As we prepare for the start of Alabama’s 2022 season, the staff for Touchdown Alabama Magazine will be previewing position groups in preseason camp.
The Crimson Tide returns veterans, young players, and depth at every position.
Alabama’s focus is to return to the College Football Playoff and win a national championship. Coach Nick Saban is pursuing the eighth national title of his career and seventh for the Tide. He wants to see excellence on both sides of the ball, and the season begins on Saturday, Sept. 3.
After looking at running backs, we now preview Alabama’s tight end room.
Alabama’s Tight End Room
-Returners: Cameron Latu (Senior), Robbie Ouzts (Sophomore)
-Newcomers: Miles Kitselman (transfer), Elijah Brown (freshman), Amari Niblack (freshman), Danny Lewis Jr. (freshman)
-Expected starter: Cameron Latu
Summary:
Alabama has an interesting tight end room heading into this season.
Cameron Latu, a former outside linebacker, started at the position in 2021.
He impressed Crimson Tide fans in spring practice and became a reliable target for quarterback Bryce Young. Latu finished his junior campaign with 26 catches for 410 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. If not for a few dropped passes, he would have had double-digit scores. The 6-foot-5, 244-pounder returns as someone who does it all for the Tide at tight end.
He can block, catch passes, run routes, and pass protect. Latu has missed some time in fall camp because of a minor knee injury, but he will be ready for Alabama’s season opener against Utah State. Young will target Latu a lot as the redshirt senior is trying to increase his NFL Draft value. Robbie Ouzts, a sophomore from South Carolina, is the next experienced player for the Tide.
He arrived as a three-star in the 2021 class and became impactful as a fullback. Ouzts thrived in his goalline role, blocking for several of Brian Robinson’s touchdown runs. He excelled in 11 games last year until a foot injury sidelined him. Ouzts has worked on his hands (catching passes) and routes. The 6-foot-4, 258-pounder can make a difference at the position, but he is more of an old-school blocking tight end. Alabama has four new faces at tight end, including a transfer from a marquee junior college.
Miles Kitselman comes over from Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College. As a Kansas native, he spent one season at Hutchinson and played in three games. Kitselman, like Ouzts, is an elite blocker who is working on becoming a proficient receiving option. He will factor into Alabama’s rushing attacking and pass blocking because of his strength up front.
A second receiving tight end may emerge between Amari Niblack and Danny Lewis Jr.
Niblack comes in from Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Fla. He possesses a body structure that is similar to former Florida standout Kyle Pitts. Niblack also wears No. 84, the number Pitts wore for the Gators. Alabama can split Niblack out as a receiver or use him as an inline target. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder is faster than linebackers and bigger than defensive backs.
Lewis arrived as a three-star from Westgate High School in Louisiana. He, like Niblack, is a hybrid tight end that could split outside as a receiver. Lewis, who stands at 6-foot-5 and weighs 255 pounds, is bigger than Niblack, but he carries the athleticism to be a playmaker.
Joe Cox is in his first season coaching tight ends for Alabama. A former Georgia quarterback, he has the responsibility of grooming a second athletic pass catcher after Cameron Latu. Coach Nick Saban highlighted Cox as one of the brightest young coaches he’s has been around. Tide fans are looking forward to seeing what he does with this tight end room.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
