TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Scanning Alabama’s roster, it’s difficult to find a more experienced group than the tight ends, even before the 2018 signing class arrives on campus this summer.

At the heart of the veteran position group is rising senior Hale Hentges, who is currently in the middle of his third spring football season with the Crimson Tide ahead of his fourth overall.

So, what does the most experienced player in the deepest position group want to accomplish in Alabama’s 10 remaining spring practice sessions. It’s simple -- a little bit of everything.

“My biggest thing is to overall play a bigger role in every aspect of the team,” Hentges said last week. “I want to be a better leader, better route runner, better pass catcher, a better blocker and overall help the team on special teams, as well. Kind of take every aspect of my game and take it to another level.”

Known as a proficient blocker, Hentges tripled his career receiving touchdowns total by being on the receiving end of three scores a season ago. He played in every game as a junior, making 13 starts, and tallied seven receptions for 75 yards along the way in 2017.

The trio of Hentges, Irv Smith Jr., and Miller Forristall combined for 24 receptions, 245 yards and six touchdowns last season, and that total was after Forristall suffered a season-ending knee injury three games into the season. He finished 2017 with one reception.

Sporting a black, no-contact jersey every day this spring, Forristall is starting to look like his old self, per his teammate.

“We’re very proud of Miller,” Hentges said. “Terrible, devastating injury last year. My heart goes out to him every day, but he works extremely hard and has worked extremely hard to get back to kind of his playing shape. He’s in there every day rehabbing, strengthening his leg and has done a really good job in the spring.

Alabama TE Hale Hentges

“So, we’re excited to watch him continue to get better and overall just get back to where he was because, as you guys know, he’s a very good player and will definitely help us out.”

With all three returning to the tight end room this offseason, as well as rising sophomores Major Tennison and Kedrick James, could this be the deepest tight end group Hentges has been a part of during his now-four seasons in the Crimson Tide football program?

“I mean, looking back, it very well could be,” he said. “We have a lot of guys who have experience and a lot of guys who are very good players and a lot of young guys who we expect to contribute. So, we’re obviously extremely excited with who we have, and it makes it easy for me, especially being the oldest guy.

“Obviously I want to give a lot of leadership to those guys, but whenever I look over and I see Irv or Miller and they’re doing this perfectly, it’s like, ‘Well, I don’t have to say anything because they already know what they’re doing.’ So, that’s really nice, just from that aspect that a lot of our guys in that group do the right thing and they’re going to be able to help us in a big way next year.”

But there are still changes for the Crimson Tide tight ends.

However, one way Hentges and company will benefit from the offseason differences is by the addition of position coach Jeff Banks and his background as a special teams coordinator.

Banks, the fourth tight ends coach of Hentges’ tenure at Alabama, brings extensive experience with him to Tuscaloosa. He spent the last five years as the tight ends and special teams coordinator at Texas A&M where the Aggies ranked third nationally in net punting (42.29 yards per punt) and second in punt returns with a 17.1 average and two touchdowns.

Banks’ units were also No. 1 nationally with eight blocked kicks a season ago.

“He’s been great for us,” Hentges said of Banks. “He’s doing a really good job. Obviously at Texas A&M, he was very good for them. They were always one team, especially on special teams, that always gave us a lot of trouble. So, he kind of brings that same fire, energy and passion to our team. And he’s done a really good job for us.

“I like how intense, how fiery and how vocal he is. I really have enjoyed working with him. I think he’s got a wealth of knowledge, and overall he’s just done a really good job for us. So, I’m excited to be working more with him. I really just think we’re going to have a really good relationship and it’s going to be a good time for us.”

It’s a new year for Alabama’s tight end group, but there are a lot of familiar, key contributors on offense and special teams in 2018. And despite the departure of tight end-friendly offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, Hentges believes the promotion of former wide receivers coach Mike Locksley will allow the tight ends to continue to be heavily involved in the passing game.

“We’re obviously never satisfied as a team, especially as a tight end unit,” Hentges said. “We’re always looking forward to contributing more to our offense. Obviously, run blocking has been something we like to hang our hat on but as a tight end unit, we want to do more than that. As a tight end unit, we want to help out in every aspect that we can.

“For us, it’s a bigger role in special teams and ultimately getting more involved in the pass-catching game. I think with Coach Locksley, we’re really seeing more opportunities to do that. More opportunities where we’re playing more two-tight end sets and overall more balls targeted at us. That’s something we’re really excited about, and we’re really going to have to show we’re reliant in that area.”

Contact Charlie Potter by 247Sports' personal messaging or on Twitter (@Charlie_Potter).