2023 Kentucky Position Previews: Tight End

Kentucky’s fall camp is right around the corner. Before the Cats officially begin the 2023 season in August, KSR is taking a closer look at the roster and analyzing each position group. Personnel, storylines, questions, and one bold prediction will be included.

Up next is a deep tight end room for an offense that could be forced to play a lot of 12 and 13 personnel due to the quality depth Vince Marrow has in his position room.

KSR Position Previews: Quarterback, Tailback, Wide Receiver

Personnel

Kentucky enters the season with six scholarship tight ends with three players who played 240-plus snaps last season. There is great experience, depth, and a pair of potential draft picks in this room with good class balance.

— Brenden Bates (Super): The Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller product is entering year six in the program and has played over 900 offensive snaps in his career. At 251 pounds, Bates gives the offense some much-needed size as a true Y tight end who also has 22 career receptions.

— Izayah Cummings (Senior): A former X receiver, the Louisville (Ky.) Male product is entering year three tight end and is looking for a resurgence after a disappointing junior campaign. The flex tight end had a strong year in 2021 (14 receptions, 195 yards, 3 touchdowns) with Liam Coen calling plays in 2021.

— Jordan Dingle (Redshirt Sophomore): The former top-500 recruit out of Bowling Green (Ky.) High, Dingle had a strong 2022 season (20 receptions, 220 yards, 3 touchdowns, 493 snaps) playing an off-ball tight end role for offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello. Dingle is the top candidate to lead the tight end room in targets and has a chance to become Devin Leary‘s No. 3 option in the passing game. However, big strides need to be made as a blocker.

pic.twitter.com/VhD0XEzV5H

— Follow @TPortalCFB (@CowardlyDoggo) October 1, 2022

— Josh Kattus (Sophomore): A surprising contributor as a true freshman, Kattus quickly became one of the best blockers on the team and flashed sure hands as a pass catcher. Positional flexibility will be big for the sophomore who can play a key H-back role that UK will use as a lead blocker in run concepts. The man the “11 Personnel” podcast has given the “Ass Kicker” moniker could make a huge impact in the run game for the Wildcats.

— Khamari Anderson (Freshman): A long-time Cincinnati commit, Kentucky pounced on the Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech product once Luke Fickell left for Wisconsin. The four-star tight end was an early enrollee and certainly looked the part during spring practice. However, a loaded room likely ends in a redshirt season for Anderson.

— Tanner Lemaster (Freshman): The Ohio signee was a summer enrollee at Kentucky who will also likely take a redshirt season in year one. The 253-pound rookie is a true Y tight end that will spend most of his career playing in-line.

Expected starter

Is Kentucky running 11 or 12 personnel?

Brenden Bates, Jordan Dingle, and Josh Kattus each enter the season expected to play big roles on offense. Izayah Cummings is a wild card after giving a large number of spring practice reps since the top three sat out with various injuries. We should expect a heavy rotation at tight end with high usage.

Jordan Dingle is my favorite to lead the position group in snaps as he will bring real passing game value to the offense.

One Big Question: Can the sophomores take the next step?

We should not have wait long before Jordan Dingle and Josh Kattus emerge as the top two options for this position. Can each avoid the sophomore slump?

Kentucky will need Dingle to be a valuable receiver who can be a real target over the middle in the intermediate passing game. Kattus will play a key role as a blocker who is used as a formation chess piece by Liam Coen. The Wildcats need both of these players to be good.

If both take the next step, the floor for the offense raises. Devin Leary will have a legitimate middle-of-the-field target to gobble up easy completions, and Kattus could help Kentucky create a better explosive play rate on rushing attempts as a lead blocker on the edge.

Key Storyline: Kentucky throws the football to the tight end

The Big Blue Nation loves to see the tight end position involved in the passing game. Throughout C.J. Conrad‘s entire tenure, fans asked more a higher target share for the four-star recruit from Ohio. At times in 2023, there will be calls into the postgame show asking for more tight end usage.

While no one will make a run at James Whalen’s single-season tight end receptions record (90) but there will be close attention paid to the position usage in the throw game.

Jordan Dingle is the top one to watch but both Brenden Bates and Josh Kattus can be capable weapons in the play-action game. Expect this group to be involved.

One Bold Prediction: Josh Kattus becomes a fan favorite

Those that have paid attention know that we’re big fans of Josh Kattus here at KSR. The young tight end is a ferocious blocker who flashed some pop as a pass catcher in year one.

Long catch and run @will_levis ➡️ @JKattus

📺 – @SECNetwork 📲 – https://t.co/akKaje8kwm pic.twitter.com/IkMvuYmrZx

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 26, 2022

Now in a more prominent role, we will see some more violent blocks to go along with some physical run-after-catch moments. Expect Kattus to quickly become a fan favorite this fall.

Should we start making some “Ass Kicker” t-shirts?