Tag: amari niblack

Updated transfer portal rankings after Texas A&M lands former Texas tight end

Here are the updated transfer portal rankings after Texas A&M’s latest addition in former Texas TE Amari Niblack

Texas A&M’s offseason has been fairly calm, as coach Mike Elko and his staff recognize that the transfer portal can both provide and remove talent each season. This comes after the Aggies wrapped up the 2024 campaign with a disappointing 1-4 record, suffering consecutive losses to Texas and USC in the Las Vegas Bowl.

Still, after wrapping up an impressive 2025 recruiting haul, which includes five-star offensive tackle Lamont Rogers and five-star wide receiver Jerome Myles, who will immediately see the field next season, Elko and OC Collin Klein were focused on rebuilding the wide receiver room.

Needing to give starting quarterback Marcel Reed every advantage possible to reach his ceiling, the Aggies added three receiver additions, including former NC State veteran KC Concepcion. In contrast, former five-star and Texas Tech wideout Micah Hudson has taken a leave of absence from the program until further notice.

On Monday morning, after adding two blocking tight ends from the portal, former Alabama/Texas tight end Amari Niblack announced his commitment to the program, possessing a ton of upside after only producing 33 yards in limited playing time this past season.

With 14 players making up Texas A&M’s transfer portal class, here are the updated transfer portal rankings according to 247Sports:

  1. LSU (16 commits)
  2. Ole Miss (22 commits)
  3. Texas Tech (17 commits)
  4. Auburn (15 commits)
  5. Miami (FL) (11 commits)
  6. Kentucky (19 commits)
  7. Florida State (16 commits)
  8. Texas A&M (14 commits)
  9. Missouri (17 commits)
  10. Nebraska (15 commits)
  11. Oregon (9 commits)
  12. Mississippi State (24 commits)
  13. South Carolina (13 commits)
  14. Wisconsin (18 commits)
  15. Arkansas (21 commits)

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What former Texas TE Amari Niblack brings to Texas A&M’s passing attack

Former Texas tight end Amari Niblack has the skillset to become a reliable receiving option for the Aggies in 2025

On Monday morning, it was announced that junior tight end and former four-star prospect Amari Niblack would transfer and sign with Texas A&M for the 2025 season after starting his career with Alabama and spending the 2023 and 2024 seasons as a member of the Texas Longhorns offense.

This offseason, coach Mike Elko and his staff have rebuilt the Aggies’ wide receiver room, including KC Concepcion (NC State), Micah Hudson (Texas Tech), and Mario Craver (Mississippi State), bring more explosion and route running prowess to the passing game.

Niblack joins a veteran tight end room after former Nebraska TE Nate Boerkircher and former Auburn tight end Micah Riley were added to the portal class, but on film, Niblack offers the most as a received. In contrast, the latter tight ends are purely blockers.

Niblacks’ play time with the Longhorns decreased this past season due to tight end Gunnar Helm’s ascendance. His inability to block consistently didn’t help his chances of seeing the field, leading to just five receptions and 33 yards.

However, Niblack’s ability to expose the seam and find holes against zone defense was evident throughout the 2023 season. The then-sophomore recorded 327 receiving yards and four touchdowns, including a key touchdown against his former team, Alabama.

Niblack’s freaky athleticism and wide receiver-like route running provide OC Collin Klein plenty to work with alongside returning tight end Theo Melin Öhrström, who showed flashes as a receiver this season.

This is an upside acquisition, and the hope is that the coaching staff reignites Amari Niblack’s ability.

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Former Alabama and Texas TE Amari Niblack to sign with Texas A&M

Texas A&M lands commitment from former Crimson Tide and Longhorns TE Amari Niblack.

As a Top 100 recruit in the 2022 class and the No. 4 ranked athlete in the cycle, TE Amari Niblack generated a lot of buzz coming out of high school. Nick Saban and the Alabama Crimson Tide initially landed his services, and he had 21 receptions for 342 yards and five touchdowns in his two years in Tuscaloosa.

Niblack’s role in the Alabama offense was set to expand even more in 2024, but after Saban’s shocking retirement, he decided to enter the transfer portal and join the Texas Longhorns. In his time with Sarkisian in Austin, Niblack struggled to find a spot in the rotation with just five receptions for 33 yards on the season and decided to re-enter the portal.

