Tennessee isn’t just depending on one player to keep the Vols’ tight end production afloat. It’s a group affair.
Highly touted transfer Holden Staes from Notre Dame is expected to gobble up most of the snaps and receptions given he was the No. 1 tight end prospect in last year’s transfer portal class. Recruitniks are excited about the athletic Ethan Davis, who intends on going from the basketball court to the tackle box with his physical ability now that he’s 242 pounds instead of 225.
“Really comfortable,” tight ends coach Alec Abeln said when asked about the influx of new players. “We’ll see if anybody can carry the ball here the way (former Vol) Princeton (Fant) did. As far as what kids put on our plate, being out in space and being in the box, being in the pro, running some really deep routes.
“There’s a lot that’s asked of those guys, and the challenge is finding guys that can do all of that where you’re not having to call certain things when certain guys are in. I feel like we have that in our room.”
Abeln said he feels Tennessee is “headed in the right direction” in terms of finding three Vols who can play tight end at the same time. That has been the challenge as the Vols have primarily played just two tight ends over the past two seasons. To play three tight ends extensively, the Vols will have to rely on Miles Kitselman, who transferred from Alabama.
“I would say how wide we play,” Kitselman said of the challenge of playing in Tennessee’s offense. “Obviously, everybody knows that, how wide and how fast we play. Just getting into that transition to that feel, but it’s great. The coaches are great bringing me in and just helping me out with everything. I think now, like halfway through spring ball I have a really good feel for it. So, I’m just excited to see what the fall brings.”
If things continue to go well, the fall should bring three competent tight ends.
