2003 Football Preview: Tight Ends
Aug 02, 2003 | Football
August 02, 2003
 Thomas Carriger is noted for his blocking ability, but the junior made two catches for 18 yards last season with one of those being a diving catch for a touchdown. |
The tight end position has been beset with injuries the past two seasons. , a junior from Skidmore-Tynan High School, made eight starts in the 2002 season. Carriger is noted for his blocking ability and he made two catches for 18 yards last season with one of those being a diving catch for a touchdown against Baylor. Carriger also caught two balls in the 2001 bowl game against TCU including a long gainer of 38 yards.
Two other players have earned letters as a tight end. Junior walkon , from Denton High School, has seen action the past two seasons without recording a reception. True sophomore , from Colleyville Heritage High School, was utilized in two-tight end formations last season and did not catch a pass.
Both Fleming and Carriger were injured and missed most of spring drills for incoming tight ends coach Mark Tommerdahl.
"The tight end position in our offense has to be extremely diverse," Tommerdahl said. "He has to be a physical player who is involved in all phases of protection. He has to control the under coverage and also have the ability to stretch the field vertically. We were limited in the spring with a couple of players who had seen action but were injured and the lack of depth forced us to move Andy Matakis from linebacker to tight end. Some of the young guys got a lot of reps and were exposed to the offense so that will help their development. We have a lot to learn."
In addition to redshirt freshman from Flour Bluff High School, other redshirt freshmen include from All Saints Episcopal High School in Fort Worth, and from Sharyland High School in Mission.
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The Aggies signed one scholarship tight end in the spring and that was from Austin Westlake High School.
Walkons such as senior from Berkner High School in Richardson, from Magnolia High School and from Lake Travis High School in Austin, saw a lot of reps this spring and could be called on for duty.
STATISTICAL LEADERS - TIGHT ENDS - LAST 10 YEARS
Catches Yards Yards/Catch Touchdowns Long 2002 G. Porter 48 G. Porter 669 G. Porter 13.9 G. Porter 4 G. Porter 43 2001 M. de la Torre 4 M. de la Torre 49 M. de la Torre 12.2 n/a M. de la Torre 17 2000 R. Broughton 5 R. Broughton 47 M. de la Torre 16.0 n/a M. de la Torre 17 1999 R. Broughton 7 R. Broughton 81 R. Broughton 11.6 R. Broughton 1 M. de la Torre 22 1998 D. Spiller 20 D. Spiller 269 D. Spiller 13.4 D. Spiller 3 D. Spiller 36 1997 D. Spiller 25 D. Spiller 436 D. Spiller 17.4 D. Spiller 4 D. Spiller 63 1996 D. Spiller 14 D. Spiller 194 D. Spiller 13.9 n/a D. Spiller 27 1995 H. Clay 19 H. Clay 235 H. Clay 12.4 H. Clay 3 H. Clay 35 1994 J. McKeehan 9 J. McKeehan 102 J. McKeehan 11.3 J. McKeehan 1 J. McKeehan 16 1993 G. Schorp 17 G. Schorp 220 H. Clay 17.0 J. McKeehan 4 G. Schorp 32
2003 Football Preview:
