Jaylen Elder brings speed to UAB, but 2026 status is clouded by spring injury
Elder is a 5-foot-11 sophomore WR who flashed in 2025 with 1 catch for 9 yards and a 4-yard carry, and UAB’s spring notes also showed a 37-yard touchdown connection that hints at vertical-play ability. The big differentiator is ceiling: he’s a compact, quick receiver who can add juice in space, but his 2026 value is currently tempered by an undisclosed spring injury and a Week 1 absence from the initial depth chart, so he looks more like a watch-list upside bet than an immediate plug-and-play starter.