Today, Pete Nakos of On3 Sports reports that Niblack will stay in the SEC and sign with the Texas A&M Aggies. Niblack will have two years of eligibility remaining and should have an immediate chance at cracking the lineup with Tre Watson and Shane Calhoun leaving College Station.

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Former Texas Longhorns tight end will transfer to Texas A&M

Former Texas tight end Amari Niblack will transfer to Texas A&M for the 2025 season

Texas A&M has landed another key commitment from the transfer portal, as former Texas tight end Amari Niblack is headed to College Station for the 2025 season after spending his last three seasons with the Longhorns.

This offseason, the focus from coach Mike Elko and OC Collin Klein was to rebuild the wide receiver room, as several departures and an overall lack of production last season was a major issue for an offense needing playmakers to help starting quarterback Marcel Reed find his footing in the pocket.

In Klein’s framework, tight ends are essential in the running and passing games. Niblack shows the ability to inline block while leveraging his aerial advantages against linebackers, especially with his current weight of over 250 pounds in his junior year. Additionally, he can take advantage of smaller cornerbacks.

After losing Tre Watson and Shane Calhoun to the NFL Draft/graduation, Texas A&M’s tight end rotation requires more depth, and while Niblack was underutilized this season, he has already proven to be a playmaker and can quickly help the rotation improve in 2025.

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Texas A&M hosts former Longhorns TE that’s in transfer portal

On Saturday, Texas A&M will welcome Amari Niblack to campus for a visit

As Texas A&M looks to bolster its offense, it is showing interest in a former Longhorns weapon. On Saturday, Texas A&M will welcome Amari Niblack to campus for a visit. The Florida native entered the transfer portal after one year with Texas.

During the 2024 campaign, Niblack hauled in five catches for 33 yards. He also averaged 6.6 yards a catch, with his longest reception of the season going for 20 yards. While it was a disappointing season for the former four-star recruit, he is not long removed from the best year of his college career.

Before joining the Longhorns, the talented junior flashed his potential with Alabama. In 2023, Niblack recorded a career-high 20 catches for 327 yards. He will be looking to prove that his production was no fluke as he hopes to join a program where he can be an important part of the game plan.

If Niblack were to join Texas A&M, he would have to compete for targets. Over the last few weeks, the Aggies have been busy in the transfer portal, adding tight ends such as Nate Boerkircher from Nebraska and Micah Riley from Auburn. That was partly due to the losses of Donovan Green and Jaden Platt to the transfer portal.

While the Aggies are full of talent, it will be interesting to see if they can convince Niblack that College Station is the place to be. He spent the 2024 campaign in Austin as the third tight end on the depth chart behind Gunnar Helm and Juan Davis. 

Texas A&M will reportedly host Texas transfer tight end on Saturday

According to 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Texas A&M will host former Texas tight end Amari Niblack on Saturday

We’re reaching the final stages of Texas A&M’s offseason transfer portal haul, as coach Mike Elko and his staff will host two more offensive players, including former Penn State wide receiver Harrison “Trey” Wallace and former Texas tight end Amari Niblack, on Saturday.

Wallace, who recorded over 700 yards and six touchdowns with the Nittany Lions this season, would put A&M’s wide receiver rotation over the top and provide more insurance amid former Texas Tech WR Micah Hudson’s recent leave of absence.

Amari Niblack is a different story, as the junior Longhorn tight end saw little playing time behind star TE Gunnar Helm, recording just five receptions and 33 yards after netting 327 yards and four touchdowns through the air the year prior.

After losing Tre Watson and Shane Calhoun to the NFL Draft/graduation, Texas A&M’s tight end rotation requires more depth. While Niblack was underutilized this season, he has already proven to be a playmaker and can quickly return to a rotation.

Standing at 6-4 and nearly 250 pounds, Niblack is already a competent blocker with the receiving ability to line up in the slot and out-muscle defending linebackers.

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Former Alabama tight end to reportedly re-enter transfer portal

The former Alabama tight end is reportedly back in the transfer portal.

According to reports, former Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Amari Niblack has re-entered the NCAA transfer portal after only one season with the Texas Longhorns.

Niblack is the latest former Alabama player to re-enter the transfer portal that transferred out of the program a year ago, joining a group that includes others such as Malik Benson, James Brockermeyer, Jake Pope, and Antonio Kite.

This past season at Texas, Niblack simply did not play as big of a role for the Longhorns as the season prior at Alabama. In 2024, Niblack was primarily a backup at Texas in which he had five receptions for 33 yards, as well as one tackle.

