Tag: John Samuel Shenker

Auburn Spring Practice: How will Tigers use their plethora of tight ends?

Here’s a look at Auburn’s tight end corps that is poised to make a statement this fall.

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In the last several years, Auburn has recruited a handful of high-rated tight ends. This year it looks like we’ll finally see them emerge as regular contributors on the Tigers’ offense.

It’s inexcusable that this position has been underutilized as of late, but Bryan Harsin realizes the advantages he has within this unit. From 2002-2005 he served at Boise State’s tight ends coach during which the Broncos’ scoring offense led the nation in scoring twice and never once fell out of the top 10. In his final year as tight ends coach, four Boise State tight ends finished the season with combined stats of 27 receptions, 298 yards, and three touchdowns.

Last season four Auburn tight ends finished the season with combined stats of 20 receptions, 178 yards, and 0 touchdowns.

In January Harsin announced the addition of former Boise State offensive line coach Brad Bedell to his Auburn staff to assume the role of tight ends coach. In Bedell’s four seasons at Boise State he saw nine offensive lineman receive 13 All-Mountain West honors. When Harsin named Bedell as tight ends coach he said,

“Tight end play is a critical part of our offensive attack and Coach Bedell brings a unique perspective to what we want to do with that position group. Brad has coached with me at a couple different places and is a relationship driven coach with six years of NFL playing experience, making him an exceptional recruiter. His versatility as a coach and strong recruiting ability make him a great fit for the Auburn football family.”

Bedell and Harsin will have no problem finding talent in this position. Outside of linebackers Auburn’s most talented group very would could be its tight ends. Here’s a look at Auburn’s tight end corps that is poised to make a statement this fall:

John Samuel Shenker, senior

  • 6’4″, 249 lbs
  • 2020 stats: 9 receptions, 97 yards, 26-yard season long reception vs Alabama
  • Buzz: Shenker must balance football, baseball, and school once again this spring. The infielder and tight end was absent in Saturday’s open practice due to Auburn baseball’s matchup against Ole Miss. So far this baseball season, Shenker has 3 runs, 3 hits, and 3 RBIs. The veteran of this tight end corps, Shenker still makes himself available to practice when he can and has been praised by Harsin for his tenacious work ethic.

JJ Pegues, sophomore

  • 6’3″, 308 lbs
  • 2020 stats: 14 rush yards on 5 carries, 11-yard season long vs Arkansas/7 receptions, 57 yards, 16-yard season long vs LSU
  • Buzz: For Ole Miss JJ Pegues will always be the one that got away. Maybe it’s his frame that let Pegues escape to Auburn out of Ole Miss’ backyard, but don’t let that deceive you. Out of high school Pegues was ranked nationally as a top 10 tight end prospect by ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports. His versatility at the line and in motion make him capable of creating nightmare matchups against defenses. In Saturday’s spring practice Pegues flattened Auburn LB Zakoby McClain while lined up at fullback. Auburn offensive coordinator Mike Bobo says that a focal point this spring has been moving Pegues around and playing him in a lot of positions.
Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

Luke Deal, sophomore

  • 6’5″, 255 lbs
  • 2020 stats: 2 receptions, 11 yards
  • Buzz: As a senior Deal was ranked by ESPN as the nation’s 10th highest rated tight end. Deal didn’t see game action until the Arkansas game last year and only recorded stats against South Carolina and Mississippi State. In Saturday’s open practice Deal was given first team reps and lined up in the slot as well as at fullback. His highlight from Saturday was an impressive one-handed grab on a great pass by Bo Nix.

https://twitter.com/SkyeUnderwood/status/1223084786107011072?s=20

Brandon Frazier, sophomore

  • 6’7″, 267 lbs
  • 2020 stats: 2 receptions, 13 yards
  • Buzz: Frazier didn’t see game action until the Tigers played Tennessee last season and recorded stats against Mississippi State and Northwestern. As a high school prospect, ESPN, Rivals, and 247Sports rated Frazier as a top-25 tight end. During spring practice on Saturday Frazier impressed media, coaches, and fans by showing out as a passing game mismatch.

Tyler Fromm, sophomore

  • 6’5″, 240 lbs
  • 2020 stats: injured in 2019, saw game action against LSU
  • Buzz: As a senior, Fromm was rated by ESPN as the nation’s 8th highest ranked tight end prospect. He comes from a pedigree of talented brothers: his twin Dylan plays quarterback for Mercer and his older brother Jake played quarterback at Georgia and is now with the Buffalo Bills. In Saturday’s practice Fromm got several first team reps.

