MotSaG Look at the Tight Ends

Let’s admit that last season the position of the Tight End was under utilized. The Buckeyes tight ends combined for 17 receptions for 217 yards.

Key Losses: This is a position that didn’t have any key players lost from last season. I know Jake Stoneburner was a tight end but he moved over to wide receiver for Ohio State last season. This last week there was a Buckeye tight end that was unfortunately lost to a career ending injury. Urban Meyer confirmed that redshirt freshman Blake Thomas suffered an injury that ended his football career.

2013 Starters: Jeff Heuerman a 6 foot 6 inch junior from Naples Florida is a tall and athletic target for Braxton Miller. He played in 11 games his freshman season and all 12 last season. Being the most experienced tight end is apt blocker and route runner. Jeff said he feels more comfortable playing in Tom Hermans offense this training camp compared to last season and expects big things.

The other co-starter Nick Vannett who is another large body coming in at 6 foot 6 inches and weighing 255 pounds. A redshirt sophomore who finished fifth in receptions last season. Vannett played in all 12 games last season.

Other Tight Ends: True freshman Marcus Baugh is Urban Meyer’s first tight end recruited for Ohio State. He comes to Columbus from Riverside, CA, and is going to be another large target for Miller possibly. Baugh stands 6 foot 4 inches and weighs 233 pounds. Marcus is going to have to work extremely hard to get on the field this season. He got himself into some legal trouble this summer and has landed square in Meyer’s dog house. He will be suspended for the first game of the season and still hasn’t yet (at the time of me writing this post) had his black stripe removed.

Charles Kinzig from Gates Mills is a walk on this winter. Like Heuerman and Vannett, Kinzig is a beast standing at 6 foot 6 inches and weighing 235 pounds. It is too early to tell what type of player he might be for the Buckeyes.

Former defensive lineman J.T. Moore was just announced as moving from the defensive line to the tight end position this last week by Urban. Moore is 6 foot 3 inches and weighs 262 pounds and is a junior. Not sure what to make of this move just yet but Meyer and company must see something in him.

Expectations: This season everyone is expecting all offensive positions to step up and be more of a threat. We all know that Meyer and Herman expect better play from their tight ends and know how to use them properly. This big strong guys will be a great help blocking for the running game and their height should be an advantage in the end zone for Braxton this year.

Here is a highlight of Jeff Heuerman catching the two point conversion against Purdue this last season to help the Buckeyes tie up the game sending it into overtime where the Buckeyes pulled out the tight win.