Isaiah Bond (born March 15, 2004) is an American football wide receiver for the Texas Longhorns. He previously played for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Isaiah Bond
Bond with the Alabama Crimson Tide in 2024
Texas Longhorns – No. 7
PositionWide receiver
ClassJunior
Personal information
Born: (2004-03-15) March 15, 2004 (age 20)
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg)
Career history
College
Bowl games
High schoolBuford (Buford, Georgia)

Early life

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Bond was born on March 15, 2004, and attended Buford High School in Buford, Georgia, where he caught 15 passes for 382 yards and five touchdowns as a junior. As a senior, he had 42 receptions for 909 yards and seven touchdowns, plus five kickoff returns for 107 yards with his longest return of 60 yards.[citation needed] Bond also participated in track and field, winning the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Class 5A and 6A state championships for three years straight from 2019 to 2021.[1] He won the GHSA Class 6A 100-meter (10.51) and 200-meter (21.19) championships in May 2021 as a junior with a personal best in the 100 meter (10.48) and 200 meter (21.05).[2] Bond committed to play college football at the University of Alabama over Georgia and Florida.[3]

College career

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Bond made his collegiate debut the 2022 season opener as a freshman,[citation needed] recording two receptions for 23 yards in a win over Utah State.[4] In week 5, he hauled in two passes for 76 yards, including a 53-yard reception, in a win over Arkansas.[5][6] In the 2022 Sugar Bowl, Bond hauled in his first career touchdown pass[citation needed] on a six-yard reception, helping Alabama beat Kansas State 45–20.[7] He finished the 2022 season with 17 receptions for 220 yards and a touchdown.[8]

Bond earned a starting role as a sophomore in 2023, finishing the regular season with 39 receptions for 542 yards and four touchdowns.[9] He was most notable for catching a game-winning touchdown on 4th and goal at the 31 yard line against Auburn in the 2023 Iron Bowl. The play dubbed “Grave Digger” and "4th and 31"[10] led to a 27-24 Alabama victory and a bid for the 2023 SEC Championship. Bond completed the season with five receptions for 79 yard in the win against Georgia for the SEC Championship, and four reception for 47 yards against Michigan in the college playoff to finishing the season with 668 receiving yards.[11] On January 14, 2024, Bond announced that he would be transferring to Texas following the retirement of Nick Saban.[12]

College statistics

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Season Games Receiving
Rec Yds Avg TD
Alabama Crimson Tide
2022 13 17 220 12.9 1
2023 14 48 668 13.9 4
Texas Longhorns
2024 12 33 532 16.1 5
Career 39 98 1,420 14.5 10

References

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  1. ^ "GHSA Football Champions". www.ghsa.net. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  2. ^ "Isaiah Bond, Texas Longhorns, Wide Receiver". 247Sports. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  3. ^ Rushin, Jerell (December 7, 2021). "Alabama football lands commitment from nation's No. 1-rated athlete, Isaiah Bond". The Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  4. ^ "Instant Analysis: No. 1 Alabama 55, Utah State 0". Alabama Crimson Tide on SI. SI.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  5. ^ Wallace, Chris (2022-10-01). "Alabama freshman WRs help Crimson Tide open big lead at Arkansas". Saturday Down South. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. ^ Byler, Blake (October 1, 2022). "No. 2 Alabama Outlasts Razorbacks for Gutsy Road Win". Alabama Crimson Tide on SI. SI.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  7. ^ Casagrande, Michael (December 31, 2022). "Rewinding Alabama's Sugar Bowl win over Kansas State". AL.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  8. ^ Kelly, Nick (2023-02-01). "Alabama football players who could shine in 2023, from their teammates". Tuscaloosa News. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  9. ^ Hannon, Austin (August 1, 2023). "2023 Alabama Crimson Tide Position Preview: Wide Receiver". Alabama Crimson Tide on SI. SI.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  10. ^ Dellenger, Ross (2023-11-26). "With 'Gravedigger,' Isaiah Bond and Alabama deliver fourth-and-31 miracle that will live on forever in Iron Bowl lore". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
  11. ^ "Isaiah Bond 2023 Stats per Game - NCAAF". ESPN. Retrieved 2024-06-23.
  12. ^ Cobb, David (2024-01-14). "Isaiah Bond transfers to Texas: Nick Saban's retirement '100%' motivated exit, says ex-Alabama wideout". CBSSports.com. Retrieved 2024-10-14.
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