Several key contributors on the offensive side of the football will return to Alabama for the 2017 season, including starters at quarterback, running back, receiver, center, guard and tackle.

But one of the biggest voids Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide coaching staff will have to fill is the one left by potential first-round draft pick and multi-year starter, tight end O.J. Howard.

The 6-foot-6 tight end left some big shoes to fill, but there’s a player already in Tuscaloosa that seems poised to replace Howard’s production, both as a threat in the passing game and in creating extra yards for his teammates with effective blocking.

And rising sophomore Miller Forristall received glowing remarks from the departing Howard.

“Miller stepped up big for us in big games, made some key blocks, as you saw in that championship game,” Howard told BamaOnLine at the Senior Bowl. “Miller’s a guy who learned the offense fast, he knows what to do, he does it fast and I think he’ll be a guy that can also help them out next year in the passing game, I think. So I’m looking forward to seeing him do that.”

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Forristall played in all 15 of Alabama’s games this past season, making two starts as a true freshman. The Cartersville, Ga., native caught five passes for 73 yards, including a career-high three receptions in the Tide’s 51-3 win over Mississippi State.

A three-star recruit out of Cartersville High School, Forristall enrolled early at Alabama as the nation’s No. 17 tight end prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite. As one of four players to arrive on campus prior to the 2015 title game, Forristall gained invaluable experience on the practice field that ultimately benefitted him in seeing early playing time this past year.

“That first day, the first time you get out there in pads with a team like this, ‘Man, I watched these guys on TV last week,’ and then you get out there,” Forristall said after the Tide’s win in the Peach Bowl. “I think that helped me even more to get out there and be better prepared for spring practice.”

Forristall was either on the field with Howard or one of the first players off the bench to replace him or fellow tight end Hale Hentges. That was the case during Game 1 through Game 15.

Being around a player like Howard -- someone who never complained about not filling up the box score and returned for his senior season -- left an impression on the then-freshman tight end. One that will help him both on and off the field in the future.

“Just patience,” Forristall said. “He’s one of the most patient and humble guys you’ll ever meet, and that’s kind of one thing I’ve learned, just put your head down and go to work every day.”

Off the field, Forristall likes to talk. As in constantly to his teammates.

But on it, the rising sophomore earned his stripes by putting in the work necessary for a true freshman to see the field and establish himself as a candidate to start more games in 2017.

His roommate, rising sophomore tackle Jonah Williams, can attest to both of those statements.

“He always jokes, he’s a lot more talkative and boisterous than I am. I’m a little bit more to myself, but he’s a really good guy,” Williams said in Atlanta. “He’s done a really good job. He’s definitely earned the respect of the defense for how hard he plays, and he does a really good job.”

With a pair of new coaching hires being made official Monday, Forristall could also benefit from the additions of offensive coordinator Brian Daboll and tight ends coach Joe Pannunzio. Both have extensive experience coaching tight ends, which could possibly lead to more targets for the guys on the end of the line of scrimmage, and Saban has wanted to see that, too.

Having another receiving tight end that has shown he can also block shouldn’t change the head coach’s mind about getting the tight end position more involved in the passing game, especially when the passing game will be a major focus this offseason.

“Miller’s a very athletic guy,” Saban said during the season. “We try to use him as sort of a quasi receiver / H-back / tight end-type guy. Because he’s a very athletic guy, he does a good job in perimeter blocking and is a very good receiver. I think he’s improved in both of those areas since he’s been here.”

Whatever happens, Forristall will continue working in spring practices, summer workouts and fall camp to be prepared for the upcoming 2017 season. And Williams will likely hear all about it.

But the experience he gained this past spring and season as a first-year player was something the former high school quarterback couldn’t attribute enough to his success on the field.

“It’s good,” Forristall said with a smile. “Enrolling early helped a lot and then you just put your head down and work every day, pray about it, hope the man upstairs gives you the opportunity. It showed itself, so I’m trying to take advantage of it.”

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