In an offseason filled with change, Alabama football’s tight ends saw more shake-ups than most other position groups. When Nick Saban retired and Kalen DeBoer was hired, the new head coach brought Nick Sheridan with him from Washington to lead the tight end, just as he’d done in Seattle.

Then, offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb quickly left for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks. Sheridan got promoted to that job, and the tight ends got another leader, former Georgia Southern OC Bryan Ellis.

Now, things have finally settled down, and the Crimson Tide is moving though preseason camp ahead of its Aug. 31 season-opener against Western Kentucky. According to senior CJ Dippre, things are going as well as they could be so far.

“The goal for fall camp is obviously just the team (to) gel,” Dippre said. “We all want to come together, show the brotherhood. We always have to clean some stuff up, we can always get better at stuff, but just stick to the goal. Worry about what we have to worry about and get ready for week one.”

Alabama has numbers at tight end this season, six on scholarship, with Dippre likely leading the way. DeBoer uses both one and two tight end sets in his offense, and both he and Ellis said the position will likely be utilized more than it was in 2023 with the Tide.

The new position coach said there was no shortage of excitement in his room.

“They feel like they’re gonna be a little more involved,” Ellis said. “Get to do some things in the run game, in the pass game that I think, when you play tight end, those are the reasons why you decide where you want to go play. And I think we got some damn good players to go execute those things.”

Dippre transferred to Alabama from Maryland before last season. He started 11 games for the Crimson Tide, reeling in 11 catches for 187 yards.

For 2024, Ellis said he was working with the 6-foot-5, 262-pound Pennsylvania native on finding more success in the passing game, especially on becoming more of a threat after catching the ball.

“He embodies what we want to be,” Ellis said. “He works his butt off. He’s a great person. HE’s a great kid first and foremost, and then he’s a really good football player.”

Alabama also has Robbie Ouzts returning. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound senior started seven games for the Tide last season, catching three passes for 33 yards and a touchdown.

According to Ellis, Ouzts is an underrated passing threat.

“Robbie’s so steady,” Ellis said. “He’s another one, he’s strong. Probably the biggest, the heaviest tight end I’ve ever been. But he’s so athletic and so instinctual too.Ty Lockwood also returns to the tight ends group. Alabama brought in Washington transfer Josh Cuevas and true freshman Jay Lindsey.

But it’s another returnee who has caught the eyes of his coaches early in camp. According to Ellis, redshirt sophomore Danny Lewis Jr. has made the biggest jump from spring to camp.

“He brings another big body guy that can put his hand in the ground and do a lot of things,” Ellis said.

Lewis started one game last season, playing in all 14. The 6-foot-5, 257-pounder came to Alabama as a three-star prospect in 2022.

“He’s a weapon in the run game,” Ellis said. “He’s strong, he’s physical, you know he’s 260 pounds so he does a good job, and then he’s got great hands and he can run. So from the time I got here until now, I’ve been really impressed with the way he’s worked and the way he’s progressed.”

Alabama holds its first preseason camp scrimmage at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. It’s the Crimson Tide’s Fan Day event, which is open to the public, allowing an early look at the new offense.