One former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver put on a heck of a first impression with his new team, and it could be the first step to him winning a starting job.
While the 2026 NFL Draft
is in the rearview mirror, the past two weekends have served as orientation for all rookies across the league. It's a quick turnaround, as many players go straight from the season into draft prep, then into minicamps and organized team activities before summer break.
Which is why many teams take the initial rookie minicamp slow. The Pittsburgh Steelers
are no different, as they actually ended camp a day early so players could be home with their mothers. But two days were more than enough time for former Alabama WR Germie Bernard
to make a stellar first impression.
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Germie Bernard impresses Steelers HC Mike McCarthy at rookie minicamp
"We wanted to go full speed as far as how we line up, how we communicate, how we shift and motion", McCarthy said regarding Bernard via the Pittsburgh Steelers YouTube channel
.
"We just wanted to really get the communication, everybody to fit, no different with the routes. Football comes easy to him. His understanding is very high. Doesn't blink. I love his demeanor. You can see why his versatility in college definitely carries over. I think he's been an excellent fit for us."
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How Alabama prepared Germie Bernard for the NFL
Germie Bernard made a sound football decision when he transferred from Michigan State to Washington for the 2024 season, hitching his wagon to one of the fastest-rising coaches in the sport with Kalen DeBoer.
Well, he doubled down when DeBoer came to Alabama, and Bernard went from being largely viewed as a day two pick to the 46th selection in the NFL Draft. It was his dominant ball-winning, competitive stamina. and testing at the NFL Combine that put him over the top.
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But playing under Kalen DeBoer and even Ryan Grubb prepared him for NFL schemes. West coast heavy systems that emphasized his versatility and physicality clearly caught the eye of the Steelers
, and the arrow is only pointing up after a solid initial impression in Pittsburgh.
