This could be one of the deepest units on the team.
One of the bright spots of the offense last season was the emergence of Auburn’s tight ends.
It was something that Auburn fans have wanted for years and the group more than delivered. John Samuel Shenker broke the program records for catches and yards and was one of the offences most reliable players.
Meanwhile, Tyler Fromm and Luke Deal were used in variety of ways to help the offense and Landen King looked like a potential star to end the season.
With the uncertainty surrounding the quarterback and wide receiver positions, Auburn will need to lean on the tight ends even more than they did last season, but this group is up for the challenge. Here is a look at the group.
Overview: Fromm only appeared in one game last season, the blowout win over LSU, but is set to have a larger role on his sophomore season. Fromm impressed the new coaching staff in spring and with his pass-catching ability has the chance to become a weapon in the passing game from the tight end position, something Auburn has not had in quite some time.
Auburn used two-tight end sets in the spring and if that trend continues into the season, expect Fromm to see plenty of the field, even in a loaded tight end room.
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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:
Grant Loy to John Samuel Shenker for the 2-point conversion. This was the first time Auburn ran the swinging gate 2-point conversion play since 2013. #Auburnpic.twitter.com/mQZMzN3gkp
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.
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.
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.
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.
Auburn continues its hot streak on the recruiting trail in the Lone Star State as 6-foot-5, 215-pound ⭐️⭐️⭐️ tight end Landen King commits to the Tigers over offers from Texas, UGA, and Arizona St. among others. In 2019, King collected 53 receptions for 853 yds & 9 TDs #WarEaglepic.twitter.com/poFyTzQIfL
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.
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.