At Alabama, Niblack was the program’s starting tight end during the 2023 season where he had a career-year, hauling in 20 receptions for 327 yards and four touchdowns. The year prior, Niblack had only one reception, which went for a 15-yard touchdown.

Niblack will now reportedly re-enter the transfer portal where he will be looking for a new team in 2025.

Longhorns tight end earns spot on Mackey Award Watch List

Niblack is coming off the best season of his career and earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the 2024 John Mackey Award

Following a productive sophomore campaign at Alabama, Amari Niblack is ready to make an impact in his first season with the Longhorns. The Florida native is coming off the best season of his career and earned a spot on the preseason watch list for the 2024 John Mackey Award. Each year, the award is given to the nation’s best tight end.

During his time with Alabama, Niblack appeared in 21 games, recording 342 receiving yards on 21 catches. He also found the end-zone a career-high five times after only recording one touchdown as a freshman. Due to his improved play, Niblack made a career-high for starts last year.

While his sophomore season was full of highlight reel catches, Niblack’s best game came against Mississippi State. He led Alabama in receptions with three and yards with 61. The Lakewood High School product was selected as one of the team offensive players of the week for his efforts.

If the Niblack can provide the Longhorns with the same type of production, then the Quinn Ewers will have another reliable option in the passing game. In his first season with the Longhorns, Niblack will be replacing Ja’Tavion Sanders, who the Carolina Panthers selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

In less than three weeks, Niblack will make his first career start for the Longhorns when they open their season against Colorado State on August 31. The winner of the John Mackey Award will be revealed on Thursday, December 12, as part of The Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN.

Amari Niblack primed for big breakout season in Longhorns offense

After thriving in a more significant role, Niblack will be motivated to prove that last year’s success was no fluke for a program with championship aspirations

When the Texas Longhorns start the 2024 campaign they will have a new face at tight end in Amari Niblack.

The Florida native spent two years at the University of Alabama before transferring to Texas in January. He replaces Ja’Tavion Sanders who the Carolina Panthers selected in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

As Niblack prepares to start a new chapter, he is coming off a career year. During the 2023 season, he hauled in 20 catches for 327 receiving yards. As he saw his role in the offense grow, Niblack was targeted more in the red zone, adding four touchdowns to his resume.

While the former Alabama tight end will have to adjust to a new quarterback, he was one of the best options available in the transfer portal. He was ranked the No. 28 overall transfer player and No. 1 tight end in the portal, according to 247Sports. Before his freshman year, he chose Alabama over programs such as Florida, Florida State, and Georgia. 

After losing a lot of talent offensively, Texas has been busy in the transfer portal. Over the last few months, they have added multiple wide receivers alongside Niblack to give Quinn Ewers more weapons. 

As Niblack looks to make his mark in Austin, he will have a former Alabama teammate to lean on in Isaiah Bond. The talented duo frustrated offenses last year, and the Longhorns hope that will continue. After thriving in a more significant role, Niblack will be motivated to prove that last year’s success was no fluke for a program with championship aspirations. 

ESPN releases sleeper pick for the Texas offense

Who does ESPN predict the Longhorns sleeper player of the year to be in 2024?

The Texas Longhorns are widely regarded as one of the top teams in college football as they are coming off of a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff berth. However, Texas will still face its fair share of difficulties in 2024 as they must replace a ton of lost production on the offensive side of the ball in Xavier Worthy, AD Mitchell, Ja’Tavion Sanders, and Jonathon Brooks.

Fortunately, the Longhorns have a lot of great things working for them such as one of the best offensive minds in the country in Steve Sarkisian, a third-year starter in quarterback Quinn Ewers, and two big-time Alabama transfers in wide receiver Isaiah Bond and tight end Amari Niblack.

The expectations for Bond and Ewers are incredibly high with some people calling them the best QB-WR duo in the country. However, Dave Wilson of ESPN projects Amari Niblack to be the under-the-radar Longhorn that will have the biggest impact this fall. Wilson says of Niblack,

“Normally, a highly touted recruit who transfers from Alabama to Texas doesn’t quite qualify as a sleeper, but Niblack hasn’t quite had his breakout yet. The 6-4, 231-pound tight end arrives in Austin after catching 21 passes in two seasons with the Crimson Tide, and he could be a key feature in a passing game that lost TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, who caught 99 passes for 1,295 yards and seven touchdowns in the past two seasons.”

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