Gehrig Dieter

Gehrig Dieter (4) catches a pass against South Alabama Dec. 20, 2014.

(USA Today )

Calvin Ridley is obvious, a returning star and essentially a lock to be one of Alabama's starting wide receivers.

The other two starting receivers? There is a growing feeling internally that at least one of them will be a newcomer who has quickly made an impression since arriving at Alabama in May.

The Tide's receiver group is arguably the deepest and most talented in the country, and there are other talented, proven difference-makers back from last year's team even aside from Ridley. However, it's looking more and more like graduate transfer Gehrig Dieter is going to be a big part of Alabama's offense.

The transfer from Bowling Green has been so impressive during summer workouts that at least some inside the Tide program believe he will start at one of Alabama's outside receiver spots over either Robert Foster or ArDarius Stewart.

"I think he's a great receiver," Tide tight end O.J. Howard said. "Hands. He has those. He rarely drops the ball. Great routes. He's smart. You can tell he's a veteran guy. Looking forward to him being very helpful for us on our offense this year."

One of the misconceptions outside Alabama's program is that Dieter was brought in to replace Richard Mullaney as the Tide's primary slot receiver.

He may end up playing in the slot some, but the early expectation internally is that he will work mostly outside.

Playing outside, Dieter caught 94 passes for 1,033 yards and 10 touchdowns as a redshirt junior at Bowling Green last season.

Against Tennessee last year, Dieter had seven catches for 133 yards and a touchdown.

He got behind Vols cornerback Emmanuel Moseley for a 38-yard catch during the second quarter and then beat Moseley for a 31-yard touchdown on the next play to cut Tennessee's lead to 21-17.

Dieter then got behind a different Vols cornerback, Malik Foreman, the next time Bowling Green had the ball, making a 29-yard catch to help set up a field goal.

Tennessee star Cam Sutton was asked this question this week: What do you remember about Dieter?

"Making plays," Sutton said. "He was obviously one of the leaders of that offense as well. I know he had a productive year at Bowling Green as well last year. But just another complete receiver."

A comparison? Think a faster, more athletic, stronger version of Mullaney with a history of making big plays down the field.

The 6-foot-3, 207-pound Dieter, who set a national high school record with 437 receiving yards in a single game, had seven catches that went for gains of 29 yards or more last season at Bowling Green.

Alabama's receiver group was already one of the deepest and most talented in the country without Dieter. Adding him makes it even better and deeper.

There were only seven Power Five conference schools with multiple receivers named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list. Alabama was one of them. The two players: Ridley and Dieter.

"He's been impressive," Howard said of Dieter. "A guy that came in so late, he really didn't know the playbook as well as some other guys do, but he looks (now) like he's been there for a couple seasons the way he looks out there and plays fast. That's a good sign."