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Kalen DeBoer updates health of Alabama tight end room after first practice

1918632_10206777287683070_1367905321192383146_nby: Charlie Potter07/30/25Charlie_Potter
Alabama TE Josh Cuevas
Alabama TE Josh Cuevas (Courtesy of UA Athletics)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – When Alabama ended spring practice in mid-April, its tight end room was left with one healthy scholarship player standing. And that was redshirt freshman Jay Lindsey.

Danny Lewis was sidelined for the entire spring, and Josh Cuevas and true freshman Marshall Pritchett both sustained injuries during the 15 practices. The good news on Wednesday morning was that all three were suited up and participating in drills at preseason practice No. 1.

After the first workout, Kalen DeBoer was asked about the health of Alabama’s tight end room.

“It will continue to get better and better,” said the second-year Alabama head coach. “It’s in a good spot. This was gonna be how it was when the injuries happened. 

“Cuevas is gonna continue to add volume. I think that’s the best word to use, because he’s practicing. Danny Lewis, the same thing. They’re adding volume, the number of reps from start to finish. It’s not just team, it’s not just individual. But they’ve had a really good summer, and their progress is as we had hoped, as we expected.

“And the rest of the guys, Marshall, I know, didn’t practice at the end of the spring with what he had. A couple other guys, too, they’re all full-go.”

The Crimson Tide has to replace its top two tight ends from last year’s team, as CJ Dippre and Robbie Ouzts exhausted their eligibility after the 2024 season. Cuevas is the most experienced returner, while Lewis has seen some game reps, as well. But Pritchett enrolled early to give UA four tight ends in the spring semester, making it one of the team’s thinnest units.

But reinforcements arrived in late May, as Alabama added two tight ends via the transfer portal in Brody Dalton (Troy) and Jack Sammarco (West Virginia). Kaleb Edwards, another freshman, also enrolled to give the position room a much-needed boost for preseason camp.

The line was noticeably fuller on Wednesday morning, which DeBoer noted after practice.

“We got more tight ends out there now, all of a sudden, than we could have ever imagined,” DeBoer said. “But they’re all competing and working together, doing a good job.”

Alabama will return to the practice field for its second preseason workout on Thursday, July 31. The Tide will kick off the 2025 season on the road at Florida State on Saturday, August 30.

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