Kick & Punt Returns Table Kick Returns Punt Returns Season Team Conf Class Pos G Ret Yds Y/Ret KRTD Ret Yds Y/Ret PRTD APYd Awards 2022 Michigan State Big Ten FR WR 12 6 119 19.8 0 0 0 0 250 2023* Washington Pac-12 SO WR 14 10 233 23.3 0 3 43 14.3 0 738 2024* Alabama SEC JR WR 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 831 2025 Alabama SEC SR WR 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 963 Career 53 16 352 22.0 0 3 43 14.3 0 2782 Alabama (2 Yrs) 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 1794 Michigan State (1 Yr) 12 6 119 19.8 0 0 0 0 250 Washington (1 Yr) 14 10 233 23.3 0 3 43 14.3 0 738
Not only was Germie Bernard a multi-sport athlete in high school, running track while playing basketball and football, but he was also a multi-position threat on the football field in his native Las Vegas. He put up almost 1,000 yards receiving and almost 500 yards rushing his senior season, earning him Gatorade Player of the Year for Nevada. A four-star recruit, Bernard initially committed to Washington, but ultimately chose to play at Michigan State and rejected not only the Huskies, but Michigan, Oregon, Miami, and several others.
Bernard saw action in every game as a freshman with the Spartans, but decided to transfer to Washington for his sophomore season. Playing behind Rome Odunze, Ja’lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan, Bernard put up solid numbers. When Kalen DeBoer left Washington to take the Alabama head coaching job, Bernard went with him and started right away. He led the Crimson Tide in catches his junior year and was second on the team in yards and touchdowns behind Ryan Williams. For his senior season, Bernard improved all his numbers and led the team in receptions and yards, and was second in touchdowns.
Excellent at finding soft spots in zonesRarely drops passesUses above-average short-area quickness to get open and slip tacklesHigh-end run after the catch ability with excellent visionEffective gadget player with kick and punt return experienceWhile quick, doesn’t display great long speedSeveral touches are schemed or come when aligned off the line of scrimmageCould be more creative with his releases when facing press coverageSpeed looks only adequate for the next level
How He Fits on the Commanders
The Commanders’ will have Terry McLaurin, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane under contract for next season. Even if the team re-signs Deebo Samuel, they still need to look for additions to the receiving corps. Germie Bernard could give the Commanders a prospect with WR2 upside. While he is smaller than Samuel, he played a similar role for Alabama. Bernard did a lot of damage in the intermediate area of the field and over the middle. Alabama schemed touches for him near the line of scrimmage, even giving him touches running out of the backfield. Make no mistake though, if Bernard can improve some of his weaknesses, particularly improving his play outside against press coverage, he could be the Commanders’ WR2 for the foreseeable future.