“It’s moving forward”: CJ Dippre anticipates a shift at tight end for Alabama football.

“It’s Moving Forward”: CJ Dippre Anticipates a Shift at Tight End for Alabama Football

As Alabama football gears up for the 2025 season, there’s a sense of anticipation surrounding the tight end position, and one player in particular, CJ Dippre, is ready to take the spotlight. Dippre, a transfer from the University of Maryland, is poised to be a key contributor in the upcoming season, and he’s already expressing excitement about the potential shifts at the tight end position for Alabama. With a rich history of elite tight ends—ranging from O.J. Howard to Irv Smith Jr. and more—Alabama’s tight end role has always been crucial to its offensive success. As the program evolves under head coach Nick Saban, Dippre believes that the tight end position is on the verge of a transformation, one that could have a significant impact on Alabama’s offensive scheme moving forward.

In this article, we’ll explore what CJ Dippre sees as the upcoming shift at tight end for Alabama football, his role in that transformation, and how his skill set fits into the broader changes expected for the team. We’ll also dive into the implications of this shift for Alabama’s offensive strategy, the potential growth of the tight end role, and what it means for the Crimson Tide as they prepare for another championship run.

CJ Dippre: A Key Addition to Alabama’s Tight End Room

Before we delve into the anticipated shift in the tight end position, it’s important to understand who CJ Dippre is and why he has the potential to make such an impact at Alabama. Dippre’s journey to Tuscaloosa has been an interesting one. After spending two seasons at the University of Maryland, where he emerged as a promising tight end with solid blocking and receiving skills, Dippre entered the transfer portal. His combination of size, athleticism, and football IQ made him a highly coveted target for several top programs, and ultimately, Alabama won out in recruiting him.

Standing at 6’5” and weighing 260 pounds, Dippre has the frame of a traditional tight end but possesses the agility and speed that make him a threat as a pass-catcher. Over his two seasons at Maryland, Dippre recorded solid statistics as both a blocker and a receiver, showcasing his ability to contribute in multiple facets of the game. As a tight end, his ability to run crisp routes, make contested catches, and act as a reliable safety valve for quarterbacks caught the attention of Alabama’s coaching staff.

Dippre’s versatility—being able to contribute both as a blocker and as a receiver—fits perfectly into Alabama’s offensive philosophy, which frequently employs tight ends in a variety of roles. In the Nick Saban era, Alabama has often relied on the tight end as both an outlet for the passing game and an integral part of its run-blocking scheme. With his skill set, Dippre is well-suited to fill these roles, and his arrival brings an extra layer of depth and excitement to an already talented tight end room.

The Tight End Position Under Nick Saban: A Look Back

To understand the shift that Dippre anticipates, it’s important to look at the role of the tight end in Alabama football’s history. Under Nick Saban, Alabama has produced a number of standout tight ends who have made significant contributions to the team’s success. From O.J. Howard, who became a first-round NFL draft pick and was pivotal in Alabama’s 2015 national championship victory, to Irv Smith Jr., who continued the tradition of dynamic tight ends, the position has evolved significantly in the Saban era.

For years, Alabama tight ends have been used primarily as blocking assets in the running game, with a secondary role in the passing game. Under Saban, the program has always valued a strong running attack, and the tight end has often been deployed as a sixth lineman to help open holes for running backs. However, as the game of college football has evolved, so too has the use of the tight end.

In recent seasons, Alabama has increasingly incorporated the tight end into the passing game, and this shift has been notable. With the rise of high-powered offenses that rely on spreading the field and utilizing mismatches, tight ends have become more involved in the passing game. Alabama, with its plethora of talented receivers and quarterbacks, has found creative ways to utilize tight ends as downfield threats, and this trend is only expected to continue in the future.

