Canadian John Metchie III embracing receiver tradition at Alabama

John Metchie III does not always get to show his strength outside of run blocking, but this time, he called for it.

Alabama quarterback Mac Jones had just made his lone mistake of the SEC championship game, throwing an interception to Florida just outside of the red zone. Metchie shifted roles from “burner” wide receiver to heat-seeking missile, levelling the Gators’ defensive back into fumbling the ball back to the Alabama offence.

John Metchie making a case to play on defence after this hit on Trey Dean. pic.twitter.com/vI7DsKmyoR

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 20, 2020

The Brampton, Ont., native is a sophomore wide receiver for the Alabama Crimson Tide, the top-ranked team in the nation heading into the College Football Playoff. He has taken on a larger role than expected in 2020 for an undefeated team with championship expectations.

The Canadian’s natural talent, commitment to improvement and strong attention to detail have earned him the right to compete at college football’s highest level. As the games increase in importance, Metchie will have the opportunity to showcase what he has built within Alabama’s historic wide receiver room.

“Picking Alabama was kind of a no-brainer for me because I wanted to be around the best, I wanted to compete with the best, and play amongst the best,” Metchie said. “[I wanted to] be in the most competitive environment because I think that will bring out the best in me.”

You go to Alabama to dominate on Saturdays and set yourself up to play on NFL Sundays. Only Ohio State has had more NFL draft picks since the turn of the century. The Crimson Tide have won five national championships under head coach Nick Saban and are the favourites to do so once again this January. Offensive stars like quarterback Mac Jones, running back Najee Harris and receiver DeVonta Smith are complemented by a Canadian with a knack for finding space in opposing defences.

“It’s kind of something I have always envisioned and imagined, so there’s never been a moment where it’s been surreal,” Metchie said. “It’s always been like, ‘OK, let’s go make this happen’ and that’s how I’ve always looked at it.”

Alabama wide receiver John Metchie III (8) hits Florida defensive back Trey Dean III (0) after Dean’s interception during the first half of the Southeastern Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, in Atlanta. (Brynn Anderson/AP)

Metchie ranks second in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns for the SEC champions after his role suddenly expanded this year when star receiver Jaylen Waddle went down with a season-ending injury in late October. With more game time and more extensive film study, Metchie’s game has grown along with his opportunity.

“I kept the same mentality throughout. Do my job as well as I can and execute everything I have to do and the rest will take care of itself,” Metchie said.

He had only four catches in limited action last year as a freshman, but he got to learn from the best, including four future NFLers at the wide receiver position for the Crimson Tide. Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III were first-rounders earlier this year and Smith and Waddle are projected to go in the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft. The prolific group was nicknamed the “Ryde Outs.”

“Definitely created great relationships, people that I can call brothers,” Metchie said. “As far as football-wise, being able to just learn from them. Learn from the people who worked before me and use what they’ve done to help elevate my game.”

Corner too lil for Metchie

— HJR III (@__RUGGS) October 10, 2020

Though their run of success has not wavered, the Crimson Tide are far removed from their “run the ball and play strong defence” teams of the past. With the explosion of innovation in college football, Alabama has embraced the downfield passing game as a necessity of their offence.

The Crimson Tide have had five wide receivers selected in the first round in the past decade as a result, an absurd number for a single skill position even for a football factory like Alabama. Julio Jones, Amari Cooper, Calvin Ridley, Ruggs and Jeudy make up that group and will soon be joined by Smith and Waddle in April. That would bring the number up to seven first-round wide receivers from Alabama in the past 10 years.

That type of infrastructure means increased internal competition for snaps and targets, but it is also a concentrated hub of talent and knowledge for development. Metchie says that he has benefitted immensely from those teammates.

“I think it helps in all aspects. When everyone around you is really good, it just kind of forces you to lift yourself to be your best every day.”

With Smith and Waddle likely departing for the pros, Metchie is in position to contend for the No. 1 wide receiver role next season at Alabama. It is a coveted position that represents the inside track for a player to become an early-round NFL draft pick in the near future.

On being the No. 1 option in 2021, Metchie says that he is merely looking to stay the course. “I think I’ve just got to continue to be myself and try to be the best version of me – as far as just competing, focus, execution and just working hard.”

He has certainly made a compelling case with his play this season that he deserves the opportunity. Metchie is averaging 17.8 yards per reception, and is among college football’s leaders by that metric at his volume of catches.

