The Alabama Crimson Tide are likely headed to the College Football Playoff once again after an upset of the Georgia Bulldogs in Saturday’s SEC Championship, but they’ll be without their lone Canadian player when they do so.
Head coach Nick Saban confirmed Sunday that star receiver John Metchie III suffered a torn ACL in the second quarter against Georgia and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Alabama’s second leading receiver this season, Metchie posted 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns. The Brampton, Ontario product is considered a top NFL prospect for the 2022 NFL Draft and projected by some analysts to be taken in the first round, but the extensive recovery time associated with his injury will likely drop his stock considerably.
Metchie burst onto the scene in 2019 as a key component of an Alabama receiving corps that featured two first round draft picks, including Heisman winner DeVonta Smith. He caught 55 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns last season, becoming the first Canadian in 17 years to win an NCAA national title.
At the conclusion of his sophomore year, Metchie took home the Jon Cornish Trophy as the best Canadian player in the NCAA. He is expected to be in contention for the award once again in 2019.
