The Indianapolis Colts wrapped up their spring workouts at the end of May and will return for training camp sometime at the end of July to prepare for the 2021 regular season.
Before that happens, we will be going through the majority of the roster to preview their background, projected role and bottom line with the team entering training camp.
After previewing Jack Doyle, it’s now time to turn our attention to an intriguing development in Mo Alie-Cox.
General Information
AP Photo/Zach Bolinger
Name: Mo Alie-Cox Position: TE Height: 6-foot-5 Weight: 267 pounds Age: 27 College: VCU Free Agent Year: 2022
Background
AP Photo/Zach Bolinger
Alie-Cox joined the Colts during the summer of 2017 after he had a private tryout for over 10 teams in the NFL. The Colts were the ones to sign him following the tryout and his career at VCU as a standout basketball player. Alie-Cox spent the 2017 season split on the injured reserve and practice squad. He started to show some signs of development in 2018, and his first career touchdown was a ridiculous one-handed snag against the Raiders. Alie-Cox continued to see his role grow and in 2020, showed that he’s making strides as a receiver. He recorded 31 receptions for 394 yards and two touchdowns while playing a career-high 46% of the offensive snaps.
Expected Role
AP Photo/Ben Margot
Jack Doyle is still expected to be the starter in the tight end room and lead the group in snaps played, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Alie-Cox challenged him for that role. He’s already proven to be a strong run blocker and if he continues to make strides in his route running, Alie-Cox could prove to be a better option than Doyle. Until he shows that, though, he should be expected to be the TE2.
2021 Outlook
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Alie-Cox is an intriguing player because of the upside he possesses. His combination of size, athleticism and reliable hands show a player who has an untapped ceiling. But given that he’s still learning the nuances of the position when it comes to route running, he hasn’t quite hit his ceiling yet. That said, this could be a big year for Alie-Cox. He flashed some of that development early in 2020 and if he’s continued to make strides, he could have a bigger impact on the passing game with Carson Wentz now under center. Alie-Cox is certainly one of the high-upside players to keep an eye on in 2021.
Bottom Line
AP Photo/AJ Mast
Alie-Cox can help the Colts in several ways. He’s a strong run blocker when he’s playing inline and he can turn into a weapon in the passing game as long as his development has continued to take place. The upside is real when it comes to the VCU product, and it will be interesting to see how his role grows in 2021.
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