Cade Brewer says tight ends 'do it all' in Steve Sarkisian's offense

Texas tight end Cade Brewer seemed excited to discuss his role in the Longhorns’ new-look offense — and that’s because first-year head coach Steve Sarkisian sees his tight ends as far more than just a checkdown option.

“We’re obviously, in some situations, some plays, we’re checkdowns,” Brewer said. “But there’s a lot of shots, too. We’ve just got to get in the perfect situation, and there’s a lot of shot plays that will be coming this year. We’re not just a checkdown.”

Brewer, a fifth-year tight end recently selected to the 2021 John Mackey Award preseason watch list, has every reason to be excited with the implementation of these shot plays. He’s been used rather scarcely the past four seasons, and in 2020 reeled in 15 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

But now, that production could improve significantly.

“It’s very important,” Brewer said of the tight ends’ role in Sarkisian’s offense. “We do everything, honestly. Coach [Jeff] Banks said the other day it’s probably the toughest position to play on this team, especially the offense.”

Banking on greater results

Banks, previously the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach at Alabama, came to Texas this offseason to fill that same role in Sarkisian’s first-year staff. In just a few years with the Crimson Tide, Banks was able to develop an All-American in Irv Smith Jr., and he frequently utilizes two tight ends in the passing game. Just last season, Alabama tight ends Jahleel Billingsley and Miller Forristall combined for over 500 yards on 41 receptions.

“We’re the do-it-all guy on offense,” Brewer said. “We’re blocking, we’ve got to be an o-lineman at some times, we’ve got to be a receiver, we’ve got to know all the route concepts, we’ve got to know all the run concepts, it’s a lot. It’s a lot on our plates, but we’ve got the guys to do it. All of us in the room are very smart and capable of doing it, and we’ve had a great camp so far, so I’m looking forward to the season.”

Brewer isn’t the only tight end that could contribute for the Longhorns, as their crowded room features another returning player in Jared Wiley, as well as three freshman in five-star Ja’Tavion Sanders, three-star Juan Davis and three-star Gunnar Helm.