With training camp roughly a month out, we continue our previews for the Indianapolis Colts tight end position.
Name: Mo Alie-Cox
Position: TE
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 267
Age: 25
Year Signed: 2017
Background
As a former basketball standout at VCU, Alie-Cox hadn’t played organized football since his freshman year of high school. That didn’t stop the Colts from bringing him on as a project that offseason. He didn’t see the field at all in 2017 as he dealt with an injury that landed him on the injured reserve while also spending time on the practice squad.
Alie-Cox started the 2018 season on the practice squad before a call up to the active roster ahead of the Week 4 matchup with the Houston Texans—where he wound up making his NFL debut.
The 25-year-old tight end finished the season playing nine games (one start) while recording seven catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns.
2019 Outlook
The Colts have a deep tight end room with Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron leading the way. However, there is plenty of upside in Alie-Cox’s game if he continues to develop as a pass catcher and run blocker. He’s already proficient in the latter given his size, athleticism, strength and background in basketball.
The biggest area Alie-Cox must improve is as a route runner. Being new to the game, there will be some growing pains, but he showed this spring he has the ability to make an impact as a dual-threat weapon. He saw the first-team reps on offense with the starting duo of Doyle and Ebron nursing injuries.
It shouldn’t be expected for Alie-Cox to usurp Doyle or Ebron for their starting spot. But, he can work to add more playing time to his plate if his route running continues to develop.
Bottom Line
I might be a little higher on Alie-Cox than most. He has a very high ceiling as an extremely athletic tight end with massive hands and the ability to block efficiently—which he’s already shown. If he can develop as a route runner, his future in Indy can be very bright, and there’s a chance he pushes for more snaps with a strong showing in training camp and the preseason.
