If one was to poll the Alabama football fan base on which tight end it expects to have a monster season in the fall, the majority of votes would swing to Irv Smith, Jr. As he enters his third season from New Orleans (La.), Smith recorded 14 catches in 2017 for 124 receiving yards with three touchdowns.
The 6-foot-4, 241-pounder has a physic that resembles former Tide star O.J. Howard. While Hale Hentges is on preseason watch for the John Mackey Award and the duo of Kedrick James and Major Tennison continues to grow, there is one other player on the roster that anticipates the opportunity to produce upon his return from a season-ending injury.