Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams runs after a reception during an NFL game against the Minnesota Viking
Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams runs after a reception during an NFL game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Ford Field in Detroit)
Six players from Alabama high schools and colleges entered the final weekend of the NFL’s 2024 regular season with at least 900 receiving yards. Three made it to the 1,000 milestone – but barely.
Nico Collins (Clay-Chalkville) had five receptions for 38 yards and one touchdown before heading to the bench with some of the Houston Texans’ other key players in a 23-14 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Collins heads into the playoffs after recording 68 receptions for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns in the 2024 regular season, even though he missed five games because of a hamstring injury.
Calvin Ridley (Alabama) had three receptions for 76 yards in the Titans’ loss to Houston. That pushed Ridley’s 2024 totals to 64 receptions for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns.
Jameson Williams (Alabama) had six receptions for 34 yards in the Detroit Lions’ 31-9 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night. Williams closed the regular season with 58 receptions for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns.
Of the three other players with Alabama football roots who entered the weekend within 100 of 1,000, Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (Gadsden City) missed Sunday’s 44-38 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers because of a shoulder injury, which left him at 64 receptions for 992 yards and five touchdowns for the 2024 campaign.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) had two receptions for 20 yards in a 32-20 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday to close the season with 81 receptions for 959 yards and six touchdowns.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens (Hoover) had one reception for zero yards in a 19-17 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday night. That left him at 59 receptions for 900 yards and three touchdowns.
Hill, Mooney and Pickens have been 1,000-yard receivers previously in their careers, as have Collins and Ridley. But Williams reached the milestone for the first time, becoming the 21st player from an Alabama high school or college to record a 1,000-yard receiving season in the NFL.
Those players have produced 62 such seasons, with four hitting the mark in 2024. Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (Alabama) previously had gotten to 1,000 receiving yards in the current campaign.
The NFL 1,000-yard receivers with Alabama football roots include (with yearly totals presented as receptions-receiving yards-touchdown receptions):
Don Hutson, Alabama
Green Bay Packers
1942: 74-1,211-17
—-
Harlon Hill, Lauderdale County High School, North Alabama
Chicago Bears
1954: 45-1,124-12
1956: 47-1,128-11
—-
Jim “Red” Phillips, Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City, Auburn
Los Angeles Rams
1961: 78-1,092-5
—-
John Stallworth, Tuscaloosa High School, Alabama A&M
Pittsburgh Steelers
1979: 70-1,183-8
1981: 63-1,098-5
1984: 80-1,395-11
—-
Ozzie Newsome, Colbert County High School, Alabama
Cleveland Browns
1981: 69-1,002-6
1984: 89-1,001-5
—-
Lionel James, Auburn
San Diego Chargers
1985: 86-1,027-6
—-
Frank Sanders, Auburn
Arizona Cardinals
1997: 75-1,017-4
1998: 89-1,145-3
—-
Terrell Owens, Benjamin Russell High School
San Francisco 49ers
1998: 67-1,097-14
2000: 97-1,451-13
2001: 93-1,412-16
2002: 100-1,300-13
2003: 80-1,102-9
Philadelphia Eagles
2004: 77-1,200-14
Dallas Cowboys
2006: 85-1,180-13
2007: 81-1,355-15
2008: 69-1,052-10
—-
Jerricho Cotchery, Phillips High School in Birmingham
New York Jets
2007: 82-1,130-2
—-
Roddy White, UAB
Atlanta Falcons
2007: 83-1,202-6
2008: 88-1,382-7
2009: 85-1,153-11
2010: 115-1,389-10
2011: 100-1,296-8
2012: 92-1,351-7
—-
Julio Jones, Foley High School, Alabama
Atlanta Falcons
2012: 79-1,198-10
2014: 104-1,583-6
2015: 136-1,871-8
2016: 83-1,409-6
2017: 88-1,444-3
2018: 113-1,677-8
2019: 99-1,394-6
—-
Amari Cooper, Alabama
Oakland Raiders
2015: 72-1,070-6
2016: 83-1,153-5
Oakland Raiders/Dallas Cowboys
2018: 75-1,005-7
Dallas Cowboys
2019: 79-1,189-8
2020: 92-1,114-5
Cleveland Browns
2022: 78-1,160-9
2023: 72-1,250-5
—-
Tyreek Hill, West Alabama
Kansas City Chiefs
2017: 75-1,183-7
2018: 87-1,479-12
2020: 87-1,276-15
2021: 111-1239-9
Miami Dolphins
2022: 119-1,710-7
2023: 119-1,799-13
—-
Calvin Ridley, Alabama
Atlanta Falcons
2020: 90-1,374-9
2023: 76-1,016-8
2024: 64-1,017-4
—-
Darnell Mooney, Gadsden City High School
Chicago Bears
2021: 81-1,055-4
—-
Jaylen Waddle, Alabama
Miami Dolphins
2021: 104-1,015-6
2022: 75-1,356-8
2023: 72-1,014-4
—-
DeVonta Smith, Alabama
Philadelphia Eagles
2022: 95-1,196-7
2023: 81-1,066-7
—-
Nico Collins, Clay-Chalkville High School
Houston Texans
2023: 80-1,297-8
2024: 68-1,006-7
—-
George Pickens, Hoover High Schoo
Jameson Williams, Alabama
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins catches a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans
Houston Texans wide receiver Nico Collins catches a touchdown pass against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn.
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