Will the tight ends be an upgrade over last year?
A year ago this group was returning all of their production from 2022 and it was a certain upgrade, right? Well, it is a good lesson that improvement is not guaranteed just because you have everyone returning. Maybe it was the quarterback play plus a new offensive coordinator, or maybe it was just a bad year. But it was a regression in 2023. Can they be better in 2024?
2023
Starter: Brevyn Spann-Ford
Depth: Nick Kallerup, Jamison Geers
After catching 42 passes for 497 yards in 2022, Spann-Ford was limited to just 25 receptions for 239 yards in 2023. It was a perfect storm of different play-calling from the new offensive coordinator, some really poor passes from the new quarterback and then BSF managed to drop some catchable balls. It was not a great season for him in the passing game.
Kallerup and Geers combined for 5 receptions last year in the passing game. Kallerup was primarily used in the run-game as a blocker while Geers was often spelling Spann-Ford.
2024
Starter: Geers, Kallerup
Depth: Pierce Walsh, Sam Peters, Nathan Jones
Spann-Ford is currently trying to make the Cowboy’s roster and his starting spot needs to be filled.
Geers and Kallerup are the guys you will most often see on the field. Geers started in the bowl game where he made both of his catches for the season and scored a touchdown. After sitting behind BSF for three seasons, it will be his year to be the guy. This will be his redshirt junior year and he appears to be more than ready to be a starting caliber TE in the Big Ten.
Behind him will be a couple of freshmen who will get some opportunity as they wait their turn to get more reps. Pierce Walsh and Sam Peters spent last year learning the ropes as they redshirted.
Kallerup will return to his role as a mauling tight end. He is entering his final season with the program and is one of the more under-recognized contributors to the rushing attack. He will be backed up by Nathan Jones, a redshirt sophomore out of Texas.
Upgrade/Downgrade
In a passing offense that has not shown to utilize the tight end, this unit is rarely heard from. Spann-Ford was a very talented end, who was underutilized. So it is hard to hold expectations for this unit to be impactful as a receiving unit. I like Geers and am excited to see him get an opportunity. But his impact is going to be as much dictated by offensive philosophy as it is his talent.
On the other hand, Kallerup is a major factor in the run game. I think we can expect that he’ll be as good as last season, likely improved. Both of these guys are going to be involved in run-blocking, but Kallerup seems to specialize in it.
I feel like this group will essentially be neutral with opportunity to be an upgrade.