Alabama graduate Josh Cuevas appears to be like to turn into the third Crimson Tide tight finish chosen within the NFL Draft within the final 4 seasons this weekend because the skilled soccer world decends on Pittsburgh to pick the subsequent crop of superstars.
The Baltimore Ravens chosen Cuevas within the fifth spherical with the No. 173 total choose within the NFL Draft.
Five Things To Know About Alabama Tight End Josh Cuevas
He’s George Kittle and Travis Kelce in One
Cuevas grew to become one in every of Alabama’s most dependable gamers in 2025, a lot in order that the Crimson Tide quarterback in contrast him to 2 of one of the best tight ends in soccer.
“We can use him in so many different ways,” Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson stated. “And then, us asking him to do the stuff that he does, it’s incredible. Like, the fact that that guy came so far from an FCS school to Washington to here and is playing at an All-American level — he’s my guy, man. I thank him every day. He’s like a safety blanket. You know what I mean? Not many tight ends can act like Travis Kelce and block like George Kittle.”
The Long Road, From All-Big Sky to The NFL
Cuevas took an extended path to this weekend’s celebration. His senior season of highschool was inturrupted by the COVID-19 Pandemic, forcing him to solely play in 4 video games and go with out discover on the recruiting path. He started his faculty profession at FCS Cal Poly and redshirtted in 2021 earlier than breaking out an incomes All-Big Sky honors as a redshirt freshman with 57 receptions totaling 622 yards and 6 touchdowns.
He entered the switch portal and ended up at Washington enjoying for Kalen DeBoer. Cuevas hauled in 4 receptions for 164 yards and a landing to assist the Huskies make a run to the nationwide championship sport. He then entered the switch portal once more and adopted DeBoer to Tuscaloosa the place he performed the final two seasons hauling in 53 receptions for 629 yards and 5 touchdowns in 15 video games.
“Josh is an elite tight end,” Alabama offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb stated. “He’s as good a player as we have on this football team. He’s heavily involved in the pass game every week. He’s always a viable target, and he’s definitely a guy who has the courage to get in there and block as well. You saw him on a couple of ISO blocks. He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a guy who breaks tackles. He’s not just a tight end who’s going to catch a stick route and fall down. He’s absolutely a spark in our offense in a lot of different ways. So super valuable guy.”
Cuevas completed fourth on the workforce in receptions with 37, fifth in yards with 411, and tied for third in landing receptions with three, exemplifying his reliability as a receiver all year long.
Hispanic Heritage
Cuevas was named to the 2025 Hispanic College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List as he proudly represents his Mexican heritage. His father, Ivan, was born in Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico, to a pair of Mexican immigrants.
“There’s so many kids like me growing up just kind of looking for those kinds of public figures,” Josh Cuevas advised Our Esquina. “And kind of in the sports realm, especially in football, there’s not very many Latinos in kind of like the football realm.”
2025 Hispanic College Football Player of the Year Award Watch List: Josh Cuevas#orgullohispano pic.twitter.com/fHHnVOSfDW
— HISPANIC FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME (@HispanicFB) October 1, 2025
Warrior Mindset
Cuevas grew to become one in every of Alabama’s greatest receivers in 2025, regardless of lacking three video games in November. The graduate broke his foot earlier than the Crimson Tide’s matchup towards Eastern Illinois. He went on to overlook the Auburn sport and the SEC Championship towards Georgia however fought again to return for the College Football Playoff.
“I’m feeling nice,” Cuevas said ahead of the Rose Bowl. “Shoutout to our coaching workers. They’re one of the best of one of the best. I imply, I legit broke my foot in the midst of the season and got here again in the identical season. So, that’s a tribute to them, and I’m able to go for this sport.
He hauled in seven passes for 70 yards in Alabama’s two playoff video games after breaking his foot.
Strengths and Weaknesses
Cuevas is a flexible tight finish that may play each on and off the road of scrimmage. He is a aggressive blocker and performs with depth and a excessive motor. He is a succesful athlete and reveals up properly within the passing sport, catching the ball together with his arms and competing properly for the soccer the catch level. He performed particular groups at Alabama in 2024 and Washington in 2023.
The fifth 12 months senior does not have elite measurement or arm size, placing him at a bodily drawback towards the highest of the road athletes within the NFL. His shorter arm size means his catch radius is restricted and he may stand to enhance his particulars as a route runner.
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