Film Room: Henry Boyer

Kentucky lost three scholarship players to the transfer portal after the 2024 season ended. Khamari Anderson (Arizona State) and Jordan Dingle (South Carolina) landed at power conference programs. Josh Kattus is returning for his senior season but the pro-style offense in Lexington had snap volume to fill.

Willie Rodriguez is slated to step into a much bigger role as a sophomore and four-star recruiting win Mikkel Skinner could play a hybrid position, but the Cats need a true in-line tight end with size.

lllinois transfer Henry Boyer will give Bush Hamdan‘s offense just that.

The Big Ten transfer with two years of eligibility remaining was a name many likely forgot about during the portal madness in December, but the Chicago (Ill.) Brother Rice product should have a clear defined role in Kentucky’s offense as a block-first tight end that can be a true factor in the downhill run game.

KSR’s Film Room is checking out the tape to see what Henry Boyer will bring to Lexington. The transfer is bringing terrific size (6-6, 270) the the offense.

Run game value

Henry Boyer played in a 11 personnel-heavy offense at Illinois that would only really go to heavy sets in short-yardage situations. The big tight end was then used when the Fighting Illini wanted to have more size on the field.

The pad level can be high at times, but the big tight end added value as a blocker and was often used in an off-ball position. Boyer recorded successful run blocks against defensive tackles, defensive ends, linebackers, and cornerbacks.

Boyer creates movement on a Purdue off-ball linebacker at the goal line, makes good contact against a Michigan cornerback and creates some movement before falling off the block, and flips his hips against a Oregon defensive end to create a crease in the low red zone that turns into a Illinois touchdown on the road.

The blocking tight end flashes some positional versatility, but most of all, this is a productive run blocker who can hold his own against different body types and give a short-yardage package some more strength in a jumbo package.

Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (No. 55) will be a first-round pick and was a dominant player last year in the Big Ten. Boyer sizes up very well with him.

A true fit in Kentucky’s offense

Kentucky used a heavy volume of 12 personnel in year one under Bush Hamadan. That usage rate could go down in year two with improved offensive line play, but the Wildcats will want to play with two tight ends frequently.

This could give Henry Boyer some more playing time.

The Big Ten transfer is a clear block-first tight end who can create movement. Kentucky’s short-yardage offense was a massive issue in 2024. Adding Nebraska transfer Dante Dowdell and a brand new offensive line from the portal is Kentucky’s plan to fix that issue. Henry Boyer will help.

Kentucky did not add the redshirt junior to catch a ton of passes. This was an addition to give the offense some much needed size and power at tight end. Expect the transfer to have a clear role on offense. Boyer should be on the field a ton when Kentucky gets into obvious run situations.