Just when you think you’ve got Tennessee football coach Josh Heupel figured out, he up and throws out a totally new offense. Oh, that Heupel.
I’ll admit that I threw out a, “Wow, look at that,” on Saturday night when I saw Heupel use two-tight ends in the middle of the field during the beginning of the game against North Carolina State. Heupel has used two tight ends before so it wasn’t completely new. However, the formation has been most often used in short-yardage situations or with a tight end, such as Princeton Fant in 2022, when Fant lined up in the backfield, technically as a fullback. This, however, if you were paying attention, was something different.
The Vols leaned on an offense made up of two tight ends, Holden Staes and Miles Kitselman, lined up as tight ends to overwhelm a defense that was made up of three defensive linemen and three linebackers. North Carolina State’s defensive formation created more pressure on some situations, such as the center position, in which Cooper Mays said he wasn’t too fond of. Why? Because he had a defensive lineman on his nose the entire game. However, it created opportunities for others, such as those two tight ends that no one was talking about before the game.
“I think it was successful just because it allowed us to create a lot of different mismatch problems for the N.C. State defense, particularly me and Miles Kitselman,” Staes said. “Going into that game we knew we would be heavily used in the run game and just create seams for our backs. We took pride in that going into the game and just wanted to be the guys that opened up the run and allowed us to throw the ball downfield as a result of that…I feel like we did it really well. I was happy with the way I played, just throwing my hat in there and being physical and helping the team ultimately get a win.”
While Staes was primarily a blocker in the new look, he also caught a pass for 18 yards and a touchdown. Kitselman also was a factor in the passing game, with three receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown. The Vols now have three tight ends that have impacted games for the Vols. Redshirt freshman Ethan Davis caught two passes for 20 yards and a touchdown in the Vols’ season-opening game against Chattanooga. The Vols didn’t need their two-tight end system against the Mocs and might not need it all season, but it’s ready if need be.
“Yeah for sure,” Staes said. “I think we definitely have the talent in the room to do it. That’s one thing me, Ethan Davis and Miles Kitselman always talk about, just being on the field at the same time, just creating a lot of problems for the defense.
“That is one thing the coaches have talked about and just knowing that we’re capable of doing it, they put a lot on our plate last week.”
During the game, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit made reference to the Vols’ tight end play and how he was told by Heupel that the Vols were at their best with elite play at that position. Tennessee seems to have just that this season.
The move by Heupel to deviate from his usual personnel, which is typically one tight end, three receivers and one running back, shows just how good of a coach he is. I feel quite certain that the two-tight end look was prepared before the Vols even played Chattanooga. Tennessee could have used a four-tight end set and beat Mocs. The formation also shows Oklahoma something else to prepare for when the Vols play the Sooners on Sept. 21.
Yes, I’m aware that Kent State is Tennessee’s next opponent. However, you and I could start on Saturday and still beat the Flashes. Kent State is one of the worst football teams in college football. The Vols can overlook Kent State and still win by 50. No, seriously.
In fact, don’t be surprised if Heupel pulls out another look for the Sooners to consider. These first three games are proving to be a testing ground for a coach that could soon be considered one of the best in the county – if he isn’t already.
Then, there’s the way Tennessee assembled its tight end trio. The Vols evaluated Davis early in the high school recruiting process and landed the four-star prospect over several other scholarship offers.
To fill in the gaps, Tennessee landed Kitselman from Alabama and Staes from Notre Dame in the transfer portal. The one-sided win against the Wolfpack looked easy, but it was actually ingenious in more ways than one. It’s also another example of how Heupel is constantly ahead of the curve.
