Kentucky Football: What does BBN really want to see from the Wildcat offense
By Eric Thorne
A position that has not been more underused and neglected, and not because of lack of talent is the tight end.
Kentucky tight ends caught 29 passes all of last season for 357 yards, Keeton Upshaw 16 for 198; Justin Rigg 12 for 145, and Brenden Bates 1 for 14. That equates to Wildcat tight ends averaging a mere 2.6 receptions per contest.
Coen’s offense should incorporate more formations that will bring this position more into play and hopefully equate to more balls coming in their direction. They don’t have to be for long yardage, but when you need those 6 to 7 yards we need to find Justin Rigg, Brenden Bates, Izayah Cummings, and Jordan Dingle.
Stoops has been heaping praise on this group in practice especially Bates.
"“Brenden Bates, I believe, is one of the best players we have on our team,” said Stoops. “A complete tight end. He’s got a lot of pop to him. He’s very sudden — can make explosive blocks and can run and catch.”"
Cummings, a speedster out of Louisville Male, has moved over to tight end and should be a very interesting weapon with a catch and run.
Hopefully, we can see more double tight end sets not only for catching but to free the receivers and keep defenses off guard with something that hasn’t been used for a very long time.
There is size as well with juniors Rigg standing 6-foot-6 and Bates at 6-foot-5. Cummings is listed third on the depth chart and the sophomore is 6-foot-3.