'It's moving forward': CJ Dippre predicts a change for Alabama football at tight end

Yahoo

30-01-2025

MOBILE, Ala. — CJ Dippre knew the kind of tight end Alabama football expected him to be.
The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Maryland transfer was expected to 'do it all,' he said: to run and pass block in what he called a two-tight end 'big-duo scheme' next to first-round offensive tackles, to be a target in the passing game.
Dippre needed to know everything.
'You got to be close to the linemen, close to the receivers, close to the running backs,' Dippre said. 'I mean, it's kind of the next thing down from the quarterback. A quarterback has to know where the ball has to go and stuff like that. But the tight end has to know all the run plays, all the pass plays, run block, pass block, perimeter block, run routes, obviously.'
Alabama's version of the tight end position is what makes Dippre an NFL prospect, which he's attempting to showcase at the 2025 Senior Bowl in Mobile ahead of April's NFL draft.
Tight end is a volatile position, Dippre says, one that is in constant change, one that is in consistent demand at the next level.
'It's moving forward,' Dippre said. 'You see all these NFL teams using tight ends in quarterback sneaks, using more than one tight end now a lot in more than just a couple of games. The position is evolving at the right time.'
It's not only evolving in the NFL. Dippre expects the tight end position to change drastically at Alabama in 2025.
In 2023 and 2024, it was a block-first group, one headlined by Dippre and Robbie Ouzts, where he said he was lining up next to tackles like JC Latham, and 'holding my own' against top SEC defensive ends.
After recording a career-high 30 catches for 314 yards at Maryland in 2022, Dippre combined for 32 catches for 443 yards in two seasons with the Crimson Tide. He did not score another touchdown.
But with both him and Ouzts gone, Dippre said the job description of the Alabama tight end may be changing.
'I think they are going to move to more of a pass offense, more of a spread offense,' Dippre said.
Josh Cuevas, a Washington and Cal Poly transfer, has experience as a pass-catcher, recording 58 receptions for 678 yards and six touchdowns for the Mustangs in 2022. Danny Lewis Jr., the 6-5, 257-pound incoming redshirt junior, played tight end, H-back and wide receiver in high school.
What was once primarily a sixth blocker on the offensive line could turn into a safety net for Ty Simpson, Austin Mack or Keelon Russell in the Crimson Tide passing game.
But, just like Dippre, Alabama tight ends have to be willing to do anything, willing to do what they are asked.
'You got to be willing to do it all,' Dippre said.
Colin Gay covers Alabama football for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [e-mail] or follow him @_ColinGay on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: CJ Dippre predicts a change for Alabama football at tight end