Stoops like Kentucky's tight end room but "we have to protect" Josh Kattus

Josh Kattus is no stranger to injuries, missing two games last season (Vanderbilt, Louisville) and the bowl game vs. Iowa in 2022 with various maladies. He also sat out Kentucky’s preseason scrimmages this year with a wrap around his left leg. Although the Cats’ tight end room is loaded this season with talent and experience, Mark Stoops knows the junior a** kicker is hugely important to Bush Hamdan’s offense, not only as a pass catcher but as a blocker.

“It’s a good group,” Stoops said at today’s press conference. “There’s some experience in there. [Josh] Kattus is a guy where — again, Josh, you just want him healthy. I think that’s something that we have to protect him a little bit and just make sure that he’s ready to go.”

Kattus has played in 22 games over two seasons, with 15 catches for 233 yards and two touchdowns. Despite whatever minor injury (or precaution) kept him out of the scrimmages, Kattus is listed atop Kentucky’s Week 1 depth chart at the Y tight end position, with freshman Willie Rodriguez at No. 2. Redshirt junior Jordan Dingle is No. 1 at the H tight end spot, with sophomore Khamari Anderson as his backup. Each got a shoutout from Stoops today.

“Jordan [Dingle] is a guy that we have a lot of confidence in. Khamari [Anderson], you want to see growth out of him. And the other one that showed up in camp that we think can contribute is Willie Rodriguez [Rodriguez]. He’s shown us and done some good things.”

Earlier this month, Kentucky associate head coach and tight ends coach Vince Marrow singled Rodriguez out, comparing the former Covington Catholic star to Kattus in terms of physicality.

“The other guy I’ve been impressed with is Willie Rodriguez,” Marrow said at Media Day. “Willie is a guy that really kind of reminds me of how Kattus came in here, so, the physicality, they know they’re not gonna play if they’re not physical in my room.”

Hopefully, Kattus stays healthy enough to show Rodriguez the ropes. And cleans up those penalties.

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