Amari Niblack, a transfer TE from Alabama, commits to Texas
Rising junior tight end Amari Niblack, who committed via Instagram on Thursday night while visiting the Forty Acres, is another talented former member of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team that the Texas Longhorns have added to their raid of Tuscaloosa.
With Ja’Tavion Sanders filing for the NFL Draft, Texas needed to add a playmaking tight end, and in the 6’4 and 233-pound pass catcher, they found what they were looking for. Niblack, a former top-100 prospect out of Lakewood (Fla.) High School and the top tight end in the transfer portal, adds more versatility to Steve Sarkisian’s offense, which flourished in 2023 due to the mismatch the tight end created.
Gunnar Helm is expected to play a crucial, if distinct, role at the tight end position, with Niblack most likely taking over as the team’s top tight end.
Niblack has moved from Tuscaloosa to Austin, joining former teammates Isaiah Bond and Kendrick Blackshire, as the Longhorns continue to capitalize on Nick Saban’s unexpected retirement. In general, Texas has prioritized quality over quantity this offseason when it comes to transfers; four of their seven new additions are ranked in the top 25 of 247 Transfer Ratings, with Niblack and Bond standing in for the best players at their respective positions.
Fans from Texas should recognize the name Amari Niblack. If you are having trouble remembering the name and his significance, let me help you with that.
I was wondering who the hell that guy was, how he got that open, and how he was able to seemingly cut through Texas’ secondary in that particular situation when I was watching that play live. At the time, I knew very little about Niblack’s style of play, but that touchdown catch and run put me on notice. I never thought that my observations from that game would be applicable in this situation, but it has. participated in 14 Alabama games in 2023 and recorded
yards (16.35 yards per play) and four scores. With those few numbers, one could easily argue that he is underutilized. Niblack is a good size at his stated 6’4″ and 233 pounds, and his athletic, muscular build allows him to carry the weight very well. It should be clear from his athletic profile that I was fooled by his size and movements when I saw him running around out there, believing him to be an Alabama wide receiver. Meets the standard for a move/flex tight end. Easy and fluid mover who can trick you a little at first glance and accelerates well for his size. has a background in basketball, which is evident in the way he attacks the ball in the air on tape. Displays
strong hands to lift the ball out of the air and away from his body. possesses the kind of athlete you have to take into consideration on intermediate and deep routes. He can also act as a seam stretcher for an offense.
demonstrated early in the season against Texas that he could locate the opening in the zone and would flash his numbers to the quarterback. has the potential to cause issues after the catch, as the Texas game demonstrated. Even though he occasionally lines up attached to the LOS, his effectiveness as an in-line blocker is somewhat unknown. Given that Steve Sarkisian and Jeff Banks will undoubtedly ask him to do it, that is something that will need to be worked out a little during the spring. Ja’Tavion Sanders is on the route to the NFL, you would have to figure out how to take his output into 2024. Although Niblack has the ability and skill set to be a problem in Sarkisian’s offense, I’m not saying he will be Sanders, who is probably going to be selected early in the draft later this spring. Texas will have a very strong 1-2 punch at tight end going into next season with Niblack and Gunnar Helm paired together, allowing Sarkisian to keep attacking defenses in an inventive and aggressive manner.
