Slade Bolden

American football player (born 1999)

American football player

Slade Bolden

Bolden with Alabama in 2019

Personal information

Born:

(1999-01-26) January 26, 1999 (age 25)
West Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.

Height:

5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)

Weight:

189 lb (86 kg)

Career information

High school:

West Monroe

College:

Alabama (2018–2021)

Position:

Wide receiver

Undrafted:

2022

Career history

Baltimore Ravens (2022)
Atlanta Falcons (2023)*
Birmingham Stallions (2024)*

* Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Career highlights and awards

CFP national champion (2020)

Career NFL statistics

Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Slade Bolden (born January 26, 1999) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Alabama and was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Early life and high school

Bolden grew up in West Monroe, Louisiana, and attended West Monroe High School, where he played baseball and football. ^[1] He played quarterback and receiver during his junior year and rushed for 1,370 yards and 24 touchdowns with 906 passing yards and nine touchdown passes while also catching 15 passes for 248 yards and four touchdowns.^[2] As a senior, Bolden passed for 1,622 yards and 20 touchdowns and rushed for 1,460 yards and 20 touchdowns and was named the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year.^[3] He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at Alabama over offers from TCU and LSU.^[4]

College career

Bolden played in Alabama's 2018 season opener against Louisville as a true freshman before opting to redshirt the year.^[5]^[6] As a redshirt freshman in the 2019 season, he caught two passes for 34 yards and rushed four times for 10 yards as a wildcat quarterback while also completing a six yard pass for a touchdown, which came against Tennessee.^[7]^[8]^[9] As a redshirt sophomore, Bolden became a starter at wide receiver after Jaylen Waddle suffered a broken ankle.^[10] Bolden caught a five-yard pass from Mac Jones in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship for his first career touchdown reception as the Crimson Tide won 52–24 over Ohio State.^[11] He finished the season with 24 receptions for 270 yards and one touchdown and returned seven punts for 29 yards.^[12] As a redshirt junior, Bolden caught 42 passes for 408 yards and three touchdowns.^[13] In the College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl, he had a receiving touchdown against Cincinnati.^[14] After the season, Bolden announced that he would forgo his final year of eligibility and enter the 2022 NFL Draft.^[15]

Collegiate statistics

Slade Bolden		Receiving
Year	G	Rec	Yds	Avg	TD
2019	7	2	34	17.0	0
2020	8	24	270	11.3	1
2021	15	42	408	9.7	3
Career	30	68	712	10.5	4

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height	Weight	Arm length	Hand span	40-yard dash	10-yard split	20-yard split	20-yard shuttle	Three-cone drill	Vertical jump	Broad jump	Bench press
5 ft 10+5⁄8 in (1.79 m)	193 lb (88 kg)	29+3⁄8 in (0.75 m)	9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m)	4.66 s	1.52 s	2.61 s	4.03 s	7.01 s	36.0 in (0.91 m)	9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)	11 reps
Sources:^[16]^[17]

Baltimore Ravens

Bolden signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2022.^[18] He was waived/injured on August 23, and placed on injured reserve.^[19]^[20] He was released on October 18, 2022.^[21]

Atlanta Falcons

On May 15, 2023, Bolden signed with the Atlanta Falcons.^[22] He was waived on August 29, 2023.^[23]

Birmingham Stallions

On January 19, 2024, Bolden signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL).^[24] He was waived on March 22, 2024.^[25]

References

^ Diaz, Cory (November 24, 2017). "Catching Up with Slade Bolden: West Monroe star talks Alabama, final prep season". The News Star. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ Champlin, Drew (August 3, 2017). "Louisiana athlete Slade Bolden commits to Alabama". AL.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ "West Monroe's Slade Bolden named Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year". The Advocate. December 11, 2017. Archived from the original on January 15, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ Morale III, Amos (August 4, 2017). "West Monroe 2018 athlete Slade Bolden commits to Alabama". NOLA.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ Martin, Jake (May 5, 2020). "Alabama's Bolden puts in work to earn starting WR role". Ouachita Citizen. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ Paschall, David (November 15, 2018). "Alabama freshman Slade Bolden gives team's defense a glimpse of option". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ "Tennessee at Alabama Box Score, October 19, 2019". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
^ Paschall, David (October 26, 2020). "Saban won't make comparisons between Jaylen Waddle and Slade Bolden". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Archived from the original on January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ Byington, Alex (October 20, 2019). "Alabama's Slade Bolden provides offensive spark as Wildcat QB". Montgomery Advertiser. Archived from the original on January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ McNair, Kirk (October 24, 2020). "Slade Bolden Appears To Be Jaylen Waddle's Replacement". BamaOnLine. Archived from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
^ "Steve Sarkisian, Alabama stars deliver big numbers in OC's finale". Houston Chronicle. January 12, 2021. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
^ Gates, Riley (January 12, 2021). "Slade Bolden reacts to scoring first-career touchdown". 247Sports. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
^ Goss, Nick (March 2, 2022). "Alabama WR Slade Bolden met with Pats at combine, models game after Edelman". NBC Sports Boston. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ "Cotton Bowl - Cincinnati vs Alabama Box Score, December 31, 2021". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
^ Kelly, Nick (January 14, 2022). "Alabama football receiver Slade Bolden declares for NFL Draft". Tuscaloosa News. Archived from the original on January 27, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ "Slade Bolden Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Archived from the original on March 8, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ "Slade Bolden, Alabama, WR, 2022 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
^ Arend, Alek (May 1, 2022). "Alabama Standout Slade Bolden Announces He Signed UDFA Deal". The Spun. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
^ Inabinett, Mark (August 24, 2022). "Slade Bolden among players released from NFL rosters". AL.com. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
^ Brown, Clifton (August 23, 2022). "Ravens Trim Roster to 80 Players". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
^ Grindley, Wyatt (October 18, 2022). "Ravens Make Six Roster Moves". NFLTradeRumors.co. Archived from the original on October 30, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
^ Bair, Scott (May 15, 2023). "Falcons sign four, cut several in series of moves following rookie minicamp". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
^ "Falcons announce initial 53-man roster for 2023". AtlantaFalcons.com. August 29, 2023.
^ "The UFL Agree to Terms with 42 Players". UFLBoard.com. January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
^ "Birmingham Stallions Announce Final Roster ahead of 2024 Season". UFLBoard.com. March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 23, 2024.