CJ Dippre’s Anticipated Shift at Tight End

CJ Dippre is already anticipating a shift in the way Alabama uses its tight ends. While he is excited to contribute as both a blocker and a receiver, Dippre believes that the tight end position at Alabama is evolving into a more dynamic, versatile role. He’s spoken about the importance of being able to stretch the field and create mismatches against defenders who may struggle to cover a tight end with his size and athleticism.

In many ways, Dippre sees the shift at tight end as an opportunity for Alabama to utilize the position more effectively within the context of modern offensive schemes. With the rise of dual-threat quarterbacks, spread offenses, and high-tempo systems across college football, the tight end has become a critical component of mismatches. Teams are more focused than ever on creating situations where a tight end can exploit a defender, whether it’s through speed, size, or route-running ability.

For Dippre, this shift means embracing the role of a playmaker—one who can not only block in the run game but also create significant mismatches in the passing game. Alabama’s offensive philosophy has always been one of balance, but with the growth of the passing game and the increasing importance of the tight end, there’s a real opportunity to further integrate the position as a dynamic weapon. With a tight end like Dippre who has the ability to both block and catch passes, the Crimson Tide could pose an even more potent offensive threat in 2025.

The Changing Role of the Tight End in Modern Football

As college football continues to evolve, the role of the tight end has shifted from being a secondary player to one of central importance in many offenses. Traditionally, tight ends were seen as an afterthought in the passing game, serving primarily as blockers who helped open up lanes for the running back. However, as offenses have become more pass-heavy and reliant on creating mismatches, the tight end’s role has transformed.

In the modern college football landscape, tight ends are often used in a variety of ways: as blockers, pass-catchers, and even sometimes as “big” wide receivers. Teams are increasingly finding ways to get tight ends involved in the passing game, utilizing their size and ability to exploit mismatches against smaller defensive backs. The growing emphasis on versatility has changed how coaches approach the tight end position.

Alabama, under the direction of offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, has embraced this trend. Rees, known for his ability to develop quarterbacks and innovate offensively, is likely to continue utilizing the tight end position in creative ways. This means more formations where tight ends are split out wide, running routes designed to attack defenses vertically or horizontally. Tight ends are also frequently used as “deterrents” to create mismatches, either as safety valves for quarterbacks or blockers who can impact the line of scrimmage on outside runs or play-action passes.

For a player like Dippre, this transformation is both an opportunity and a challenge. He sees himself as someone who can contribute both as a blocker and a receiver, giving Alabama the flexibility to use him in multiple ways. Dippre’s ability to line up in a variety of positions—whether as a traditional tight end, in the slot, or even out wide—allows the Alabama offense to maintain its unpredictability and adaptability against opposing defenses.

The Impact of Dippre’s Skill Set on Alabama’s Offense

Dippre’s skill set is exactly what Alabama’s offense needs as it continues to move toward a more modern, dynamic approach. His ability to block effectively, combined with his proficiency as a route runner and pass catcher, makes him a perfect fit for the role of a “move” tight end. These players are versatile and can line up in a variety of positions, providing an extra layer of unpredictability to the offense.

In terms of blocking, Dippre brings a strong, physical presence to the tight end position. This is crucial in the Alabama offensive scheme, where maintaining a solid running game is paramount. Having a tight end who can consistently contribute as a blocker will help open up running lanes for Alabama’s talented backs and create balance in the offense.

On the other side of the ball, Dippre’s ability to stretch the field as a receiver will help to create mismatches against smaller defenders. His size and athleticism make him a potential matchup nightmare for linebackers and defensive backs alike. With his ability to run routes effectively and catch passes in traffic, Dippre gives Alabama’s offense an additional weapon that defenses will have to account for on every play.

Alabama’s offense, particularly under the guidance of quarterback Jalen Milroe, will benefit from having a versatile, capable tight end like Dippre. Milroe, known for his arm strength and ability to make plays both in and out of the pocket, will have another reliable target to connect with in key situations. Whether it’s on third down, in the red zone, or in critical moments of a game, Dippre’s presence could make all the difference.