When Jim McElwain took over the Florida Gators football program in 2015, tight ends were expected to become a key piece of the offense. A position that hadn’t been much of a factor in recent years would finally step out of the shadows.
McElwain’s previous offenses at Alabama and Colorado State were known for effectively using tight ends as mismatches. His ideas to create a more dynamic offense were certainly welcome at Florida.
Two seasons have now passed and Florida’s tight ends still haven’t made a huge impact. Despite a great deal of talent, the underachieving position group accounted for just 12 touchdowns over the last two seasons, with four of those coming from former tight end Jake McGee in 2015.
The Gators return two experienced tight ends in senior DeAndre Goolsby and redshirt junior C’yontai Lewis. Both players are looking to finally have their breakout seasons in 2017.
Goolsby was expected to breakout last season, but a hand injury held him back, making him a non-factor at times. He averaged less than 10 yards a catch with 38 receptions for 342 yards and three touchdowns.
He came on strong at the end of the season as he caught seven passes for a season-high 91 yards and a touchdown against Alabama in the SEC championship game and tacked on a score in the Outback Bowl against Iowa.
Goolsby has the ideal body type for a tight end (6-4, 244 pounds) to go along with above-average speed, but he has simply not lived up to his full potential in three years at Florida. If he can build upon his finish to last season and develop some consistency, this could finally be his year.
“He obviously has a good grasp of the offense and knows what he’s doing,” tight ends coach Greg Nord said on Goolsby. “He’s been competing well. He’s got some good players behind him pushing hard too, so that will make him play better as well.”
Big things were expected from Lewis from his very first game at Florida after he caught two touchdown passes in the 2015 season opener. Unfortunately, those would be his only two touchdowns of the season.
Since then, Lewis has been much more effective as a blocker than a receiver as he has provided key blocks but also had a few drops in big situations. He had 18 receptions for 184 yards and two touchdowns last season.
Despite having a bit of a disappointing 2016 season, Lewis is bringing more energy than ever to Florida’s spring practices.
“Gosh, Cyontai’s had a great vibe,” said Nord. “He brings juice to practice every day. He’s got the guys hustling, laying hard, loving being around him … He’s the life and energy at practice every day. He brings a good vibe to the offense. I really like him.”
Behind Goolsby and Lewis, two other tight ends will also push for time on the field this season.
The development of redshirt junior Moral Stephens has been a pleasant surprise for the Gators this spring. Stephens played sparingly and caught just one pass last season for 14 yards against Kentucky, but Nord said he has had a good spring and he will add some depth at the position in the fall.
Early enrollee Kemore Gamble is certainly turning heads this spring. While Gamble is still learning, he is proving to potentially be a mix of Lewis and Goolsby’s best skills. Finally, a tight end who can block and catch. McElwain has made it clear that Gamble will compete for a lot of early playing time with his skillset.
“I see him being used as a tight end in a lot of different ways, as we like to use that group, but he gives us some versatility as well,” McElwain said. “He’s got some really good ball skills.”
Gamble’s ceiling is extremely high. He has not been perfect, with several typical freshman miscues in spring practices, but the good has by far outweighed the bad. As he continues to grow and learn, he could be the tough, three-down tight end Florida needs.
“Excited and happy as heck to have him here with us,” said Nord. “He’s come in as a guy that really should be in high school still. He’s starting to take grasp of the offense. He goes out and does something a little bit better each day to show that he certainly belongs here and I think he’s going to be a big part of the offense and will be a great player here at the University of Florida.”
Some serious competition is just what the veterans need for even more incentive to step their games up this season. With more experience and a continuously increasing talent level at the position, the Gators could finally see the production from the tight ends they have been waiting for all along.