Indianapolis Colts: Tight end Mo Alie-Cox primed for breakout season

Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox is set up for a major breakout season in 2019.

Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox came from seemingly out of nowhere to make an impact on the team last season. Alie-Cox was an important part of the Colts’ tight end rotation down the stretch, leading the way as their premier blocking option at the position. He also piled up seven receptions for 133 yards and two touchdowns in part-time work in nine games.

Alie-Cox was just a depth player for the Colts last season, but he flashed some serious upside and is a guy with a ton of promise going forward.

He is a 6-foot-5, 267-pound monster at the tight end position who did not play college football. Alie-Cox played basketball at VCU in college but was never a real NBA prospect. Instead, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts after the 2017 NFL Draft and has become a real developmental asset for the team.

Alie-Cox has been waived and been put on and off of the practice squad many times over the last two years. However, he finally received an opportunity to stick on the active roster late last season after Colts tight end Jack Doyle missed a long stretch with a kidney injury. Alie-Cox immediately impressed with his blocking ability and became an important player for the Colts down the stretch.

A tough and nasty blocker, Alie-Cox should be able to have a nice career based on his blocking ability at the tight end position alone. However, he has serious athleticism which could lead to some real upside as a receiver as well. According to Stephen Holder of the Athletic, Alie-Cox is on the verge of breaking out and has been impressing the Colts with his obvious upside.

"“There have been a few too many dropped passes through the spring and summer,” Holder wrote. “Granted, it’s the offseason and it’s not worth losing sleep over. But you know who I never saw drop a pass? TIght end Mo Alie-Cox. This developmental player looks like he is on the verge of becoming a mainstay on this team.”“There is an unbridled excitement at Colts headquarters about what Alie-Cox can become. When you factor in his size, his athleticism and the fact he remains inexperienced, the sky really is the limit for Alie-Cox.”"

The road for consistent playing time is not perfectly clear for Alie-Cox. Eric Ebron caught 13 touchdowns for the Colts last season and was selected to the Pro Bowl. Jack Doyle is one of the most reliable and consistent tight ends in the entire league. However, Alie-Cox is far too talented for the Colts to ignore.

Head coach Frank Reich will likely continue to use three tight end sets to create matchup issues for opposing defenses, giving Alie-Cox plenty of opportunities to prove himself. However, I would not be surprised to see him get more chances to shine on top of that.

He is clearly a talented young player who has some exciting upside going forward. Alie-Cox has already proven himself as a blocker. If he can clean up the rest of his game and make the most out of his obvious athleticism, the sky is truly the limit. The Colts would be foolish to ignore his clear upside.