Why transfer tight end is bringing juice to Alabama football’s rushing attack

Alabama football is expected to lean on its tight ends as extra run blockers during the upcoming college football season.

The Crimson Tide is coming off a season where it left a lot to be desired out of its rushing attack. Alabama is looking to bounce back from the subpar performance on the ground with a more effective run game this fall. The tight end position is expected to play a key role in the Tide’s success on the ground, and Josh Ford is fully embracing this role.

“We haven’t played one down of football yet this year, but I can tell you that his mindset and what he’s done,” Alabama football’s head coach Kalen DeBoer said on “The Martin Houston Show. “He’s come in, and he’s one guy that has helped just with the energy in the run game. He’s just getting after guys, and I know some guys don’t want to hear that he’s been putting guys on his back… So, then we got the argument the other way. He did that in spring ball, and it becomes contagious, and that’s what you got to have.”

Ford transferred to Alabama from Oklahoma State after 16 total games across two seasons for the Cowboys. He stated multiple games during his time in Stillwater.

DeBoer feels the tight end position is designed to play a critical role in the Tide’s offensive scheme.

“Tight end has been such a critical position to our offense for so many years,” said DeBoer. “We had two to three of them out there, and you can shift, and you can motion, and you can extend edges, and you can protect and just make pass rushers have to go a little further. There’s so much you can do schematically just by alignment but also chips in the run game. You give yourself an extra gap.”