Jaylen Mbakwe has a new number and a new position.

At least in the brief media viewing period of Alabama football practice that lasted about 10 minutes. The Crimson Tide practiced for the first time on Friday at Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa ahead of the ReliaQuest Bowl, and Mbakwe was working with the wide receivers during that period.

He was also wearing No. 6; running back Richard Young owns No. 9 already, and No. 6 became available when Kobe Prentice departed via the transfer portal. Mbakwe wore No. 9 this season while playing cornerback.

“I don’t think the game is too fast for Bak at all,” Alabama offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan said. “I don’t see any wide-eyed piece of that. I wouldn’t say that. Seems to have good presence there.”

Mbakwe had worked at defensive back throughout his freshman season in 2024. But he has experience on offense from his days playing for Clay-Chalkville in high school. And Alabama needs some help at receiver considering a number of receivers entered the transfer portal after the regular season ended.

“A good athlete,” Sheridan said. “Has experience like I mentioned before with the ball in his hand. Catching the ball. Securing the football is not something new to him. Has good quickness. Very good athlete. It’s a lot for him to learn in a short amount of time, but he’s had a great attitude. Practices really hard. We’re glad he’s out there with us.”

Alabama is working as quickly as possible to get Mbakwe up to speed at wide receiver and that entails. That includes how he practices and the drills the Crimson Tide runs. Game action will provide another test.

“He’s really embraced it,” Sheridan said. “Very attentive. Quick learner. Coach (JaMarcus Shephard) is doing a great job of bringing him up to speed on some of those things. He’s been good.”