If there is one universal truth about the Big Blue Nation, it is this: We love our tight ends. From Jacob Tamme to James Whalen, and C.J. Conrad to Elmore Stephens, this program has always been at its best when it has a safety valve in the middle of the field who can punish linebackers.
But lately, we’ve been waiting for that next great one to emerge.
Enter Will Stein.
The new Kentucky head coach didn't just bring a high-octane offense from Oregon; he brought a blueprint for how to weaponize the tight end position. And if his recent comments are any indication, Willie Rodriguez and Mikkel Skinner are about to become household names.
The "Oregon blueprint"
To understand what is coming, you just have to look at what Stein did with Kenyon Sadiq at Oregon in 2025. Sadiq wasn't just a blocker who caught a pass every now and then. He was a focal point. He finished with 51 catches, 580 yards, and 8 touchdowns. Those are receiver numbers. And Stein thinks he has the personnel in Lexington to replicate that production immediately.
The 'Sadiq' clone: Mikkel Skinner
The most eye-opening quote from Stein came when he talked about Mikkel Skinner, the athletic pass-catcher who has the speed to split out wide like a receiver. Stein didn't shy away from the comparison.
“Mikkel... reminds me somewhat of a Kenyon Sadiq-type player that I had at Oregon, which is a really versatile athlete that we can use in a lot of different ways,” Stein said.
That is a massive compliment. If Skinner can produce even 80% of what Sadiq did, this offense changes completely. Having a tight end who can outrun a linebacker and out-muscle a safety is the ultimate cheat code in the SEC.
The 'culture' win: Willie Rodriguez
Then there is Willie Rodriguez. Getting him back was arguably Stein's first big recruiting win. Rodriguez averaged 13.5 yards per catch last season, showing flashes of being a highlight-reel playmaker. But Stein sees him as even more than that; he sees a chess piece.
“Willie can play a lot of different spots," Stein explained. "I think you can obviously line him up in the core, in the slide, in the backfield. He is kind of wherever you put him, that’s where it looks like he fits."
Stein called getting Rodriguez back a "big get" from a culture standpoint, but let’s be honest: It was a big get because the kid is a baller.
RELATED: See the 1st official Will Stein Transfer Portal class.
The depth pieces
It’s not just a two-man show, either. Henry Boyer brings the physical edge. He will likely be used more as a traditional in-line blocker, but don't sleep on his hands. He is the perfect candidate for those delayed tight end screens that Stein loves to run in the red zone. And keep an eye on Elijah Brown, the former 4-star prospect from the 2022 class. In a versatile offense that uses multiple tight end sets, Brown finally has a clear path to "make some noise."
We have heard coaches talk about "using the tight ends" for years. Usually, it's just talk. But Will Stein has the receipts. He just produced an 8-touchdown tight end at Oregon.
Now, he has Mikkel Skinner and Willie Rodriguez. Get ready, BBN. The tight end is going to get used a lot.