Former NFL Pro Turns Tide Tight Ends into Blocking Beasts
Alabama promoted Bryan Ellis to quarterbacks coach and filled the vacated tight ends coach role with ex-NFL veteran Richard Owens. Owens brings six seasons of pro experience with the Vikings, Rams and Jets and over 15 years of college coaching. On the practice field, he’s drilling Alabama’s tight ends—redshirt senior Danny Lewis Jr., sophomores Jay Lindsey, Jack Sammarco, Kaleb Edwards and others—on run-blocking technique, footwork and play recognition. Edwards, who caught 11 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown as a true freshman, praises Owens’s detailed critiques and compares the new teachings to a crash course in blocking excellence. The former quarterback-minded coach Ellis laid the groundwork, but Owens is the trenches guru, sharpening Alabama’s run game ahead of the 2026 season.
Move over yoga instructors, Alabama’s tight ends just got a new guru—and he’s not teaching downward dog. Richard Owens is here to ensure every defender fears being pancake-flattened by a guy who could’ve been your Uncle Bob in a schoolyard tackle contest. Who knew that blocking was actually a science that required more than grunt and coffee? Apparently, it does, because Alabama’s office of offense just hired a professor from the NFL Brick-Smash Academy to turn teen tight ends into road graders. If your idea of technique is “push ’em really hard,” Owens is about to ruin your fun with drills and footwork cues. Next up: compulsory lab reports on sprint angles and perfectly executed chainsaw blocks.
Crimson Tide Softball Rides Ranking Rollercoaster to Top 10
Alabama softball swept an SEC road series at Missouri for its third straight series win, finishing 29-2 (7-2 SEC) and holding onto a top-10 national ranking. The Crimson Tide fell 3-4 on Saturday but rebounded Sunday with a 4-3 victory, preserving their No. 7 USA Softball ranking and No. 6 spot in NFCA, Softball America and D1Softball polls. With top-ranked Texas taking over after Tennessee’s slip-ups, Alabama prepares to host the Longhorns April 2 at Rhoads Stadium. This week also features a home doubleheader against Jacksonville State and North Alabama, as the Tide seeks to maintain momentum before heading back into conference play.
Nothing says “we’re good” like losing a game only to discover you’re still a national treasure. Alabama softball is the tragic hero of this sitcom, dropping a game for the tears and applause, then waltzing back to the top-10 ballrooms as if nothing happened. Fans are updating their resumes just to keep pace with the Tide’s resume, and Missouri Tigers are left scrambling for tissues. Upcoming episodes include “How to Host Texas Without Spilling Your Tea” and “Minor Opponents: How to Pretend You Care.” Tune in this Wednesday for delightful game coverage and possibly emotional support animals.
Tight End’s High School Bond With QB Sparks SEC Chemistry
Tight end Kaleb Edwards reminisces about his youth in California, where he faced quarterback Austin Mack on the basketball court and football field. Edwards played JV basketball against Mack as a freshman; the two attended rival high schools 16 minutes apart in the Sac-Joaquin Section. Now both are contenders in Alabama’s 2026 quarterback battle, fostering instant chemistry. Edwards, who earned All-SEC Freshman honors and stepped up when Josh Cuevas was injured, credits the old friendship for their seamless on-field rapport. He models his game after George Kittle and values the trust built over years of guarding Mack’s 6-foot-6 frame.
Ah, nothing ignites campus gossip like childhood frenemies who meet again—this time armed with pads and playbooks. Forget Romeo and Juliet; this is “Love in the End Zone.” Kaleb and Austin’s epic saga spans JV basketball bravado to SEC showdowns, proving that if you can guard someone in high school, you can surely throw them dimes in college. Who needs romantic subplots when you have gridiron bromance? Expect dramatic flashbacks to that JV game, stirring locker-room ballads and perhaps a slow-motion montage of high-fives.
Veteran Cornerback Moonlights as Freshman Whisperer
Junior cornerback Zabien Brown, a former five-star recruit, has embraced a leadership role guiding Alabama’s Class of 2026 enrollees. Roommates Jireh Edwards and Jorden Edmonds, two top defensive back recruits, have impressed Brown with their early-morning workouts, quick adaptation to college strength programs and disciplined time management. Brown mentors them on balancing practices, classes and life, while also learning fresh techniques from their youthful energy. The veteran sees mutual growth in this exchange, fostering a competitive yet collaborative cornerback room as the Tide gears up for the 2026 season.
Behold the campus hero you never knew you needed: Zabien Brown, part-time cornerback, part-time dorm-life guru. Who says NFL dreams don’t come with roommate duties? Brown’s handing out life hacks like “Don’t Netflix all night” and “Make your bed before tackling someone.” It’s like finding out your star athlete also bakes cookies and replaces your lightbulbs. Meanwhile, Jireh and Jorden are so polished they might need a snooze button for their own alarm clocks. Alabama’s defensive back room has become a cozy mix of mentorship and existential dread about 8 a.m. workouts.
Five-Star Freshman Corner Emerges as Alabama’s Secret Weapon
Freshman cornerback Dijon Lee Jr., a former five-star recruit, started the final five regular-season games in 2025, racking up 34 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and five pass breakups. He held opponents to a 41.7 percent catch rate before the SEC Championship. Teammates and coaches, including Zabien Brown, DC Kane Wommack and coach Kalen DeBoer, praise his rapid development and on-field efficiency. Lee’s highlight came with a game-sealing interception at Missouri. Modeling his style after Jalen Ramsey and Sauce Gardner, he’s locked into a starting spot opposite Brown for the upcoming season and is a finalist for the Shaun Alexander Award.
Meet the kid who makes grown men nervous about their man-to-man coverage: Dijon Lee Jr., football’s version of a multitool. He’s the freshman phenom who picked off passes like he’s browsing social media, and coaches are practically pitching tent on his potential. Apparently, “starting to produce a lot more” means signing autographs on helmets and crying at night over opponents’ trembling QBs. Next step: Lee’s autograph on the back of the Heisman trophy, or at least the office coffee mug.
Leave a Reply