re going to do and what you’re not going to do. And that’s something that he’s learned to understand, and I think that has carried over off the field as well as on the field. I think that’ll help him be more successful in whatever his challenges are in the future, because he could have a really good career if he could continue to progress in that area.”

Burton found his footing in Alabama’s final three games of last season. He caught 13 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns during that time span.

Ahead of 2023, Saban praised the wideout’s talent, but pointed out areas for improvement.

“I’d say consistency in performance,” Saban said during spring practice. “Which would come from trust and the belief in doing the little things right. Whether it’s getting the right depth on a route, seeing the coverage as it is. Holding himself a little bit more accountable to paying attention to detail and doing the little things right. When he does that, he’s an outstanding player. He’s got great ability and hopefully if we can get him to do that he’ll be able to play with a little more consistency.”

It was a different type of offseason before his second year with the team. Alabama didn’t officially name a starting quarterback before Jalen Milroe ran out to take the first snap against Middle Tennessee State.

The Crimson Tide was also adjusting to a new offensive coordinator in Tommy Rees, part of a full turnover of Saban’s top assistants with Kevin Steele taking over the defense. In the midst of that, Burton went to work.

“It’s definitely a learning process and stepping into the roles of being more of a leader to the young guys and overall to the team,” Burton said during camp. “Being around this team for the past year, I’ve just adapted off the atmosphere and environment. I feel like really this environment of like this team really put me into my mode which makes me just want to see nothing but success and want to work harder”

After a rousing success against Middle Tennessee State, the Crimson Tide receivers will face a tougher challenge against Texas. Saban said it himself, getting the separation that they did against MTSU will be more difficult against the No. 11 team in the nation.

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After the game, Burton said he and his teammates would follow Saban’s usual process before facing the Longhorns. And he’ll keep on doing more than is required.

“After practice is done, what are you gonna do after?” Burton said. “You’re not going to get as (many) catches as you can in practice. Like sometimes you get 20, 25, 30 catches in practice and you still want to be at that 100, 200, so we get on that JUGS.”

Besides Burton, the Tide’s stable of receivers includes sophomore Isaiah Bond, who led the team in receiving yards Saturday, junior Ja’Corey Brooks and junior college transfer Malik Benson among others. But of the 18 wideouts on the roster, including walk-ons, Burton is one of just three seniors.

As he tries to improve his own game in preparation for the NFL, Burton is taking the role of an elder statesman seriously.

“At the end of the day, after this year I won’t be here,” Burton said after the game Saturday. “So I want to leave an impression on these guys and leave a good impression and be a good leader to them and really show them that anything is possible. I really just look forward to being a leader to the young guys and having them step up.”

Alabama and Texas are set to kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPN.

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