In Stillwater, the tight end position is making a comeback, and there's reason to believe it's here to stay. With Drew Svoboda stepping in as the new tight end coach, Oklahoma State fans might just see a shift in how this position impacts the game.
Svoboda brings a wealth of experience, having coached tight ends at North Texas and Alabama. Over three seasons, his players have consistently been targeted, with four different tight ends seeing a significant number of passes. To put it in perspective, Oklahoma State has only had one tight end with 25 or more targets in the past 11 seasons.
Back in 2023, Josiah Johnson was a standout with 30 targets, ranking sixth on the team. He turned those opportunities into 22 receptions for 166 yards and a touchdown.
Compare that to 2016 when former Cowboy Blake Jarwin had 23 targets, catching 19 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. Outside of these instances, the position hasn't been a focal point in the passing game.
Contrast this with Alabama in 2021. Under Svoboda's guidance, tight ends Cam Latu and Jahleel Billingsley racked up 38 and 37 targets, respectively.
They weren't just safety valves; they combined for over 660 yards and 11 touchdowns on 43 receptions. This was a testament to their integral role in the Crimson Tide's offense.
The trend continued at North Texas last season. Tre Williams was targeted 39 times, making 30 catches for 375 yards and five touchdowns. This marked a significant increase from the previous year when Oscar Hammond, now with the Cowboys, had 26 targets, resulting in 19 receptions for 238 yards and a touchdown.
It's tempting to chalk this up to offensive playcalling, but Eric Morris' offenses without Svoboda-2023 North Texas and 2022 Washington State-didn't feature tight ends as prominently. In 2023, Xzavior Kautai led with just nine targets, while Billy Riviere had 17 targets for Washington State in 2022.
The real question is whether Svoboda's success is due to having exceptional talent at his disposal. Donovan Green, a former top recruit, certainly fits the bill. As a freshman at Texas A&M in 2022, he turned 26 targets into 22 receptions, 233 yards, and two touchdowns.
What’s clear is that working with Svoboda doesn't diminish a tight end's role in the passing game. He recently discussed the coaching staff's vision for the position, emphasizing the versatility they seek.
"The true hybrid," Svoboda described, "part running back, part fullback, part receiver, part tight end, part offensive tackle, part offensive guard. He can kind of do a little bit of everything.
And that true H hybrid tight end is what really flourishes in this offense."
With this approach, Oklahoma State could be on the verge of redefining the tight end's role in their playbook, making it a position to watch closely in the upcoming season.