Texas tight ends are having a banner year, and it could get even better

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian likes to explain that tight end is the second-most important position in his offense behind quarterback. Tight ends are tasked with several important responsibilities in both the running and passing games. Whether a play is successful or not often depends on players from Jeff Banks’ group completing their assignments.

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Led by Ja’Tavion Sanders, the Longhorn tight ends have helped the UT offense in a way not seen in Austin in over a decade.

Sanders is the headliner. The former five-star has 25 catches for 283 yards and five scores. He’s hauled in at least five passes in four of six games this season, and has essentially matched last year’s production from the entire tight end room by himself in half the time.

For as great as Sanders has been, those who have played alongside him when Texas runs 12 personnel have done their jobs, too. Gunnar Helm has been a key part of blocking efforts so far this year, and is finding more footing as a receiver. He has four catches for 25 yards this season, with two of those receptions coming against Oklahoma.

Those two play the role of conventional tight ends, but the play from a former offensive lineman who has lined up as an eligible receiver has been a major positive for the Longhorns this season.

Andrej Karic has often lined up as the second tight end in heavy 12 personnel looks. He’s been a key cog in both the run game and the pass protection that has helped the Longhorn offense move the ball down the field.

“Andrej has been a vital asset to us offensively,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “Any time you can create that level of physicality at the point of attack, I think it forces the defense to do things that maybe they wouldn’t normally do or have to have a plan to defend that.”

Quinn Ewers has reaped the benefits of Karic’s move to tackle. Not only does he help open up things on the ground, he protects Ewers like he did when the two shared the field at Southlake Carroll.

“I think he fits the role perfectly,” Ewers said Monday. “It’s nice to have a guy like that who will step into a role, take it by the neck, and just work at it every day. It’s cool to see.”

Since he’s an eligible receiver, can Karic catch? Ewers’ pause to think of an answer indicated Karic may not be much of a threat through the air. Sarkisian’s words on Thursday confirmed as much.

“I’m not sure how good Andrej’s hands are, especially with the big gloves, the tape, and all that good stuff,” Sarkisian said.

That shouldn’t be a problem for the Longhorn offense this week, as one of the UT tight ends with strong receiving ability is likely to make his debut in burnt orange. After serving a six-game NCAA suspension, Alabama transfer Jahleel Billingsley is eligible to play for the first time this season. His return has Sarkisian excited considering it’s another way for Texas to vary personnel and force defenses to prepare for additional looks.

“It’s great to have Jahleel back,” Sarkisian said Monday. “It’s just another addition for us. I’ve said this all along that we’re at our best offensively when we can do a lot of really good things because that makes us harder to defend. The more things we can do well, the harder we are to defend. Another weapon to be able to put on the field. Hopefully that makes us more difficult to defend.”

Most of what Billingsley has done at Texas has been on the practice field. Players who had to defend him during training camp spoke about what makes Billingsley a tough matchup.

“He’s huge,” Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey said Monday. “He’s really tall, he’s really slim, and he moves good for a tight end. He’s a receiver, really. He was making me better. Him coming from Alabama, I gave him a lot of respect early on.”

That’s what a player who had to defend him said. What about the player who will be throwing Billingsley passes?

“Jahleel is a great player,” Ewers said. “He played early at Alabama as a freshman. He’s played a lot of ball as well, he understands the game. He’s got a good IQ for the game, got a good feel. It’s awesome to have him back.”

How much of a role Billingsley plays in remains to be seen, especially considering how well Sanders, Helm, and Karic have played.

But he does provide another strong option at a position of major importance in Sarkisian’s offense. Billingsley looks to contribute to a position group that so far in 2022 is producing in a way not seen at Texas in some time.