Alabama football tight end CJ Dippre is expected to return for his senior season, The Tuscaloosa News has learned.

Dippre transferred to the Crimson Tide from Maryland this past season and became the tight end who received the most snaps of any on the roster with 524, per Pro Football Focus. The next closest was Robbie Ouzts with 370.

Dippre was primarily used as a blocking tight end in his first season at Alabama. The 6-foot-5, 257-pound tight end from Scranton, Pennsylvania, caught 11 passes for 187 yards.

"I think Coach Saban has put me in the right spots to show what I'm going to do at the next level," Dippre told The Tuscaloosa News at the Rose Bowl.

In his senior season, he will have an opportunity to take on more of a leadership role and could be used more in the passing game, depending on who else returns.

"The season's been awesome," Dippre said. "I'm so grateful and blessed to have this opportunity to play for one of the best colleges in the country."

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Nick Kelly is the Alabama beat writer for The Tuscaloosa News, part of the USA TODAY Network, and he covers Alabama football and men's basketball. Reach him at nkelly@gannett.com or follow him @_NickKelly on X, the social media app formerly known as Twitter.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: CJ Dippre: Alabama football starting tight end to return for 2024