Alabama’s fall camp practice is officially underway but it will be without its starting tight end for the foreseeable future.
Head coach Nick Saban shared during his press conference on Thursday that senior Cameron Latu will miss some time and the Crimson Tide will need to lean on the depth behind him for the coming sessions.
“Cam is going to miss some time in camp,” Saban said. “I don’t know exactly know how long. Which is an opportunity, I think we have a couple of freshmen, young guys that have an opportunity to develop. So it’ll give them a lot of reps and a lot of opportunity in camp so that’s a position that we definitely need to develop some depth and that’ll give us a good opportunity to do that.”
When Saban was asked to get into specifics on what is holding out Latu he decided to keep things tight-lipped.
Latu appeared in all 15 games in 2021 for the Crimson Tide where he recorded 26 receptions for 410 yards and eight touchdowns. He was Alabama’s leading receiver returning to the team after the offense saw wide receivers Jameson Williams, John Metchie and Slade Bolden all depart to the NFL.
Although Latu won’t be on the practice field, Alabama will see the return of a few key contributors who were held out of spring football.
Saban shared that the team’s primary starting center from last season Darrian Dalcourt, along with emerging sophomore wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks would be returning to practice.
“Darrian and Ja’Corey are back,” Saban said. “So that’s not an issue.”
Dalcourt appeared in 11 games for Alabama last season at center but was sidelined down the stretch of the season as he battled a sprained ankle. Brooks saw action in all 15 games a year ago where he amassed 15 receptions for 192 yards and two touchdowns.
**This story will be updated.**
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
