Jeff Lebby full Interview with Andy Staples | Arriving in Starkville, Learning Along the Way | 02.15.24

Preparations for the 2024 college football season are already underway at the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. The hiring of Boise State offensive coordinator Bush Hamdan means that Kentucky’s offense will be staying in the pro-style family. That is good news for Vince Marrow‘s position room.

The Wildcats are scheduled to have five scholarship tight ends on the roster in 2024, and four of them will be suited up for spring practice. Once again, this positional unit will have a sizable role in the offense.

In KSR’s Spring Briefing series, we will cover every position on Kentucky’s roster before spring practice begins. Next up is tight end where the Wildcats have experience and excellent depth.

Spring Rundown: Quarterback, Tailback, Wide Receiver

The Room

Jordan Dingle (6-4, 238, Redshirt Junior)

After flirting with Tennessee in the transfer portal, the Bowling Green (Ky.) High product is back for year four in Lexington. Dingle has recorded 34 receptions for 544 yards and three touchdowns in his career and will again play a key role for this offense.

Josh Kattus (6-4, 231 Junior)

The Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller product had some issues with penalties last season but still is a quality blocker in Kentucky’s pro-style scheme and can be a solid intermediate weapon in the play-action passing game. Kattus will again have a big role in this offense.

Khamari Anderson (6-5, 238, Sophomore)

Another recruiting win for Kentucky out of Detroit (Mich.) Cass Tech, Anderson flashed in year one as a potential two-way tight end in the SEC. Expect the former four-star recruit to have a bigger role on offense after playing 64 offensive snaps in year one.

Tanner Lemaster (6-5, 253, Redshirt Freshman)

Another Ohio native, Lemaster took a redshirt season in year one and will look to find a role in year two. At 250-plus pounds, the class of 2023 prospect could give Kentucky another blocking tight end to utilize in heavy sets.

Willie Rodriguez (6-3, 235, Freshman)

Auburn and Tennessee made a late run at the Covington (Ky.) Catholic tight end who ultimately signed with Kentucky. Rodriguez is a legit two-way prospect who might be hard to keep off the field. The class of 2024 signee will not be on campus until the summer.

Top Storyline: How big of a role will the tight end position have in the new offense?

Kentucky is going to stay in the pro-style structure on offense under new play-caller Bush Hamdan. The former Boise State offensive coordinator is going to bring a no-huddle approach to the Joe Craft Football Training Facility, but do not expect this to be a full-out spread offense.

Kentucky will use the tight end position. Hamdan has featured a tight end in the passing game at Washington with Harrison Bryant recording 52 receptions for 825 yards. Will that happen in 2024? That is to be determined.

One thing we do know is this positional unit will be utilized. How big of a role will this group have? We should find out soon.

What to Watch: Jordan Dingle’s passing game involvement

If there was a player that could see a heavier involvement in the passing game it would be the oldest player in the room. Jordan Dingle is Kentucky’s most accomplished receiver at the tight end position and has produced 18 explosive receptions in 54 career targets. That is notable.

Dingle has All-SEC potential and could emerge as a key target for Bush Hamdan’s passing offense and a safety blanket for new quarterback Brock Vandagriff. Monitoring his usage during the spring could tell us how heavily involved the tight end position will be this season.

Bold Prediction: Usage rate of the tight end position will be high even if passing game targets do not come

Kentucky’s offense has a lot of mouths to feed at the wide receiver position. Barion Brown, Dane Key, and Ja’Mori Maclin each have WR1 potential for the Wildcats. The offense will also have an establish the run mindset. Kentucky will not be an operation that leads the SEC in pass play percentage. Not everyone can get targets.

I would not expect a huge receiving season from any of Kentucky’s tight ends, but that does not mean lack a of snaps for this position. The Wildcats will still value the tight end position and will carve out a role for this position. Vince Marrow’s group will play a key role in the run game, will factor in the play-action passing game, and will have a good volume of snaps in the new offense.