Tennessee probably didn’t expect as much as they’ve gotten out of tight end transfer Miles Kitselman when he made the move from Alabama following the 2023 season.
Perhaps the Vols would get a good – or even great – blocker when Kitselman transferred. Perhaps Tennessee would get a tight end who could read some defenses and get open a few times and catch a couple of passes. However, the Vols probably didn’t expect Kitselman to be the key feature of a game plan that was designed to beat an SEC opponent. However, that’s certainly what he was last week against Kentucky.
Kitselman reeled in a career-best six catches for a game and career-high 97 yards against the Cats, including a six-yard snag with 33 seconds to go in the third quarter for his third receiving touchdown of the season. Kitselman’s 97 receiving yards against Kentucky are the most by a Vol tight end in a single game since Mychal Rivera had 129 yards receiving vs. Missouri in 2012.
Kitselman now has 12 receptions for 175 yards and three touchdowns. He would have four scores this season had it not been for a bone-jarring hit delivered on the goal line that dislodged the ball. The pass was arguably thrown a bit late by Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava.
Let’s put that in perspective for a moment. Kitselman didn’t catch any passes in 2023 at Alabama and only two passes for 18 yards in 2022. Has he exceeded expectations? No doubt.
“First things first,” Tennessee tight end Alec Abeln said. “The kid just loves playing football. Usually when you have that, the rest falls into place. Just an unbelievable work ethic, unbelievable amount of prep he puts in each week. Getting to see him make the most of the opportunity Saturday was cool.”
One of those receptions probably scared Tennessee’s coaches just a bit when Iamaleava decided to throw the ball against his body, which is usually considered a cardinal sin, and found Kitselman alone in the back of the end zone. Quarterbacks are never supposed to throw back into the field of play. Usually, bad things happen. Iamaleava made it work thanks to Kitselman being ready.
“He was just being a ball player,” Abeln said. “The tight zone played out totally different than we expected than what’s on tape and really three years of going against that defense. Honestly, it was a dead play, but those two guys just made it right. It was special. I was up in the box when it happened, and we were losing our minds. Pretty cool.”
Indeed. The play illustrates two things. First, Tennessee’s downfield receivers don’t give up on plays no matter how challenging the defense might be. Second, Iamaleava had the ability to make a play off schedule. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel probably doesn’t want that becoming the norm, but he certainly wasn’t complaining on Saturday.
The tight end position probably won’t be as much of a focal point this week. With the 15th worst passing defense in the country, the Vols wideouts and slot receivers are likely to take center stage against Mississippi State on Saturday when the No. 7 Vols host the Bulldogs on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST in Neyland Stadium.
