All associated with Tennessee’s football program enjoyed the win over Alabama. Former Crimson Tide tight end Miles Kitselman probably enjoyed it just a bit more.
“It was great,” the transfer from Tuscaloosa said on Monday. “Just being able to see those guys that were always brothers to me and will still be brothers to me, but being able to beat them was bittersweet. I’ll never forget that night in Neyland. That was awesome.”
Kitselman may have enjoyed the win against Bama, but he probably hasn’t completely enjoyed his role in recent weeks – at least as a receiver. After catching six passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in the Vols’ first five games, the senior hasn’t caught a pass in the Vols last two contests.
How much can a bye week help his production?
“I would definitely say physically more than anything,” Kitselman said. “Starting to get to that point in the season where nagging pains are starting to become more and more, so being able to take this weekend off and really just get my body back to where it needs to be. Coming into this week feeling really good, so that was a much needed bye week.”
Kitselman said there are times in which he is expected to be a receiver then that direction changes mid-game and he becomes more of a blocker, especially given the Vols woes in trying to attack opponents’ downfield. Kentucky, which is led by defensive guru Mark Stoops, could show any number of defensive looks on Saturday when the No. 7 Vols host the Cats at 7:45 EST in Neyland Stadium.
“They have depth,” Kitselman said. “They play really hard. They play gap sound. Linebackers have good eyes so this is going to be a challenge for us for sure.”
Kitselman – and Tennessee’s tight ends as a whole – have played more this season than before in coach Josh Heupel’s fourth season. The Vols previously relied on three receivers as their base offensive look, but have gone to two tight ends, or 12-personnel at various times this season. That means more playing time for Kitselman. You won’t hear him complaining.
“It’s awesome being able to get in 12-personnel and run the football efficiently,” Kitselman said. “But it’s even better when you can get in 12 personnel, get them in a heavy defense and then spread everything out. That’s where you have mismatches so I just continuing to prove to the coaches that they can trust us and knowing what to do and how to do it…I think we can be really dangerous with it.
Whether the Vols are in 12-personnel or not or whether Tennessee is throwing or running, Kitselman has gobbled up the lion’s share of the snaps at tight end. Freshman Ethan Davis and Notre Dame transfer Holden Staes have played roles, but not nearly as vast as Kitselman has. That’s a testament to Kitsleman, who transferred from Alabama during the offseason, as the Vols previously rotated their tight ends equally.
Kitselman may not have a ton of catches recently, but he’s seen growth from freshman quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who seemed to come into his own in the Vols’ second half against Alabama.
“I would definitely say second half of the Bama game,” Kitselman said when asked about Iamaleava’s growing confidence. “You see Nico kind of get banged up a little bit and you kind of see who he truly is and how he’s built and how he’s made and how he came back in the second half and put up 24 points against a really good defense.
“I think that we’re going to continue to carry that on through the rest of the season…Nico’s a young player and this is a tough league. In that second half (against Alabama), I think we really saw what he could do.”
Iamaleava and the Vols will try to do more – and more of the same – against Kentucky on Saturday.
