While most of Alabama’s freshmen joined the team during the early part of the year, the Crimson Tide brought in a few new reinforcements over the summer. With the opening kickoff in less than three months, Tide Illustrated will highlight each of the summer newcomers.
Next up in our series is one of Alabama’s most overlooked prospects in the 2024 class, three-star tight end Jay Lindsey.
It’s easy to skip over Lindsey’s name among Alabama’s star-studded list of signees. However, the 6-foot-5, 235-pound tight end from Butler, Alabama deserves a deeper look.
A former Mississippi State commit, Lindsey signed with the Crimson Tide as the No. 38 player in the state of Alabama and the No. 46 tight end in this year’s class. Those rankings don’t really do him justice.
Playing his high school ball at Patrician Academy, Lindsey didn’t get much of an opportunity to prove himself against top competition. Still, he dominated the Alabama Independent School Association, earning last year’s Lineman of the Year award while playing on both sides of the ball.
Despite primarily serving as a blocker, Lindsey recorded 14 receptions for 366 yards and six touchdowns to go with 491 yards and eight more scores on 36 carries over 12 games. He was even more productive as a defensive lineman, tallying 102 tackles, including 11 sacks.
Here are three things to know about Lindsey as he enters Alabama.
When Lindsey suits up in crimson and white this fall, he will be the first-ever Patrician Academy player to do so. The Butler native grew up rooting for the Crimson Tide and doesn’t take the honor lightly.
“All the little kids that walk around the halls here, they look up to me,” Lindsey told television station WTOK during his signing ceremony in December. “All the grown-ups tell me that. I couldn’t be any more proud.”
While Alabama rarely dips into the AISA ranks, it did well the last time it pulled a tight end from an in-state private school. Former Crimson Tide standout O.J. Howard joined the Crimson Tide from Autauga Academy as a five-star prospect in the 2013 class. He finished his four-year college career with a combined 114 receptions for 1,626 yards and seven touchdowns.
According to Lindsey’s father, Jonathan, who coached him at Patrician Academy, the freshman tight end is set to follow in Howard’s footsteps and wear No. 88 at Alabama.
Lindsey plans to be a one-sport athlete at Alabama. However, he earned all-state honors in baseball and basketball in addition to his football success at the high school level.
Lindsey shined brightest on the diamond where he pitched as well as playing third base and outfield. In 2023, the right-hander earned AISA Pitcher of the Year honors, going 9-1 with a 0.356 earned-run average and 109 strikeouts over 59 innings pitched. This spring, he took home AISA Hitter of the Year honors, batting .447 with six home runs, 35 runs batted in and 19 stolen bases over 30 games.
As evidenced by his 857 total yards and 14 touchdowns last year, Patrician Academy found a way to get Lindsey the ball. Those numbers are even more impressive considering the Saints operated out of a wing-T offense that regularly utilized the tight end as a blocker.
While Lindsey’s athleticism comes through on tape, the most impressive part of his game is the power he generates off the line. Whether serving as an in-line tight end or defensive end, he routinely knocked back his opponent, playing through the whistle with a bit of a mean streak.
Alabama senior tight end Robbie Ouzts played in a similar run-first offense at Rock Hill High School in South Carolina. Lindsey shares a similar skill set to Ouzts (6-foot-4, 265 pounds). While he’ll likely look to add more weight in his first year with the team, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Lindsey take on the H-back and fullback roles for the Tide once Ouzts moves on.
