UW hopes to have more options at tight end
MADISON – Paul Chryst’s affinity for tight ends is legendary.
Whether as an offensive coordinator at Wisconsin or as a head coach, first at Pittsburgh and for the last five seasons at UW, Chryst has developed a reputation for using multiple tightend sets to cause match-up problems for opponents.
The 2019 season offered little opportunity for flexibility or creativity.
A string of injuries left UW with two healthy tight ends to start the season – Jake Ferguson and Cormac Sampson, who was switched from the offensive line and became an effective in-line blocker.
UW lost Luke Benzschawel and Gabe Lloyd to knee injuries in camp. Freshmen Hayden Rucci and Clay Cundiff also went down in camp and eventually redshirted. Jack Essenbach, who played wide receiver in high school and joined UW as a walk-on, became a reserve tight end and played in four games.
The result: Ferguson was the only tight end on the roster to catch a pass. He finished second on the team in receptions (33) and receiving yards (407).
Chryst, offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph and tight ends coach Mickey Turner hope to have more options in 2020.
Ferguson has a combined 69 receptions for 863 yards, an average of 12.5 yards per reception, and six touchdowns. He leads the unit in experience and versatility.
However, teams knew last season he was UW’s lone receiving threat. Developing a second pass-catching tight end could affect the way opponents cover Ferguson.
Lloyd, Rucci, Cundiff and Essenbach are back. Lloyd likely would have been in the rotation last season had he been available. Sampson has moved back to the offensive line.
Cam Large and Cole Dakovich are intriguing prospects but they are freshmen whose development could be slowed because of the truncated camp schedule.
Looking to add a potential playmaker to the group, the staff has moved Jaylan Franklin to tight end from outside linebacker.
Franklin, 6-foot-4 and 222 pounds, played quarterback, receiver and defensive end/linebacker at Oscar A. Carlson High School in Michigan. He first worked at tight end at UW when he redshirted in 2018 but moved to outside linebacker before last season.
“What I like about Jaylan is I think he could play either one and be good at it,” Chryst said referring to tight end and outside linebacker. “And yet when you looked at our roster, particularly the tight end spot, I think he can give that group a different dimension that we don’t necessarily have.”
In short, Franklin runs better than most of the tight ends on the roster and he was comfortable with the ball in his hands in high school, whether catching, throwing or running.
“His skill set and his body type lends him to be able to play a number of positions,” Chryst said.
At worst, Franklin adds depth to a unit that was shorthanded in 2019. Considering his ball skills, he could provide the staff with a weapon to complement the work of Ferguson.
“There’s not really a void to fill,” Chryst said. “I like that group. But he’s got a chance to be a little bit different…
“And I appreciate Jaylan’s willingness to jump right into it. It has been fun to see him changing gears that way.”