With Alabama football thin at wide receiver, for the ReliaQuest Bowl, the group had a new face during Friday’s practice. During periods reporters were allowed to observe ahead of the matchup with Michigan, Jaylen Mbakwe had moved to the offense.

Mbakwe was practicing with the wideouts, after spending his freshman season in Tuscaloosa as a cornerback. He was wearing Kobe Prentice’s vacated No. 6, with running back Richard Young remaining in the No. 9 for the offense, a number Mbakwe wore on defense.

Crimson Tide offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan acknowledged the possibility ahead of Alabama’s trip to Tampa. UA is down to four scholarship receivers for the game, not counting Mbakwe, including Ryan Williams, Germie Bernard, Rico Scott and Jaren Hamilton.

“We’ll explore all options relative to who is on the roster and how we can best maximize those guys for the game,” Sheridan said on Dec. 18. “Certainly (Mbakwe is) somebody that has familiarity with having the ball in his hands.”

Mbakwe was the subject of transfer portal drama since the regular season ended. The five-star freshman first announced his intentions to enter the portal, before changing his mind and opting to return.

“His conversation with me is that he wanted to come back,” head coach Kalen DeBoer said after the dust settled. “Really, it’s not that complicated. First of all, the kid loves this place. He’s a great teammate. Works extremely hard. Obviously, we see what he did on the field. He’s extremely versatile.”

Mbakwe finished the regular season with an interception and 15 tackles. He also contributed as a punt returner for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama and Michigan are set to face off in the ReliaQuest Bowl at 11 a.m. CT on Tuesday at Raymond James Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPN.