For the second consecutive offseason, Alabama will look to replace its top tight end target from the prior season, with Josh Cuevas departing after two seasons for the NFL. The cupboard isn't bare at tight end for the Tide, however, with head coach Kalen DeBoer and the Alabama coaching staff emphasizing big-bodied pass catchers to add another wrinkle to the offense. The room is full of young playmakers who can be big-time weapons for Alabama's offense, and a tight end can be a valuable safety net for a young quarterback in their first season as a starter, whether it's Austin Mack or Keelon Russell who wins the job for Alabama.

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New tight ends coach Richard Owens leads the room, who previously served as the offensive line coach at Louisville before Kalen DeBoer and Alabama hired him to replace Bryan Ellis as tight ends coach, with Ellis moving to coach quarterbacks after Nick Sheridan left to be the offensive coordinator at Michigan State.

The Returners

Kaleb Edwards - Sophomore (6-foot-6, 268 pounds)

Edwards earned a prominent role as a starter in Alabama's offense last season, appearing in all 15 games with six starts during his true freshman campaign, earning him Freshman All-SEC honors from the conference. As a true freshman, the El Dorado Hills, California, native caught 11 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown. His top performance came against Georgia in the SEC championship, where he caught three passes for 42 yards as Cuevas missed the game due to a lower-body injury.

Edwards is a versatile weapon who puts pressure on opposing defenses with both his size and speed. With football trending more towards pass catchers getting the spotlight at tight end, he's poised for a breakout season. He may already be a household name in Tuscaloosa, but he has a chance to become one in homes across the nation.

Danny Lewis Jr. - Redshirt Senior (6-foot-5, 255 pounds)

Lewis battled injury all season in 2025, but still managed to make six game appearances for the Crimson Tide. Lewis, a New Iberia, Louisiana, native, may not have stuffed the stat sheet last season, but he made timely plays in Alabama's one-score victory over Missouri with two receptions for 17 yards. While he may not have contributed gaudy numbers in the receiving game, Lewis's blocking ability is imperative for Alabama as a mauler on offense.

He was the projected starter alongside Cuevas last season before injury hampered his expectations. He's also shown loyalty to Alabama, testing the transfer portal waters after the 2024 season before deciding to return to Tuscaloosa.

Jay Lindsey - Redshirt Sophomore (6-foot-5, 258 pounds)

Another returning veteran in Alabama's tight end room, Jay Lindsey, appeared in all 15 games with one start for the Crimson Tide in 2025. He was named a Special Teams player of the Week by Alabama's coaching staff for his efforts against the Auburn Tigers in the Iron Bowl, with the Butler, Alabama, native a key rotational piece for the Crimson Tide both at tight end and on special teams.

The versatility of skillsets in Alabama's tight end room might not rival that of SEC powerhouse Georgia, but it is still one of the better rooms in the country with what Alabama has to offer. Lindsey's experience on special teams is vital for the Crimson Tide, and he's seemingly always in the right place at the right time.

Marshall Pritchett - Sophomore (6-foot-5, 246 pounds)

Another freshman who worked his way into a big role for Alabama early, Marshall Pritchett saw action in all 15 games for the Crimson Tide on both offense and special teams, finishing his rookie campaign with seven receptions for 57 yards. He led Alabama in receptions and was third in yards against Eastern Illinois with four catches for 33 yards. The South Carolina native is another pass catcher at tight end who allows the Tide's coaching staff to be versatile in play call options, regardless of who is on the field.

He was a highly sought-after prospect coming out of high school, with numerous Power Four teams hunting for his commitment. The Crimson Tide was the one that landed him, and his early contributions showed that Alabama made a good investment in Pritchett.

Jack Sammarco - Junior (6-foot-5, 263 pounds)

Sammarco transferred to Alabama from West Virginia, where he saw action in two games for the Crimson Tide as a sophomore. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native played in all 13 games as a freshman at West Virginia in 2023, with one reception for four yards. Sammarco is another tight end who can be used primarily as a blocker for the Tide, and while he may not have a ton of experience yet, having depth at tight end is never a hindrance for an offense.

The Newcomers

Josh Ford - Redshirt Sophomore (6-foot-6, 267 pounds)

Ford transferred to Alabama from Oklahoma State after spending two seasons with the Cowboys in Stillwater. The Stillwater native played in 16 games across four seasons for Mike Gundy at Oklahoma State, totaling 13 receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns, with three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown through four games in 2025 before redshirting and entering the transfer portal following Gundy's firing. He played in all 12 games with six starts as a true freshman in 2024.

Ford is a versatile tight end with meaningful football experience at the collegiate level, bringing in a veteran to a tight end room full of young, promising playmakers. He could play an H-back role in Alabama's offense, something that the Crimson Tide valued with Robbie Outz in 2024, but did not find a substantial replacement for in 2025 when the offense regressed in the run game and short-yardage passing situations.

Mack Sutter - Freshman (6-foot-5, 249 pounds)

Sutter enters his freshman campaign in Tuscaloosa after choosing the Crimson Tide over his home-state team, Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State, Ole Miss, and others across his 45 offers. The multi-sport athlete was a unanimous four-star prospect in Alabama's 2026 signing class, recording 505 yards and seven scores on 35 receptions for Dunlap High School as a junior, where he also played quarterback and defense. He enrolled early at Alabama to join the Crimson Tide for spring practice, and while he may not see the field as a true freshman, Sutter is versatile and will learn from key players on the roster before his time comes to shine in an Alabama uniform.

Prediction

Alabama's tight end room may be one of the least talked about on the roster, but it is quietly one of the most important. A good tight end can be a vital weapon for a new starting quarterback, which Alabama will have with either Austin Mack or Keelon Russell this season. As mentioned earlier, Alabama saw success using Robbie Outz as a blocker in both the run and pass games in 2024, but failed to find an adequate replacement for his role in 2025, contributing to the regression we saw on offense. Finding that sixth blocker will be important to Alabama, justifying the hiring of Richard Owens, who played tight end in the NFL before becoming an offensive line coach at the college level. Oklahoma State transfer Josh Ford likely leads the charge there, with Kaleb Edwards as the primary receiving option in the room as a sophomore. It's a young room, but I expect Edwards to be Alabama's top redzone threat this season with his 6-foot-6, 268-pound frame. As important as the offensive line is, Alabama's tight end room will be just as crucial in the pass game, and the addition of Ford should provide an extra blocker for the Tide in the run game.

Read Our Other Breakdowns Here:

Alabama Quarterbacks

Alabama Running Backs

Alabama Wide Receivers

Alabama Offensive Line

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.