Recruiting Film Breakdown: Cornerback/Receiver Jaylen Mbakwe

Another two-way player in the Class of 2024, Mbakwe shows potential to play almost anywhere on the field.

Photo | USA TODAY

This may sound a little redundant, but 5-star prospect Jaylen Mbakwe possesses the same ability to play both sides of the ball at the next level as the player we profiled with the last film review, Perry Thompson. They're both great athletes. 

Mbakwe hails from local Clay-Chalkville High School in nearby Pinson, Ala. He's listed as a cornerback and receiver, but the tape and stats mainly show him as a receiver with the ability to play corner if needed. He has the necessary size to play either position. 

He was just recently updated to a top-20 player by On3 and 247Sports and is ranked somewhere between the No. 1 and 3 player in the state depending on the recruiting service.

🚨NEW🚨 Alabama ATH commit Jaylen Mbakwe ranks No. 17 in the updated 2024 On300🐘https://t.co/Fw3HyIcPvA pic.twitter.com/T3rm2tA9to

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) April 17, 2023

Standing at 5-11 and 170 pounds, Mbakwe has a solid frame and with a year left in high school to still grow.

With Mbakwe visiting during A-Day this past weekend to confirm his commitment, here's what stands out on his film:

Things that Standout:

The first thing that is obvious on tape is the speed. Mbakwe's ability to simply outrun the defense makes him a unique talent. The clip below is a great example of how he's able to take a simple screen pass and use a burst to get the end zone.

He ran track throughout high school and his most recent 100 meter dash time was 10.5 seconds. 

The second thing that stands out is his ability to find open space and get yards after a catch. The clip below shows how he is able to run an in route, find an open space in the middle of the field, and break a few tackles to get down field.

While there's not a hard cut on the route, the way he's still able to get to a spot where his quarterback can get him the ball. Mbakwe's ability to run through the tackles and find the end zone makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field, especially if he bulks up some more. 

Here's another example of his ability to get separation from the defender on a slant route. Mbakwe is not a one-trick pony. 

Meanwhile, his kind of speed can also be advantageous on the defensive side. The clip below shows his ability to break down on a receiver and make a tackle. Take note at how he was able to stay strong on the play and prevent the receiver from breaking free.

Areas of Improvement:

Maybe the biggest concern from Mbakwe's film is that he doesn't show a lot of the route tree. That raises a question about whether or not he can run more complicated sets on offense. 

A lot of his film is limited to screens or simple routs. It could be due to coaching and the offensive scheme, but the more he can do the better his chances of creating some mayhem for defenses.

Another thing that needs to develop is his risk taking. While it is nice to see players take that extra step and try to make a big play, in certain instances it backfires (and yet another Nick Saban rant gets put on twitter). 

This clip shows how it could be a concern at the next level. He's fielding a punt with a defender around him and returns it nicely, but the play could have also resulted in a fumble in the red zone. 

Keep in mind his age. Some of these traits can be worked upon and improve with some maturity. 

Final Verdict:

Mbakwe will almost certainly be an impact player at Alabama. His speed and ability to create separation could lead to a lot of home-run plays. He will help any quarterback he plays with due to his creativity in getting open. 

Even with the sometimes risky plays, Mbakwe will be able to wow fans and coaches when he arrives in Tuscaloosa next year.

Alabama Crimson TIde Football Recruiting Tracker