After Alabama’s first fall scrimmage, Kalen DeBoer kept his message clear. “They’re really consistent,” he said of his tight ends. Now, the Tide may be 1–1, highlighted by a 73–0 rout of Louisiana-Monroe, but consistency will be tested again. Here on Wednesday, DeBoer confirmed his veteran TE will remain out for Saturday’s showdown with Wisconsin. Surely, it’s another setback, but also a chance. Yes, a freshman now steps into the role. What feels like misfortune might just turn into the Tide’s hidden blessing. But is the injury as serious as it sounds?

Veteran TE Danny Lewis’ injury remains a mystery. Although Alabama hasn’t revealed the severity, Nick Kelly of AL.com reports Lewis’ earliest return won’t come until SEC play. Now, the Tides have a bye before opening the conference slate at Georgia, and that leaves hope that he could be back by then. Still, the setback feels serious. And with Lewis sidelined, opportunity knocks. Following that, freshman TE Kaleb Edwards now gets his moment in Week 3.

On September 12, Touchdown Alabama spotlighted Coach DeBoer’s call on his young tight end. Well, true freshman Edwards will keep seeing snaps, and so far, he’s making the most of it. The former four-star didn’t waste any time, catching his first career pass against Louisiana-Monroe. And it went for six. In the second quarter, Austin Mack found the 6-foot-6, 264-pounder in the back of the end zone. Now, with veteran Danny Lewis sidelined again, Edwards’ role has grown quickly. And instead of waiting his turn, the freshman is stepping right into the spotlight. And Alabama has every reason to put its faith in him.

Edwards arrived at Alabama as the full package. At Oak Ridge High School, he lined up both on the line and split out wide, showing versatility early. And his first step was explosive, firing out of his stance with power. And DeBoer sees it too. “Kaleb is a big target, does a nice job, very savvy, instinctual,” said the head coach. “Got some of the dual-sport in him, feels comfortable out in space.” Now, pair that with polished routes, and it’s clear why he was ranked among the top tight ends in the 2025 class. So, there’s every reason to trust that he can handle the moment. But that wasn’t always the case.

Edwards wasn’t supposed to be a headline name in 2025. With Danny Lewis and Josh Cuevas tabbed as Alabama’s go-to tight end duo, his role looked limited. Still, the freshman flashed signs of a bright future. Now the script has flipped. Lewis’ injury has cleared the way, and Edwards steps into the spotlight. So, he’s no longer just a depth piece; he’s a player to watch all season long. And it’s not just now; Edwards’ potential has been on display since his commitment to Alabama.

What Alabama gains from its freshman tight end

A month ago, the buzz around Alabama’s TE room was already shifting. Freshman Kaleb Edwards quickly became the name insiders couldn’t stop talking about. “He’s a big target, savvy and instinctual,” said Kalen DeBoer during camp. On top of that, recruiting experts like Andrew Ivins and Tom Loy echoed the same, and Bama247’s Brett Greenberg backed it up. Although the 6-foot-6 didn’t even arrive until May, his size, blocking ability, and soft hands made him impossible to ignore. Most importantly, back then, Alabama’s tight end depth was razor-thin.

Injuries left only Jay Lindsey healthy through spring ball, and DeBoer had to hit the portal to add West Virginia’s Jack Sammarco and Troy’s Brody Dalton. Veterans Cuevas and Lewis Jr. were projected starters, but both battled injuries in fall camp, which opened the door for newcomers. Edwards, along with fellow freshman Marshall Pritchett, seized that chance. And now, Edwards, in particular, separated himself. So, the takeaway was clear even then:

Edwards is built for the SEC grind. For DeBoer, that’s exactly what his first recruiting class was supposed to bring, early dividends. Right now, a month later, with Lewis still sidelined, Edwards’ commitment looks like one of Alabama’s most timely wins.