Landen King, freshman

  • 6’5″, 214 lbs
  • Senior Stats (Atascocita High School): 39 receptions, 471 yards, 5 touchdowns
  • Buzz: Rated the ninth overall tight end prospect nationally by ESPN, King is a matchup nightmare in the passing game and will excel as a playmaker in Auburn’s offense.

The Tigers have plenty of depth at tight end with Pearl River Community College transfer Hayden Brice (senior) and Flynn Driscoll (junior). Bryan Harsin is a man with a plan and after Saturday’s practice it appears that he aims to get the talented corps of tight ends more involved in the offense.

Auburn football: Shenker ready for bigger role in new-look offense

Chad Morris and Gus Malzahn may run offenses that are rooted in the same principles, but they have one major difference, using the tight end and running backs in the passing game.

Chad Morris and Gus Malzahn may run offenses that are rooted in the same principles, but they have one major difference: using the tight end and running backs in the passing game.

Over the last two seasons, Auburn tight ends and running backs have totaled 117 receptions for 1,211 yards and 11 touchdowns. For comparison, LSU’s Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Thaddeus Moss caught 102 passes for 1,023 yards and five touchdowns last season.

While it is unlikely Auburn will have similar production to perhaps the best offense is college football history, using the tight ends and running backs in the passing game would add another layer for opposing teams have to defend.

“I firmly believe, everywhere I’ve been, that you’ve got to evolve,” Morris said. “The great teams that we’ve had and have been a part of had great success in the passing game with the tight ends and the running backs. I think that’s something that these guys have taken a lot of pride in. Been extremely impressed with them. Now, we’ve got a long way to go — don’t get me wrong here, but these guys have done a great job of understanding what we’re asking them to do.”

This change has John Samuel Shenker expecting big things from the offense.

“This offense has taken flight,” Shenker said. “There’s a countless number of things we do only a daily basis that are so much different. They give variety to the offense in different ways, different looks and whatnot. So, it was a lot to learn in the beginning, but as you get through and realize how special this offense could be, who we have on our side, it gives you a great feeling going into the season.”

“I think those adjustments this year is catching more passes with two-backs and four-backs and just reps because in the past we haven’t really had to do that. I think we came along nice with it—Worm (Shaun Shivers) and everybody, they picked it up pretty well. It will definitely open up a lot of plays for us this coming fall.”

Serving primarily as a blocker the last two season, Shenker has just six receptions for 61 yards and two touchdowns. The addition of Morris has Shenker and the rest of Auburn’s tight ends prepared to embrace a more complete role in the offense.

“Last year, we didn’t really have to learn routes and all that,” Shenker said. “It was just mainly play-based, what we had to know, but this year it’s been fun learning the entire offense and, any given play I could be at any position. so that was really an awesome change for me, getting to actually be able to learn the full offense this year and enjoy it while I do it.

“We’re really looking forward to it once the season starts. Yeah, it’s been awesome getting in the passing game a little bit more, not having to block all the time. It’s been a great little adjustment we’ve had this year, for sure.”

Auburn football: Tigers feature a (GULP!) tight end in scrimmage

Chad Morris’ offense will feature a tight end or two for the first time in a while at Auburn.

Wipe that crust away from your eyes, Auburn fans. What you might have seen or heard during the Tigers’ first scrimmage on Saturday was the use of a tight end.

You see, a tight end is …. okay, maybe I don’t need to explain what that position is but, during the Gus Malzahn era, that player has widely been ignored in the passing offense. C.J. Uzomah was the only key player during Malzahn’s tenure to make a mark at the position but with Chad Morris now leading the offense, it could once again become a feature in the passing game.

“Looking at the stat sheet, the tight ends had four catches or five catches during the scrimmage,” Malzahn said. “He likes to throw to tight ends. He likes to utilize 11 personnel (one tight end). He uses 12 personnel, which is two tight ends. I think it’s a good changeup. We have some guys that are competing for those positions.

“It’s real hard in one week to say anybody has stood out. The two freshmen coming in, one thing I can tell you is they are as talented as we thought. They have the talent. Now, the experience and getting used to the physicality and everything that goes with it, we’ll have to see how that goes and give them enough scrimmage reps the next couple of weeks.”

Auburn isn’t lacking from talent at the tight end spot either. Tyler Fromm returns along with John Samuel Shenker who can fill that role. Who might become a standout is true freshman Brandon Frazier, who stands at 6-foot-7 and is a big target in the red zone for Bo Nix.

No matter who wins the starting position, it will be nice to see another weapon utilized on offense.