‘It’s my shot, it’s my turn’
Tight end Mallory ready to shine after Brevin’s departure
CORAL GABLES — After three years of backing up Brevin Jordan, Will Mallory is ready to show what he’s capable of as the Miami Hurricanes’ starting tight end.
Mallory, who missed all of spring camp due to an offseason shoulder procedure, has been a full participant in preseason practice and says he’s physically feeling good and is ready to take the No. 1 tight end role that his former roommate held from 2018-20.
“It’s definitely different,” Mallory said. “Living with Brevin — I’ve been with him since I got here. But being the main guy is exactly why I wanted to come here.
“It’s my shot, it’s my turn. I’m ready for it. I’ve got a great group of guys behind me, too, that can contribute. I’m excited for the opportunity to step up for this team.”
Mallory, who’s entering his fourth year with the program, had five catches for 37 yards with one touchdown during his true freshman season in 2018 before recording 16 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns in 2019, a season in which he also made eight starts.
Last year, the 6-foot-5, 245-pound tight end out of Jacksonville had 22 catches for 329 yards and four touchdowns. That season, Jordan recorded 38 receptions for 576 yards and seven touchdowns before being drafted by the Houston Texans a few months ago.
With Mallory now the leading man and most experienced player at his position group at UM, he’ll be able to showcase himself to the fullest while helping out the less experienced tight ends on the roster.
Among the younger tight ends who’ve impressed Mallory is true freshman Elijah Arroyo.
Arroyo, a four-star prospect out of Independence High School in Frisco, Texas, has consistently been getting reps with the second-team offense during preseason practices.
“He’s ginormous already as a freshman,” Mallory said of Arroyo, who’s listed at 6-4 and 235 pounds. “He’s already bigger than me. He’s the real deal.
“Him being so big already, he seems confident, seems smooth. He’s already way farther ahead than I was. He’s going to contribute early if he keeps the course.’’
Arroyo, who also missed spring camp because of a “minor issue”, has been battling for the backup spot behind Mallory.
He drew praise from UM offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee.
“Some freshmen, you put them out there and the game just doesn’t seem too fast for them and the physicality doesn’t seem too much for them — he’s one of those guys,” Lashlee said. “Is he making mistakes? Yes. Does he have a lot of room to grow? Yes. But he’s also a guy who’s shown the moments not too big for him. He has the physical tools. I’m pretty optimistic that he’s a guy who can help us win this year.”
Mallory said it hasn’t taken Arroyo long to pick up the playbook or nuances of the college game.
“For being a freshman, he picks [things] up very well,” he said. “He understands stuff probably quicker than most freshman do. He doesn’t seem like a freshman. He seems like an older guy already. He’s a talented guy, a hard worker and everything you want in a teammate.”
When asked what Arroyo does better than him compared to when he was a freshman, Mallory responded, “pretty much everything.”
“Looking back at when I was a scrawny, skinny freshman,” Mallory added, “he’s an impressive young man.”
Mallory’s first game as the Hurricanes’ No. 1 tight end will come against Alabama, the defending national champions, on Sept. 4 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The challenge of facing the Crimson Tide’s defense is one he’s looking forward to.
“Being the No. 1 guy now, it feels good to start out in a game like this,” Mallory said. “It’s a reason why you come to Miami.”