A new era for tight ends

[aubiefifty 18,231]

al.com

 

A new era for Auburn’s tight ends should arrive this spring

By Tom Green | tgreen@al.com

5-7 minutes

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We’re taking a look at each position group as Auburn prepares to open spring practice on March 16. The fourth of a 10-part series looks at the tight ends.

Auburn’s tight end room is the deepest it has been in years, with six scholarship players on the roster heading into spring practices. That’s sure to be a welcome sight for Bryan Harsin, offensive coordinator Mike Bobo and tight ends coach Brad Bedell as they embark on Year 1 on the Plains.

The tight end position has caused plenty of consternation among Auburn fans in recent years — mostly due to the position’s lack of use and production in the passing game during former coach Gus Malzahn’s tenure. That’s likely to change this season, given the wealth of depth at that spot and Harsin’s prior offenses.

Auburn hasn’t had a tight end finish with double-digit receptions in a season since 2014, when C.J. Uzomah had 11 catches for 145 yards and three touchdowns. During Harsin’s time as Boise State’s head coach, meanwhile, the Broncos had two tight ends finish with at least 10 receptions in all seven of his seasons. In that same span, Boise State had four tight ends with at least 20 receptions in a season, with three of those eclipsing the 30-catch mark.

After years of hearing about how tight ends would be more involved in Auburn’s passing game, it may finally be safe to expect more usage and production from the Tigers’ tight ends under the new regime.

Projected depth chart:

John Samuel Shenker, senior, nine receptions for 97 yards.

J.J. Pegues, sophomore, seven receptions for 57 yards; five carries for 14 yards; one pass attempt. OR

Luke Deal, redshirt sophomore, two receptions for 11 yards.

Brandon Frazier, sophomore, two receptions for 13 yards.

Tyler Fromm, redshirt sophomore, zero receptions after appearing in just one game.

Landen King, freshman, three-star prospect who enrolled in January.

Departed: N/A.

Due to arrive in the fall: N/A.

Outlook: Auburn’s tight end room hasn’t been this robust and laden with talent in recent memory, with two former blue-chip prospects in J.J. Pegues and Brandon Frazier, a versatile veteran in John Samuel Shenker and three other budding options in Luke Deal, Tyler Fromm and newcomer Landen King.

The cupboard certainly wasn’t left bare for Harsin and his staff this spring.

At the top of the depth chart will likely be the Tigers’ most experienced player at the position, Shenker, the lone senior in the group and the only fifth-year senior at an offensive skill position on this year’s roster. Shenker has been Auburn’s most used tight end in recent seasons, including last year when he appeared in all 11 games and made nine starts. His nine receptions for 97 yards (and a 2-point conversion) were the most by an Auburn tight end since Uzomah in 2014. While there is plenty of talent behind him at tight end this season, Shenker — with his versatility and wealth of experience — should be the leader of this emerging group heading into his final year.

Behind Shenker in usage last season were Deal and Pegues, who each saw their share of action last season. The 6-foot-6, 247-pounder saw time in all 11 games last season, making his first career start against Arkansas. He only had two catches for 11 yards and was primarily used as an in-line tight end. He’s still developing as a pass-catcher, but his size and skillset should be an interesting fit for tight ends coach Brad Bedell, who has prior experience as an offensive line coach at Boise State under Harsin.

Pegues, meanwhile, was one of the most talked-about newcomers on last year’s team, and for good reason. The 6-foot-2, 300-pound unicorn did a little bit of everything as a freshman in 2020, appearing in all 11 games and earning one start. He lined up out wide, in-line, in the backfield and as Auburn’s trigger-man in the Wildcat formation—while also displaying some rare athleticism for his size, hurdling defenders and making would-be tacklers miss in the open field with spin moves. How he fits into this new-look Auburn offense, given his unique skillset, is something to keep an eye on this offseason.

Another newcomer last fall who saw the field, despite missing more than half the season due to injury, was Frazier. The 6-foot-7, 270-pounder has natural pass-catching ability and, given his size, could be a big-time downfield receiving option at tight end for Auburn moving forward.

Auburn also has Fromm, a redshirt sophomore whose saw little action last season after his 2019 campaign was derailed by injury. Fromm is a natural tight end with receiver-like ability, and this spring should be key for him after struggling to climb the depth chart last season. Then there’s King, the newest member of the group. The three-star prospect out of Texas had 92 catches for 1,324 yards and 14 touchdowns over his final two high school seasons. It may be difficult for him to crack the rotation this fall, given Auburn’s depth at the position, but being an early enrollee will certainly be big for his future development.

Up next: Offensive line.

Tom Green is an Auburn beat reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Tomas_Verde.

[W.E.D 11,071]

It'll be interesting to see how this group shakes out. 

JSS isn't going to be here for all of spring and playing baseball.

Hopefully we see JJ about 30# lighter.  he has no reason to be 280.  Then the backlog of sophmores...can anyone separate themselves?  Wouldn't be surprised if one guy from this group ends up transferring.  Especially if they get passed by King, who I though looked better than a 3* on film.

[aubiefifty 18,231]

i wonder if some will be moved to other positions since we have so many bodies in the tight end group? maybe one or two moved to receiver or eslewhere?

[W.E.D 11,071]

13 minutes ago, aubiefifty said:

i wonder if some will be moved to other positions since we have so many bodies in the tight end group? maybe one or two moved to receiver or eslewhere?

If they moved anywhere they could be made OL.  Not really sure any have the make up to be a true WR