How Alabama football’s new tight ends are adjusting

Alabama football added three tight ends over the summer after dealing with multiple injuries during spring practice at the position.

Josh Cuevas, Danny Lewis and Marshall Pritchett were all out dealing with injuries before spring football wrapped up. This prompted the Crimson Tide to add depth to the position. They did so via the transfer portal with the additions of Brody Dalton and Jack Sammarco. They also welcomed Kaleb Edwards, who signed with Alabama in December.

Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer feels the Tide’s new additions at tight end are doing a ‘nice job adjusting.’

“First it is good to see (Josh) Cuevas get back out there and get his reps and build that up,” DeBoer said. “I think there’s a lot of learning going on. You got the two guys that came in, really there is three that came in in the summer, the two guys transferring in, and Kaleb from high school. They’re swimming a little bit, just with the physicality piece now to putting the pads on, but they’ve adjusted the way that I would expect here today. I feel like there was growth from yesterday to today. There is first understanding the responsibility and executing your job. The more reps they get at that, the more comfortable they get.”

Edwards is a former four-star tight end out of Oak Ridge High School in California. The 6-foot-6, 264-pounder is flashing his blend of athleticism and size.

“Kaleb is a big target, does a nice job, very savvy, instinctual,” DeBoer told reporters. “Got some of the dual-sport in him, feels comfortable out in space.”

Dalton started in eight games for Troy in 2024 and finished the season with three touchdowns and 188 yards on 15 receptions. Sammarco is a 6-foot-5, 252-pounder, who transferred from West Virginia after one season.

“Jack is a physical, kind of a mauler type guy,” DeBoer said. “Brody done a nice job kind of in between. He got that experience, and he’s got a lot of football under his belt, but he’s also to learning and getting use to playing at every practice at the level we’re paying.”

Danny Lewis and Cuevas are expected to start at tight end for Alabama in 2024. The most intriguing question surrounding the Tide’s tight end room is if a third tight end will see playing time.