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The Tuscaloosa News
Why Alabama football TE C.J. Dippre isn't jumping over defenders just for show
- Story byThe Tuscaloosa News
- Why Alabama football TE C.J. Dippre isn't jumping over defenders just for show
If opposing tacklers won't tackle CJ Dippre shoulder-to-shoulder, he's reasoned, they might as well be tackling air.
The Alabama football tight end, at 6-foot-5, 262 pounds, can dish out punishment after the catch, and often looks for his chance to do so. Smaller defensive backs don't care to get taken for a 10-yard ride downfield after contact, however, so they often dive at Dippre's knees or ankles. He's tiring of it, and that's one reason the Crimson Tide senior has taken to leaping over opponents who drop their heads to aim low. He hurdled a tackler on one of his two receptions against Tennessee on Saturday.
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"Totally," Dippre said of whether his jump-overs were about protecting his lower legs. "Obviously, I'm a bigger dude ... I strive, like coach tells me, I strive that I'm not going to get tackled by the first person. At least, not by only one person. If somebody's going to jump low, I've got to jump, because I'm not going to keep getting hit in the legs because they don't want to hit me high."
Dippre has been a reliable target for QB Jalen Milroe , but is most valuable as a blocker, an area at which he and fellow tight end Robbie Ouzts excel. Dippre, a second-year transfer from Maryland , has 10 receptions for 76 yards on the season.
Alabama plays host to Missouri Saturday (2:30 p.m. CT, ABC), and he's expecting the same strategy from the Tigers that he's seen all season.
Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.
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This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama football TE C.J. Dippre isn't hurdling defenders just for show
