Amari Niblack's confidence showing up in production on the field
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Prior to the start of the 2023 season, Alabama head coach Nick Saban believed tight end Amari Niblack could be a “mismatch player” for the Crimson Tide offense.
Through the first five games of the season, Niblack has been exactly that for Alabama.
“He’s doing great,” said Saban after Wednesday’s practice. “He’s a really good receiver. He’s improved as a blocker this year. His confidence and knowledge of the offense and what he’s doing, how to do it, why it’s important to do it that way is so much better, and I think it’s starting to show up in how productive he is on the field as a player.”
Niblack was quarterback Jalen Milroe’s favorite target during the Tide’s Week 5 road win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs. The second-year tight end caught three passes (on 4 targets) and turned them into 61 receiving yards. Niblack led the Alabama offense in catches, targets and receiving yards, all of which were career-highs for the sophomore.
He almost came down a highlight touchdown grab, too, on a throw to the end zone by Milroe, but the play was ruled incomplete. Through five games, Niblack is now up to 158 yards and two touchdowns on eight receptions this year (19.75 ypc) and is among one of Alabama’s top pass catchers. He is tied for the team lead in receiving scores, is tied for second in receptions and is third in receiving yards behind Jermaine Burton and Isaiah Bond.
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Niblack is developing confidence, and his quarterback certainly has that in his young tight end, not only because of his play on the field but the work he puts in in advance of game day.
“Amari has great talent,” Milroe said Monday. “He’s a tight end, but he has receiver makeup as far as how he runs routes, as far as how he operates on the field. And he’s a big element to our offense. He plays hard. He’s a big target for us.
“And then also, what people miss is how hard he works. During the week, he prepares very hard, practices very hard and he pays attention to detail very much. A lot of things that factor into Saturday come through his preparation through the offseason and now.”
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