Versatile group of tight ends making a strong early impression for CSU

Colorado State needs more production from its tight ends in 2023. 

A position that’s been revolutionized in the 21st century, and has really become a staple of the best offenses at all levels, tight ends can be some of the most versatile weapons on the field. 

Whether it’s finding open space and giving the quarterback a reliable checkdown option when a play is breaking down, or providing a mismatch in coverage in Red Zone scenarios, tight ends have become a crucial component of keeping drives alive and producing points. 

In the Air Raid offense specifically, the aforementioned aspects are certainly important. What CSU was really missing last fall, though, was the ability to stretch the middle of the field.  

In an interview at the DNVR studio back on National Signing Day, Jay Norvell explained that when opposing defenses played coverage on Tory Horton or Justus Ross-Simmons, CSU didn’t have anybody to attack the middle of the field with. 

When defenses have their safeties shadow over the top and provide help for the cornerbacks, it leaves a lot of room for tight ends to catch balls up the seam. Looking back at Nevada’s offenses under Norvell, the Wolf Pack had a lot of success attacking opponents just like this. With so much talent at the receiver position, defenses wanted to double Romeo Doubbs, but if they did it left them exposed to Cole Turner in between the hashes. 

“We just didn’t have that last year,” Norvell said. 

Coming off a season in which CSU’s tight ends combined for just 21 receptions and one touchdown, the staff made it a priority to add talent to the group for the 2023 campaign. While they are excited for the future of sophomore Jordan Williams, the transfers, Dallin Holker (BYU) and Vincent Brown (College of DuPage), give the Rams more experience and talent to rely on in the passing game as well. 

Holker, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound junior, has already come in and impressed with his maturity and understanding of the role. Following Saturday’s practice, Norvell compared Holker’s feel for the middle of the field to Travis Kelce’s. 

“Those tight ends that really have a feel inside can be a safety blanket for the quarterback and he has that feel,” Norvell said. “He has a feel to get open inside and in space. And Clay (Millen) and him are starting to develop chemistry already.” 

Brown is not quite as thick as Holker, but at 6-foot-7, 215 pounds, he has length for days. He’s a tremendous athlete as well, which is definitely what excites the staff. Much like Turner at Nevada, Brown looks like the type of vertical threat that defensive coordinators see in their nightmares. “He’s just an athletic guy that could stretch the field,” Norvell said. 

After flashing over the final six weeks or so of the 2022 season, Williams could be in store for a bigger role in year two as well.

“Jordan’s a year better,” Norvell said. “He’s been here. He’s not a baby anymore.”

While early indications are that Holker is a guy that is really standing out, all three fit the prototype for what the staff wants from the tight end position. And all three will give CSU a better opportunity to attack the middle of the field with. 

“It takes talent to win outside. But it takes courage to catch the ball in between the hashes, and that’s what we need,” Norvell said. “We need somebody that will go in there and get the ball.”

The Rams had the best tight end in the country in 2021. Looking back at Trey McBride’s final season in the Green & Gold, it’s still insane to see the type of numbers he was able to put up. Opposing defenses knew that McBride was going to get targeted up and down the field but it just didn’t matter. They could not stop him.  

There were high expectations for Tanner Arkin last fall, especially after the Fort Collins native was tabbed preseason All-Mountain West. But like many aspects of the offense in 2022, things just never really came together for Arkin, and the former Fossil Ridge standout has since transferred to the University of Illinois. 

We’re still months from playing the snaps that count, so it’s important not to get too carried away with bold takeaways from the spring practices. That said, it’s definitely encouraging to see the tight ends are making a strong early impression with Norvell and Co. The Rams have a surplus of talent and athleticism out wide, but the ‘x-factor’ for the offense in 2023 may just be this talented group of tight ends in the middle.