After missing the majority of fall camp practices Alabama tight end Cameron Latu will be getting back into the mix this week at practice.
Head coach Nick Saban offered the update on the redshirt senior during his Monday press conference, mapping out the plan the team has to reintegrate Latu.
“Cam’s gonna start practicing today,” Saban said. “See how he progresses. See how he does. I don’t think anybody can make a prediction about that right now. He was on the treadmill and all that stuff last week. Never had an issue and never had a problem. So the next thing he does is start dry land working, doing individual, seeing what he can do in practice and, you know, it’s kind of day-to-day with him.”
Latu was the Crimson Tide’s primary starter at tight end a season ago appearing in all 15 games in 2021. During the season Latu caught 26 passes for 410 yards and eight touchdowns and was Alabama’s leading returning receiver based off his production.
Sophomore Robbie Ouzts and JUCO transfer Miles Kitselman have filled in for Latu throughout fall camp. Both are listed as the first and second tight ends on the depth chart leading into the game against the Aggies, and Saban has been enthused with their progression with the amount of playing time the group has had in Latu’s absence.
“I think the good news is because we have three young players at that position they have gotten a ton of reps and made significant progress because of the ton of reps they’ve got in his absence,” Saban said. “So, you know, Robbie Ouzts has done a really good job at the position. But all three young guys have made significant progress and they’ll probably have some role in this game.”
To go along with Ouzts and Kitselman, Alabama’s three young tight ends working through fall camp were Amari Niblack, Elijah Young and Danny Lewis who Saban believed benefitted from the extended reps.
Alabama kicks off against Utah State this Saturday, Sept. 3 at 6:39 p.m. CT inside Bryant-Denny Stadium with the SEC Network on the call.
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Patrick Dowd is a Reporter for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can follow him on Twitter, via Pat_Dowd77
