2022 Texas Longhorns Spring Football Preview: Tight ends

Texas entered the 2021 season with an experienced group at tight end led by fifth-year senior Cade Brewer and third-year junior Jared Wiley. There was promise, too, associated with early-enrollees Gunnar Helm and Juan Davis, plus the prize of the 2021 class Ja’Tavion Sanders. 

But once Jordan Whittington went down and Joshua Moore left the team, more and more was asked of the tight ends in every game. Though Brewer and Wiley were experienced, they simply didn’t have what it took to make a huge difference on offense during Texas’ losing streak. Early season glimpses from Helm and Davis didn’t materialize into continued success, and Sanders’ development at the position was not expedient enough for him to make an impact.

That’s despite Texas basing out of 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends) for most of the year, giving Jeff Banks’ group plenty of opportunity. But in reality, Brewer and Wiley played true to their original recruiting rankings. 

Wiley entered the portal and moved on to TCU. Brewer graduated. Those two combined for 30 catches for 234 yards and five touchdowns.

Returning production for 2022? Well, for players who were on the Texas roster last year, there are 14 total yards coming back. Eleven of those belong to Brayden Liebrock from the 2020 season-opening rout of UTEP. Three belong to Davis, and they came as the result of a handoff against Baylor. 

Texas sought help at the position from the transfer portal and found it in the form of Alabama’s Jahleel Billingsley. After an up-and-down career with the Crimson Tide, Billingsley wanted a fresh start in an offense he was familiar with. 

Entering spring, the position has a lot to prove. Only Billingsley has real game experience, and it wasn’t at Texas.

*Note: Davis was described by Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian on Tuesday has having a “little bit of a strain.”

Past previews: Wide receiver | Running back

2022 tight ends

Departures: Cade Brewer (graduation), Jared Wiley (TCU transfer)

Returners: Ja’Tavion Sanders, Gunnar Helm, Juan Davis, Brayden Liebrock, Patrick Bayouth

Newcomers: Jahleel Billingsley (Alabama transfer)

2021 production

Billingsley accounted for 17 catches for 256 yards and three scores with the Crimson Tide in 2021 but saw his snap count diminish as Cameron Latu took over the top tight end role for Bama. 

The only yards recorded by a Texas tight end in 2021 returning this spring belonged to Davis via a three-yard rush against Baylor. His only reception came versus Arkansas and gained no yards.

To say the group on campus hasn’t done a lot in Austin would be an understatement. 

Spring preview

As mentioned when Inside Texas offered an educated guess at the offensive depth chart, Sarkisian’s offense has differing skill sets needed from the tight end, especially if two are on the field at the same time. Billingsley likely fits in as the option more often split out wide. He should be familiar with the offense, but this spring is important for grasping it on a granular level after a year in a different system at Alabama. Fitting in with the rest of the locker room is also something he’ll have to accomplish.

He’ll compete with Davis for the lion’s share of snaps. Liebrock could factor in this role, but for him to do so he has to do something that’s been an issue for him during his entire Texas career and stay healthy. Liebrock will be held out of contact work this spring in hopes of keeping him healthy for August.

The 15 spring practices are crucial for Sanders. After a year spent learning the ins-and-outs of the position and earning time on special teams, there’s no upperclassman on the roster to block his path to playing time. If he is able to combine his athletic ability with spirited blocking, then Texas might have a weapon at tight end. 

Helm may not have Sanders’ athletic traits, but he does have more time at the position and is a better blocker. He also provided some good snaps as a freshman at a position where playing time is tough to come by for first-year players.

Bayouth moved from defensive end to tight end, and could be used in specialty packages when three tight ends are needed, or as a goal-line/short yardage blocker.

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