New Alabama Tight End has Been a Tone Setter Before Playing a Snap for the Tide

Alabama's first transfer portal commitment of the 2026 portal window is already making an impact, according to head coach Kalen DeBoer. Tight end Josh Ford transferred to Alabama after spending his first two seasons of college football at Oklahoma State, entering the portal after Mike Gundy's firing four games into the 2025 season. The 6-foot-6, 267-pound tight end is making his presence felt before ever taking a snap in an Alabama jersey.

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"We haven't played one down football yet this year," DeBoer told the Martin Houston Show. "But I can tell you that his mindset, what he's done, he's come in and he's one guy that has helped just with the energy and us in the run game. Just getting after guys.

"And I know some guys don't want me to hear that he's been putting guys on his back, because that's their own team that he's putting on the back, so then you got the argument the other way. But he did that in spring ball, and it becomes contagious, and that's what you got to have."

Josh Cuevas was a key cog in Alabama's offense last season, but is now off to Baltimore after the Ravens drafted him in April. Sophomore Kaleb Edwards, who started six games in 2025, is back for his second season in Tuscaloosa, with sophomore Marshall Pritchett, who appeared in all 15 games last season, also returning. Alabama also brought back redshirt senior Danny Lewis Jr., redshirt sophomore Jay Lindsey, redshirt sophomore Jack Sammarco, and added freshman Mack Sutter.

Ford brings a physical presence to the Tide's tight end room, which Alabama hopes will replicate what Robbie Outz brought as a blocker during the 2024 season. Outz's blocking ability was sorely missed last season, as Alabama struggled to replicate the success he had as a blocker.

"Our other tight ends, they were young last year, other than Josh Cuevas," DeBoer said. "They all are bigger. They look different. They just operate differently when it comes to confidence. That's exciting to see. It will be a big challenge for them to take a huge step, not just the next step, but a huge step to help us have the ability to catch the ball, of course. But they need to be physical. They need to be an extension of that offensive line and help us be better in all ways."

Alabama hired Louisville offensive line coach Richard Owens to coach the Tide's tight ends this season, while adding former Louisville offensive line assistant Noah Fisher to help Owens with coaching the tight ends.

You can listen to Martin Houston's full interview with Coach Kalen DeBoer here.

Wyatt Fulton is the Tide 100.9 DME and Brand Manager, primarily covering Alabama Crimson Tide football and men's basketball. For more Crimson Tide coverage, follow Wyatt on X (Formerly known as Twitter) at @FultonW_.