Khamari Anderson and Willie Rodriguez are turning heads at tight end

Kentucky Football threw on the full pads for Tuesday’s practice. Afterward, new UK offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan spoke highly of the team’s physicality early into fall training camp. In Hamdan’s first post-practice interview session, he also raved about backup quarterback Gavin Wimsatt as a runner, calling the Rutgers transfer one of the best ball carriers on the team. Freshman Jason Patterson also came up in the conversation as a hard worker in the backfield. After speaking to Hamdan, KSR’s Adam Luckett wrote about Wimsatt, Patterson, and the team’s physicality. New technology was discussed, too.

[First Down Kentucky: Physical, Physical, Physical]

Following Hamdan, Vince Marrow shared his takeaways from the first few days of camp, Marrow’s 12th preseason fall camp in Lexington. As you can imagine, tight ends were a big talking point with the Big Dog, particularly sophomore Khamari Anderson and freshman Willie Rodriguez.

Anderson drew a comparison to former Wildcat tight end Brenden Bates, who is now competing for a spot with the Chicago Bears, in how he can line up as a Y tight end, although Marrow noted that Anderson has a little more twitch and athleticism than Bates.

“He’s 6-5. He can run. He actually catches like a receiver. His skill set is like a receiver, but he’s a big kid,” Marrow said, recalling Anderson’s first career catch in last year’s Governor’s Cup. Anderson’s 11-yard play picked up a critical first down for the Wildcats, to which Marrow thought, “Oh, OK, we’ve got something for next year.”

Hamdan added that Anderson is a guy they’re really looking to get going this season.

Freshman tight end to watch

Marrow’s tight end room is crowded with Anderson expected to contribute in his sophomore season, and key returners Josh Kattus and Jordan Dingle. However, one of the newcomers is already making a strong case for playing time, too.

“The other guy I’ve been impressed with is Willie Rodriguez,” Marrow told KSR on Tuesday. “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.”

As long as Rodriguez can maintain consistency, Marrow expects him to play as a true freshman rather than taking a redshirt year.

“He looks like a guy that’s ready to play right now, so I’m very excited about him,” Marrow said.

“A 12 personnel-heavy offense”

With so much talent and physicality at tight end, expect the Wildcats to use a lot of 12 personnel, meaning two tight ends on the field at the same time. Anderson thinks they’ll be a “real important” piece of the offense in 2024.

The sophomore tight end told KSR, “We’re a 12 personnel-heavy offense, so, like, we’re almost the main part of the offense.”

For more tight end talk and other conversations after Tuesday’s practice, take a moment to watch interviews with Hamdan, Marrow, Anderson and more.

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