Looking to rebuild at the tight end position in ’20
The tight end position was an integral part of Iowa State’s offense under Alex Golesh. He has moved to UCF to serve as the Knights’ new co-offensive coordinator and is still figuring out how to help feature the tight ends.
“I put a lot of time into it and put a lot of pride in growing as a developer at that position,” Golesh said at the start of spring before football camp closed in March due to the coronavirus outbreak. “That’s a huge priority.”
UCF’s use of tight ends in the offense has varied during head coach Josh Heupel’s tenure.
Jake Hescock, Jonathon MacCollister and Anthony Roberson totaled 93 yards on 11 catches, with the trio targeted 15 times last season. It accounted for about 3% of the passing offense, with six catches in the red zone resulting in four touchdowns.
“We’ve been
different year-to-year,” Heupel said of the tight ends. “[Michael] Colubiale comes back in Year 6 [2018]; his skill set is a little bit different than what we played with last year. Jake gets a little bit nicked up, so you don’t have the ability in every way imaginable at the tight end position.”
Golesh featured the position while at Iowa State, with tight end Charlie Kolar finishing third on the team in receiving yards (697) and receptions (51) last season.
Jake Hescock
Alex Holler, Jordan Davis, Tony Forest Jr., Zach Marsh-Wojan, Garrett French, Max Holler
Jonathon MacCollister, Anthony Roberson
Senior Jake Hescock becomes the foundation of the tight end unit following the departures of Jonathon MacCollister and Anthony Roberson. Hescock, who played in 12 games last season, finished with nine catches for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. “I think he recognizes that he has so much room to grow not only as a pass-catcher but as a run blocker and in pass protection and even overall knowledge of the game,” Golesh said of Hescock. … UCF signed three tight ends in its latest recruiting class, led by Tony Forrest Jr., Jordan Davis and junior college transfer Zach Marsh-Wojan. The Knights also added a pair of walk-ons in Garrett French and Max Holler. “The pressure is on with those guys because they have to help us,” added Golesh. “Between Zach coming in as a junior college player and Jordan and Tony getting here — Tony’s got to grow up fast. He knows that. We’ve thrown him into the whole deal. Those young guys have to grow up extremely fast for us to be successful.”