August 05, 2004
| Nowhere on the field will the Aggies have a newer, fresher look than at its two tight end positions, termed "Y" and "W." Position coach Mark Tommerdahl felt good enough about two new players teaming with a couple of returnees that he let go of three who played the positions regularly last season.
Taylor Schuster, who started two games, shifted over to offensive tackle. Thomas Carriger, who started five games, moved to defensive nose tackle. And yet a third player moved from tight end to defense this season, redshirt freshman Jorrie Adams, before he played a down. The towering figure that kept Tommerdahl and the offensive staff from wavering about the wholesale changes is Joey Thomas. Since arriving with 225 pounds on his wiry 6-5 frame, which he put to use in basketball and track at Westlake High in Austin, Thomas has added around 20 pounds of firmness. He'll play the W, which essentially is a "small" tight end used more for target practice by throwing QBs, and also he'll alternate in some formations at wide receiver with Jason Carter. He was enjoying an outstanding spring when he sustained a fracture in the forearm, which was not expected to cause any problems this fall. Returning to give heft to the position in the spread and one tight end formation is Quinlin Germany, a sophomore bearing almost 270 pounds. He performed steadily last year. Junior walk-on Ryan White played in 11 games, some on special teams, and he also doubles up on receiver positions. The other newcomer fortifying the position is transfer Boone Stutz. He will also be the deep snapper, a skill he took to Alabama as a walk-on wanting to play under Franchione's staff. When they left, he followed and sat out last year by NCAA rules. "Our goal was to be two-deep, and we have four," Tommerdahl said. "We've also boosted the position for the future." Two signees, Amos Gbunblee and Kevin Bryan, bring outstanding credentials to the mix. Tommerdahl charged the tight ends to come into the 2004 fall camp as "trusted blockers...trusted pass catchers...(and) to talk and work like a champion every day, in all ways." He said as summer set in that his players have taken the challenge to heart, but the part he looks forward to is when the "every day" part becomes habit. In massaging the offensive scheme somewhat this season--"adapting to fit our personnel," Coach Fran says--look for more passing to the tight ends than in the past. AggieAthletics.com's 2004 football preview will bring you right up to the "beginning" of football season, when the players report to campus on Aug. 8.
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