Here’s how Alabama football’s tight ends shape up heading into fall camp

Despite losing Amari Niblack, Alabama football 's tight end rooms returns depth and experience from its 2023 roster along with bringing in fresh talent.

Niblack announced his transfer to Texas in January, around the same time that Miles Kitselman announced his transfer to Tennessee. With those two transfers, the Crimson Tide will bring back CJ Dippre, Robbie Ouzts, Danny Lewis Jr. and Ty Lockwood from last year's squad, while adding Washington transfer Josh Cuevas and true freshman three-star prospect Jay Lindsey.

Under new head coach Kalen DeBoer and offensive coordinator Nick Sheridan, Bryan Ellis is now in charge of the Crimson Tide tight ends after most recently serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Georgia Southern.

Here is how Alabama's tight end room looks heading into fall camp. Every scholarship player and any notable walk-on is mentioned:

The options for Alabama football at tight end

Projected starters: CJ Dippre, Sr.; Robbie Ouzts, Sr.

Reserves : Danny Lewis Jr, r-so.; Ty Lockwood, r-fr.; Josh Cuevas, r-jr.; Jay Lindsey, fr.

Niblack accounted for the most of the Crimson Tide's production from its tight ends in 2023, with 20 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns. Dippre, who is entering his second season at Alabama after transferring from Maryland in 2023, was second behind Niblack. The 6-foot-5, 257-pound Dippre started 11 of 14 games for Alabama last season and had 11 receptions for 187 yards last season for the Crimson Tide.

The 6-foot-4, 265-pound Ouzts started seven games last season while seeing time in all 14 of Alabama's games. He recorded three receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown while also contributing on special teams with two kickoff returns for 22 yards.

Cuevas began his college career at Cal-Ploy before transferring to Washington in 2023. The 6-foot-3, 239-pound Cuevas saw time in all 15 of the Huskies' games in 2023 , with four receptions for 164 yards and one touchdown.

Lewis Jr. saw time in 14 games last season with one start, recording one reception for 5 yards along with a 14-yard kickoff return. Lockwood saw time in two games during his true freshman season.

Lindsey comes to the Capstone as a three-star prospect per 247Sports out of Patrician Academy in Butler, Alabama.

The upside

DeBoer utilizes tight ends within the passing game in his offense.

He showed this at Washington, with tight end Jack Westover recording 46 receptions for 433 yards and four scores for the Huskies last season, being a part of Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr.'s receiving arsenal.

This could be a different look for Alabama's returnees at tight end, who were primarily utilized as blockers in the offense under coach Nick Saban. However, this change should bode well for this group of Crimson Tide tight ends. Many of them, like Dippre, have already shown flashes of potential during their time at the Capstone.

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One question or concern

How exactly will DeBoer use tight ends within this offense?

DeBoer has not revealed his exact plans with this unit but has spoken on the competition and importance of the group earlier this year at spring practice.

"There’s a lot of competition, a lot of rotation in," DeBoer said when speaking to the media. "They are all doing a pretty good job. We are getting CJ (Dippre) back here in a little bit. He’s not full go necessarily but add him to the mix. So, it’s been a thin group but with the addition now here (Washington transfer Cuevas), it’s coming along and it’s a really important part of our team. Being able to do different personal groupings rather than just always be multiple receiver sets is a big deal. And the tight end group has always been important in that role.".

At A-Day, Dippre, Ouzts, Cuevas and Lewis all were utilized in the Crimson Tide offense, with each recording receptions, perhaps hinting at how they will be used within the offense of DeBoer and Sheridan.

Breakout candidate

Dippre earned the starting spot in 2023, but was not used much in the passing game.

However, under the new offense of DeBoer and Sheridan, expect Dippre's role within the Crimson Tide offense to change. Depending on exactly how he is used, Dippre could be in for a big senior season with the Crimson Tide.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Here’s how Alabama football’s tight ends shape up heading into fall camp