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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The transition is really officially, officially complete now for Michigan tight end Joel Honigford.
Honigford previously came to Ann Arbor as an offensive lineman, but last year, he made the switch to tight end. This year, he transformed his body so he actually looks and plays like a tight end. And in Week 6, he finally got his first catch — something of a transcendent feeling for a former offensive lineman. Many O-linemen will tell you they dream of being tight ends, especially since some were in high school, but translated more to being in the trenches once they got to college.
For Honigford, it wasn’t just a monkey off his back, getting his first career catch against Nebraska, but it was such a big moment, he had to reel himself in, he said on Tuesday.
“It was a pretty exciting feeling. I did not expect that ball to come to me, I’m not gonna lie!” Honigford said. “I was running my route, I was trying to figure out if I should convert or not. Ended up not converting it, turned back to the quarterback and the ball was already on its way. Which is kind of a blessing, to be honest with you, because I didn’t have to think about, ‘Hey, maybe I should catch this or not!’ It was like, alright, it’s here, let’s go! Caught it and just turned upfield. It was like, alright, I’m just gonna run straight. I’m not gonna test out any juke moves right now.
“But it was a really cool feeling. I wanted to, after it happened, can’t get too hyped. We’re in the middle of a huge game. Can’t just take over for myself and get emotionally hijacked. So I just like, yeah, hand the ball to the official, started running back to the huddle. That was fine, then Erick All comes up behind me and starts yelling in my ear. I think you can see it on the TV copy. I just broke and started smiling then. And Andrew Stueber started laughing. It was an awesome moment though — really cool!”
So why was Stueber laughing? The Michigan right tackle explains.
“This past game, Nebraska, he caught his first pass, so I looked up at the end of the play and saw that it was him falling to the ground, so I started laughing,” Stueber said. “Because I knew how big of a moment it was for him and how far he’s come. I’m super proud of him and his transition to tight end and how he’s taking it. It’s definitely cool seeing him get passes. I keep pushing for a touchdown pass to him. So we’ll see if it comes.”
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Still, Honigford appreciated the fact that he got the love from his former roommate and offensive line compatriot, even if he had to reel himself in a bit.
“It was just a weird, crazy moment, because I played offensive line with them my first three and a half years, and now I’m running routes and catching passes,” Honigford said. “It was always something we kinda joked about — I mean, it was always a possibility. Just more of a run blocker first. Just that it happened, it was a funny moment — it was cool. It was more laughing out of excitement for me, like, ‘Wow, he really did just catch a pass! That did happen.’ It was cool!”
According to Stueber, there was something of a shock factor that came with Honigford’s first catch, that is, on Joel’s end. Of course, being a former offensive lineman who had seen plenty of action blocking — even when he made the transition to tight end — he had never been tackled in live-action. That changed in a hurry once he got the ball in his hands.
“Yeah, we both looked at each other and we both knew what just happened,” Stueber said. “He was kinda shocked for a little bit, then once it got cooled, I went up to him in the huddle. The first thing he asked me was, ‘Man, does it always hurt when you get tackled like that?’ I think everyone was like, ‘Yeah! Every time it hurts to get tackled like that!’ I don’t have any experience in that, but it was good to finally see him get the ball, and I hope it continues.”
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With that in mind, is Honigford lobbying now for more catches, particularly in the end zone? He’s not opposed to it, but he certainly takes his job as a run blocker more seriously, still.
“I joked with them after the game, but nah, they’re gonna put me into positions they want to put me into,” Honigford said. “I’m a run blocker first. If I need to run any deep routes, I’m sure they’ll let me know. I don’t see that coming anytime soon. I definitely solidified my name in there a little bit more as a pass-catcher, not just an ex-offensive lineman now — I’ve got hands! I think the last time I talked to you guys, you asked, ‘When is that gonna happen?’ Now it has happened, so we’re here!”
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