The Crimson Tide utilize their talent at wide receiver to attack defences with chunk plays, including long passes to Metchie. Alabama’s rate of 7.8 yards per play ranks second in the NCAA.

For the wide receiver position, it is all about getting separation. With the speed and talent that they have had at their disposal in recent years, Alabama’s offence is built on deep passes utilizing crossing routes, seam routes, post routes and go routes.

Those plays give wide receivers the time and space to break away from opposing defensive backs. Couple the right route with Metchie’s speed and silky-smooth route running and SEC’s secondaries are left reeling.

With the separation he generates and the yards he accumulates after the catch, Metchie’s speed stands out instantly. What may not be clear at first glance are the thousands of hours Metchie has poured into perfecting his routes.

He attended high school in Hagerstown, Md., at Saint James School. His head coach at the private college prep school, John Root, describes his former player’s work ethic as “off the charts.”

“From the day he set foot on campus to the day he left, I don’t think that I’ve ever seen a kid that worked so hard in all aspects. He had goals to play at the highest level. Whether it be in the weight room or whether it be on a weekend in the off-season, he’s always on the field, always catching passes, always running routes. Just working, working, working,” Root said.

Metchie says greatness at the position comes from being the best day-in and day-out. He credits his intense work ethic to the people he grew up around in Brampton – especially his family. Root remembers when Metchie and his family first drove down from Toronto to visit Saint James. It did not take long for him to see that the kid from Southern Ontario stood out.

“He had decent size and such, but a lot of kids look good,” Root said. “But when he stepped onto the field the very first day, you could tell that he was different. I don’t think at that point we knew how special he was going to be.”

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Root says that it’s Metchie’s route running that sets him apart. “Well, I think John is fast but there are a lot of fast kids. I think what makes John different is the subtle things he does in his routes,” Root said. “I think his route running actually is what allows him to separate.”

The subtleties of the position can be lost on many. Like the way Metchie positions his body before breaking in one direction or another. The way he turns his head, his hips. These are the things that help him get the better of players of equal athletic ability. Fine-tuning those precise details are what will get Metchie to the next level.

For Metchie, mental reps are just as important as practice reps in honing his craft. He watches how others approach routes – including his Alabama teammates – to find those little things he can implement in his game, giving him an edge over defenders a yard or two at a time.

He isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel; he’s just trying to make it roll more smoothly and reliably. “I definitely think just practice and learning. Being able to watch and learn from other people. Take pieces and parts from their game and kind of add it to yours and make it your own. On top of that, just practice.”

Root recalls taking Metchie to Nike’s “The Opening” football camp a few years ago. Metchie was matching up with four- and five-star college recruits while nursing a fractured thumb. The injury did not keep him down, though, as he rose to the level of the competition.

“To him, it didn’t matter. It was work. It was about getting better. The best way I could describe it was he was just breaking kids’ ankles. They couldn’t cover him.”

RYDEOUTS@DeVontaSmith_6 @Metchie_Jr #BamaFactor #RollTide pic.twitter.com/7dXUbaU6eC

— Alabama Football (@AlabamaFTBL) November 29, 2020

Canada’s reputation in the world of football has exploded over the last few years because of Canadians contributing at a high level in the NFL and the NCAA. Metchie was born in Taiwan and lived in Ghana before moving to Canada at the age of six.

It is not hyperbole to say that Metchie is already the type of football role model that he didn’t necessarily have when he was a kid. The power of him and others making an impact on the biggest stages is not lost on Metchie.

“It means a lot, especially thinking back to the time when I was in middle school in Canada and I was looking to play football,” Metchie said. “It definitely means a lot to me now that hopefully I can influence a young kid in Canada who has dreams and aspirations to play football or play sports at a high level.”

He still thinks there are barriers preventing Canadian talent from reaching the top levels of the sport because of the distance from scouts and a general lack of exposure. “Because it’s really hard for them to be seen in such far places,” Metchie said. “I just feel like there are less opportunities in Canada and I think that is definitely something that will hopefully change.”

Metchie will take the field next on New Year’s Day in the College Football Playoff semifinal against No. 4-ranked Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish – like Alabama – are littered with NFL prospects. They are experienced in the secondary, setting up a strength-versus-strength matchup against Metchie and the Crimson Tide receiving core.

“They’re a really good team, both on offence and defence. It will definitely be a challenge. Definitely excited about it.”

With a win, Metchie and Alabama will be onto the National Championship game in Miami. It is setting up to be a sunny conclusion to the season for the kid from up north.