Former Alabama tight end Hale Hentges is excited to know a familiar face on his new NFL team.

During a recent conversation with AL.com’s Mark Inabinett, Hentges was asked about signing with the Minnesota Vikings, reuniting him with fellow former Crimson Tide TE Irv Smith Jr.

“It was wonderful, let me tell you,” Hentges told AL.com. “Irv Smith Jr. is one of my best friends and someone who I really, really grew to enjoy during my time at Alabama. We were almost the same age and we worked out very closely together, and it was just really refreshing to get to Minnesota and have him there to help show me the ropes because any time you switch teams or a company or whatever, it’s challenging, and to have someone there to kind of take me under their wing was just so meaningful for me, and it really helped me make a smooth transition.”

Hentges appeared in one game for the Vikings during the 2020 season, not recording any other statistics. Hentges played in 11 games, including four starts, for Washington in 2019. He caught 8 of his 14 targets for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Minnesota looks to be making Smith its TE1, recently releasing veteran starter Kyle Rudolph.