Josh Cuevas takes mom’s work ethic to NFL Combine

INDIANAPOLIS — Long before Josh Cuevas stepped onto an SEC field at Alabama, he understood what it meant to push through. He learned the meaning of hard work and dedication by watching his mother, Andrea Ozaeta, spend Sunday mornings cooking, cleaning and getting the family ready for the day. 

The resilient tight end carried that work ethic onto the field and into the adversity he faced when an injury threatened his final season at Alabama.

“Growing up, she instilled that work ethic in me,” Cuevas said at the 2026 NFL Combine. “Getting up on Sunday mornings, cleaning the house, cooking meals and getting the entire family ready to go.” 

Cuevas began his college career at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in the Big Sky Conference. He transferred to Washington as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, where he helped the Huskies reach the National Championship game. From there, he followed coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama. Cuevas became one of quarterback Ty Simpson’s most trusted targets, despite missing the final three regular‑season games. 

Steady climb

His climb through college football traces back to watching his mother go through her own challenges, instilling in the Mexican American tight end the belief that progress comes from taking the next step, even when the starting point is humble.

Alabama tight end Josh Cuevas is ready to binge eat when he’s done at the NFL Combine. The Mexican American from Los Angeles is ready for his mom’s enchiladas, carne con chile and sopa de fideo.
Get it, @little_cuevas ! 🇲🇽🇺🇸#mexicanfood #nfl #nflcombine #nfldraft #Alabama pic.twitter.com/HgyLdzlmiv

— Our Esquina (@OurEsquina) February 26, 2026

“She started in little branches here and there,” he said. “And now she’s a project manager for these large corporations. Seeing her work the ladder just inspired me so much to kind of take it a day at a time and keep building and just chipping away. She’s my biggest inspiration.”

The 6-foot-3, 256-pounder wrapped up his career at Alabama with 37 receptions for 411 yards and four touchdowns. In Week 12, Cuevas fractured his foot in the Crimson Tide’s 23-21 loss against Oklahoma. Doctors said that he could return if Alabama reached the College Football Playoffs.

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After the No. 9 Tide secured a rematch with the Sooners, Cuevas came back and contributed three receptions for 35 yards in a 34–24 first‑round victory. 

“Yeah. It was devastating,” Cuevas said. “After that Oklahoma game, I was informed that I had fractured my fourth metatarsal in my foot. 

“Meeting with the surgeon, he was like, ‘This isn’t surgical, so it’s not the end of the world, but this is something you might have to miss a few weeks for.’ At that point, I had figured my season was over.

“As soon as there was a chance that it was non-surgical and there was a chance I could come back and play if we made a deep run in the playoffs. We ran with that chance.” 

Ready for enchiladas

Cuevas treated his rehab with the same day‑to‑day discipline he learned from watching his mother. 

“I started doing rehab a few times a day, every day, just kind of getting better,” he said. “And then, finally, we made that run into the first round of the playoffs. I was able to play. I was extremely grateful for that.”

Cuevas told reporters that he would participate in all of the events at the combine, feeling confident about his foot injury. He also revealed that he interviewed with the Chicago Bears. Afterward, he plans to binge-eat some of his mother’s homemade cooking.

“My mom makes some bomb enchiladas, like, straight from scratch,” he said. “She got carne con chile. She made me some sopa de fideo. I’m gonna binge-eat probably at home as soon as this thing ends.”