2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Germie Bernard, Alabama

Name: Germie Bernard

Position: Wide Receiver

School: University of Alabama

Height/Weight: 6’1”, 204 lbs

Class: Senior (2025 season)

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV

High School: Liberty High School

Recruiting Rank: 4-star recruit, #199 overall, #27 WR nationally in 2022 class (ESPN)

Draft Projections:

•  Pro Football Network → 3rd round, WR8 (December 2025)

•  PFF → 3rd round, WR7 (solid cumulative grade among WRs since 2024)

•  NFL Draft Buzz → 2nd-3rd round, #8 WR, potential versatile slot/outside option

•  NFL.com → Day 3 projection

•  ESPN (Mel Kiper) → Top-10 WR in 2026 class

•  Consensus → Mid-tier WR7-8, likely Day 3 selection with Round 3 upside

Career Background

A four-star recruit from Liberty High School, Germie Bernard tallied 53 receptions for 956 yards and 12 TDs as a senior, showcasing versatility in a high-powered offense. He began at Michigan State as a freshman in 2022 before transferring to Washington in 2023, where he emerged as a rotational piece. Bernard followed coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama in 2024 after a berth in the College Football National Championship, leading the team in receptions during a transitional year. In 2025, he returned as a senior starter, pacing the Crimson Tide in catches and yards while adding rushing value, contributing to a playoff push. He declared for the 2026 NFL Draft in January 2026, reflecting on his journey across three programs.

Career Stats

•  2022 (Freshman, Michigan State) → 7 rec/ 12 tar (58.3%), 128 yards (18.3 avg/rec), 2 TDs

•  2023 (Sophomore, Washington) → 34 rec/ 51 tar (66.7%), 419 yards (12.3 avg/rec), 2 TDs

•  2024 (Junior, Alabama) → 50 rec/ 79 tar (63.3%), 794 yards (15.9 avg/rec), 2 TDs

•  2025 (Senior, Alabama) → 64 rec/ 102 tar (62.7%), 862 yards (13.5 avg/rec), 7 TDs

•  Career Totals (4 Seasons) → 155 rec/ 244 tar (63.5%), 2,203 yards (14.2 avg/rec), 13 TDs

Advanced Stats (2025, PFF):

• PFF OFF Grade → 71.9 (mid-tier among qualified FBS WRs)

• PFF RECV Grade → 71.6

•  Snaps Wide 62.2%/SLOT 34.5%

•  Yards After Catch → 394 (6.2 per reception/ 46% of total yardage)

• Missed Tackles Forced → 17 (0.27/rec)

• 5/14 contested catch (35.7%)

• Drops → 1 (1.0%)

• QB RTG → 112.5 (mid-tier among qualified WRs)

Awards and Accolades

High School:

•  All-League honors

•  Four-star recruit

College:

•  Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist (2025)

•  Biletnikoff Award Watch List (2025)

•  All-SEC Honorable Mention (2025)

Character and Leadership

Bernard receives nods for his adaptability across programs, as Alabama coach Kalen DeBoer credits his quick integration and vocal presence in fostering receiver room chemistry. Post-game reflections often highlight his faith, starting interviews with praise for “Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior,” underscoring a grounded perspective amid career highs. Coaches like DeBoer note his evolution into a mentor figure, pushing teammates through example and direct feedback. No disciplinary flags or off-field lapses appeared in reviews; peers and press portray him as consistent and uplifting. Academic specifics stay under wraps, without noted major or honors.

Injuries

Bernard missed the Week 13 game against Eastern Illinois in 2025 due to an undisclosed injury, described as precautionary by coach Kalen DeBoer, who confirmed his availability for the Iron Bowl the following week. He returned without apparent limitations, contributing in subsequent contests. Earlier in his career, Bernard sat out the 2023 game against Arizona State at Washington due to injury, and was limited in the CFP Championship against Michigan that year. No surgeries or recurring problems have been reported. His ability to bounce back quickly suggests resilience, but scouts may probe soft-tissue patterns in medicals. Full pre-draft workouts hinge on maintaining health through the process.

Play Style

Bernard functions as a multi-alignment pass-catcher who navigates short-to-intermediate zones with savvy pacing and stem work, often turning quick screens into chunk gains. His build allows physical releases against jams, paired with soft hands that secure throws in stride. Suits spread concepts that mix motions and rubs; Comp includes Deebo Samual for his gadget-like utilization. The goal is to get the ball in Bernard’s hands by any means necessary and let him find his own path to the end zone. This also makes him a dangerous return man.

Strengths

1.  Alignment Flexibility — Shifts seamlessly from backfield, to slot, to boundary; disrupts coverage schemes.

2.  After-Catch Power — Breaks initial contact consistently; turns catches into extra yardage and chunk plays. Dangerous from anywhere on the field.

3.  Route Timing — Syncs breaks with QB reads; exploits zone soft spots. Agility to create separation easily.

4.  Hands Security — Minimal bobbles in traffic; absorbs hits while holding possession.

5.  Blocking Willingness — Engages downfield; sustains effort in run support.

Weaknesses

1.  Press Resistance — Length helps, but quicker jams disrupt timing. Has a dense frame to improve, but play callers may need to motion him around.

2.  Vertical Burst — Builds speed linearly; lacks explosive gear for pure go routes. More agile then a true deep threat.

3.  Contested Consistency — Wins some 50/50s but drops rate rises in crowds. 34% contested catch is low for a true receiver.

4.  Physicality — Willing blocker but not aggressive. Dense frame doesn’t match strength, and can get chucked off routes too easily.

5.  Scheme Fit — Gadget players tend to need to find a creative play-caller who can utilize the strengths of that player to get the best version of what that player can be.

Final Evaluation

Germie Bernard slots as a versatile WR7-8 in the 2026 class, providing scheme flexibility and after-catch reliability that could fill gadget or slot duties in modern offenses. He lined up in so many areas at Alabama, that a play caller can be very creative with how to use his skill set. Luckily, Bernard is a good enough receiver to also ply in the boundary. PFN, PFF, and NFL Draft Buzz points to his route IQ and minimal drops as reliable tools, though deeper separation demands growth. Geared for systems favoring motions around the formation to create mismatches like Kyle Shanahan/Deebo Samuel or Mike McDaniel/Jaylen Waddle, Bernard is a dangerous chess piece for any offense—might carve a rotational niche for Alabama’s draft lineage if consistency endures. He figures as a utility piece adding wrinkle plays from the jump.

Sources

•  Pro Football Network (2025 scouting reports, draft projections)

•  PFF (2025 grades, mock drafts, player analysis)

•  NFL Draft Buzz (full profile/scouting report)

•  ESPN (stats, awards, rankings)

•  NFL.com (declaration/projection coverage)

•  Sports-Reference (career stats compilation)

•  Alabama Athletics/Wikipedia (bio, accolades)