Freshman Willie Rodriguez Pushing Veteran Kentucky Tight Ends

by:Nick Roush•about 14 hours•

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Kentucky TE Willie Rodriguez, via Carter Skaggs-Imagn Images

The Ohio game served as an opportunity to get more underclassmen experience. On the first offensive snap of the game, freshman Willie Rodriguez was lined up at tight end, officially giving him the first start of his Kentucky career.

Tight ends coach Vince Marrow acknowledged that it wasn’t meant to be a special recognition for the freshman. He is simply a part of the package for the first play that was called, but Rodriguez has earned an opportunity for consistent playing time.

“I don’t want to take nothing away from him. Willie has done some good stuff. You play hard, do the right things, strain, I’m going to play you,” said Marrow.

“He’s playing like a second-year guy instead of a first-year. You see his physicality, how he looks, how he goes about it, he reminds me of a young Kattus. He really cares. He’s going to be a good player here.”

Rodriguez has appeared in every game on special teams and lined up at tight end for about 10 snaps in each of the last three games. The Northern Kentucky native was not so sure that he would be on the field this much this early, especially without a spring practice under his belt. The veterans in the tight end room helped him quickly learn his tasks and responsibilities.

“Obviously, physicality, playing the SEC is gonna be rough, but I think the biggest thing is mentally, being able to slow things down and play without hesitating,” Rodriguez told KSR. “Once you learn and get it down, which I’m starting to do, things really slow down in the game and you can really play fast.”

He’s playing fast and playing more frequently. The others in the room — Josh Kattus, Jordan Dingle, and Khamari Anderson — have seen this as a challenge from their coach and are answering the call.

“He has earned it. Coming out of training camp, he was making a lot of noise. Them guys were seeing it,” said Marrow.

“And to be quite honest, them guys were in that position two years ago when they were freshmen and I had Keaton (Upshaw) and (Brenden) Bates. They earned it and I told ’em I’d do the same thing (with Rodriguez). Kattus, Dingle, and Khamari have graded out very well the last two games and I think a little bit has to do with a freshman getting in there.”

Every Kentucky fan is anxious to see the big tight ends get the ball more frequently. Where they’re most needed right now is in the trenches. Pass protection has been an issue and the Cats need more explosive plays in the running game. Rodriguez’s punishing style is just what the doctor ordered.

“Running the ball is one of my favorite things to do, blocking, just dominating the line of scrimmage,” said the freshman. “I think that’s a really good thing, a key part to being a good football team is being able to run the football. I like the momentum it gives the team.”