The Jaguars are only three practices into training camp, but Tanner Koziol is already making his case.
Jacksonville’s tight end room starts with Brenton Strange and Nate Boerkircher at the top, yet the battle for the third spot has featured the fifth-round pick early and often. Koziol has gotten more chances than Quintin Morris and Hunter Long so far, and he has started to turn those looks into production.
John Shipley of Jaguars on SI noted that Jacksonville has loaded Koziol up early in camp. As Shipley put it: "The Jaguars have seemed to throw a ton on his plate early on in training camp," Shipley wrote. "He has responded, too, making a highlight catch on Thursday and hauling in a touchdown on Friday."
That kind of start fits the profile Koziol brought out of college. He was known as a real receiving threat at tight end, and that part of his game is already showing up in camp.
If he keeps stacking those reps, there’s a path to snaps this season as the third tight end in 13 personnel. There’s also a scenario where Jacksonville uses him as the second tight end next to Strange when it wants more pass-catching ability on the field.
Of course, usage will depend on the situation. Matchups and in-game roles will shape how the Jaguars deploy their tight ends, and Koziol’s blocking will be a key piece of the puzzle once the pads come on.
Shipley pointed out that we may "not be able to get a great idea for what his role can really look like until we see him block with pads on." That matters because Koziol did much more work as a receiver than a blocker in college, and his ability to handle that side of the job could help determine whether he can hold off Morris for the third tight end role.
Jaguars coach Liam Coen also described the early camp workload as a test. "It's also trying to put them in some positions that maybe are a little uncomfortable early on, like putting them in some positions that we got to go see what they can do in terms of that," Coen said of Boerkircher and Koziol.
With Jacksonville expected to lean more on 12 and 13 personnel this season, Koziol’s strong start could end up meaning more than a typical early-camp flash. If he keeps performing, his role may be bigger than anyone first assumed.
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