Jeff Brohm and his staff have shown throughout his career as a head coach and offensive coordinator that they have a consistent ability to develop and utilize tight ends on offense. Brohm was unable to do much with the group last year, as he inherited an inexperienced and thin group from the previous team. The issues of 2023 will likely not impact this season, as the team has worked hard and added some veterans to complement the young talent returning from the group.
I think we’ll have to wait until the first offensive game of the season to find out who starts at tight end this season. After a few fall practices, I feel like Nate Kurisky could keep his starting position despite all the new additions. Kurisky joined late last year and caught 11 of his 18 balls in the final four games of the season. I honestly think his consistency and ability to create space will keep him at least at the top of the rotation.
Mark Redman has been one of the best additions on the offensive side of the ball after hauling in 38 catches and 3 touchdowns for San Diego State last season. Redman has plenty of experience and at 6’4″, 250 lbs, he has the size you want to see at the position. Personally, I wasn’t overly impressed with Redman’s athleticism in the small sample size I was able to see in practice, but in speaking with others who were able to get through more practices, they were impressed as he got more reps in practice.
Versatility is the most important factor with the next group of guys in the group. Jamari Johnson can do it all for this offense. UofL has used him in both the slot and the backfield as an H-back. In my personal opinion, he looked slimmed down this fall, but he still has the size to be a good blocker if he can continue to develop in that area. Johnson has the potential. Now it’s just a matter of seeing if he can fulfill that potential.
Another wild card at the tight end position is Jaleel Skinner, who came over from Miami. Skinner is incredibly long and athletic, but also very thin. I would compare him to Adonijah Green, but on offense. He does have skills, but his frame makes it difficult to use him at the end of the line to block defensive linemen and linebackers. However, with Caullin Lacy out for part of the season, I expect Brohm to use tight ends much more often than expected. Having an option like Skinner to split off, move around, and create matchup problems will be very helpful.
One of the more interesting additions to the team this year is former UK tight end Izayah Cummings. The former Male High School star is versatile enough to play wherever the offense needs him, while also having enough size to handle the blocking duties required for the position. Cummings didn’t have a great career at UK, but if he can be the guy he was in 2021, when he caught 14 passes and 3 touchdowns, he will have been an asset to the offense.
OUTBREAKOUT CANDIDATES
It’s Jamari Johnson and I think he separated himself from the group with Lacy’s injury. UofL is going to need guys to step up and Johnson has the talent to be used as a creative option for Brohm. One of the reasons you hire Jeff Brohm is because he can get points and yards on offense even without having a lot of options. Well, he has options even without Lacy and I think Johnson will be at the top of the list of guys Brohm needs to get this offense going.
