[jwplayer dU01MXTQ-er0jUifI]
Name: Kyle Pitts
Number: 84
Position: Tight End
Class: Junior
Height: 6’6″
Weight: 246 pounds
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pa.
High School: Archbishop Wood
Twitter: @kylepitts__
2020 statistics:
| REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
| 43 | 770 | 17.9 | 12 | 71 |
Overview:
Kyle Pitts joined the Gators as one of the top tight ends in the 2018 recruiting class. A four-star recruit from Philadelphia, Pitts was expected to be a major contributor early in his Florida career.
His freshman season in 2018, he saw limited action. He played in 11 games, but most of his time came on special teams. In total, he had three catches for 73 yards, one of which went 52 yards for a touchdown against Idaho. Though his first season was a bit lackluster, his sophomore year saw him take a major step forward.
Pitts became Florida’s starting tight end in 2019, and after starting quarterback Feleipe Franks suffered an ankle injury that ended his season, Pitts became one of the favorite targets of backup quarterback Kyle Trask. He finished the season with 54 catches for 649 yards and five touchdowns.
Heading into his junior season with Trask returning under center, expectations were high for Pitts in 2020. And somehow, he exceeded them. He had 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns, winning the Mackey Award and being nominated for the Biletnikoff Award in the process. He finished 10th in Heisman voting, the first tight end to crack the top 10 in 43 years. Injuries and the bowl game opt-out held Pitts out of four games, and it’s conceivable he could’ve competed with Devonta Smith for the Heisman if he played a full slate.
Pitts enters the 2021 NFL Draft as the top tight end prospect and a bona fide first-round pick, with some even projecting he could go in the top 10. In all likelihood, he will be UF’s first offensive skill position player taken in the first round since Tim Tebow in 2010.
Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf0L7tkC5GI&feature=youtu.be
[vertical-gallery id=34846]