Cam Latu praises Robbie Ouzts for stepping up during his absence

No. 2 Alabama survived a scare on the road at No. 21 Texas last weekend, narrowly getting out with a 20-19 victory thanks to a late-game drive powered by quarterback Bryce Young‘s Houdini act with the game on the line. But there were some unsung heroes in the win, too, and perhaps even in the first two weeks of the season for the Crimson Tide.

Like sophomore tight end Robbie Ouzts, who helped fill in for injured star tight end Cam Latu in Week 1.

“Robbie, I would say, has came a long way. I love Robbie,” Latu said this week. “Just know he’s come a long way.”

The sophomore from Rock Hill, S.C., played in 11 games a season ago before suffering a lower-body injury. In a year and change now for the Crimson Tide he has recorded only one catch for eight yards, but coach Nick Saban will be the first to tell you there are ways to contribute without showing up in the box score.

Latu, who missed the season opener with a knee injury but returned last week against Texas, praised the 6-foot-4, 258-pound sophomore for doing just that.

Cam Latu returns, praises Robbie Ouzts work in his absence

Latu is clearly the star at the tight end position for the Crimson Tide, having set Alabama’s single-season record for tight ends last year with eight touchdown receptions. He finished tied for seventh in the SEC for touchdown receptions in 2021 while compiling 26 catches for 410 yards and those eight scores.

And like a true Saban veteran, he was quick to praise the younger Ouzts for chipping in despite not having the ball come his way.

“I was very proud of all the tight ends that got in versus Utah State, even Robbie when he got in versus Texas,” Latu said. “I think they’re doing the development part, it’s very, very good. As in like they’re very young, so they don’t even have me out there during fall camp as an older guy to look up to, so they’re doing it all off the muscle. I’m very proud of them, and the way they’re coming along is great.”

With Alabama’s offensive line struggling to pass protect so far in 2022, the tight ends may continue to be relied on a bit more heavily as blockers.

Ouzts has proven he’s the type that can be relied on to contribute without necessarily piling up catches and touchdowns. There’s definite value in that for the Crimson Tide, as Latu was quick to point out.