Kirby Smart calls Alabama wide receiver ‘the catalyst’ of the Tide’s offense

Kirby Smart believes Germie Bernard is ‘the catalyst’ for the Alabama football offense.

Bernard has jumped out of the gates for the Tide and provided a consistent spark early and often. He has pulled in 15 receptions for 275 yards and three touchdowns through three games, and he has strong argument to be referred to as wide receiver one in Tuscaloosa.

Smart feels the talented wideout deserves just as much respect as Ryan Williams does.

“Obviously, the talent Ryan has, but there’s a lot of people that focus on him and try to take him out of the game, and the Bernard kid has been incredible,” Smart said on Monday. “I feel like he’s been there forever, and he’s only been there in his second year. He came with those guys. He is the catalyst to that offense because he does so much. He is similar to Dillon Bell, but they use him as a back. They use him as a point of attack blocker, Reverse guy, gadget guy, vertical guy, deep routes. I mean, he’s a complete player and he’s really physical and a lot of respect for the way he plays. But all their wide outs are playing at a high level right now because the quarterback.”

Bernard has been one of the most impressive players on the Crimson Tide’s roster this season. ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller recently said the wide receiver is in the conversation to be the first wide receiver off the board in the next NFL Draft.

“Germie Bernard has been the best thing about Alabama football so far this year,” Miller posted to X. “Scouts had him with a fringe Rd1-2 grade over the summer. To me, he’s in the WR1 convo with Jordyn Tyson right now.”

Smart and his staff will try to slow down Bernard and the rest of the Alabama offense on Saturday.