TCU’s new offense puts added value on the tight end position
TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley’s track record suggests that he views the tight end as one of the most valuable pieces on the field. So do his words.
“It’s such an important position,” Riley said. “Those guys, minus the quarterback, they have to know the most in our offense. They’re very versatile people for us. The nature of what you see defensively these days, in our opinion, you’ve got to have a guy who can do things in the run game, things in the passing game. It’s an important position for sure.”
With Riley calling the offense for SMU last season, tight end Grant Calcaterra finished with 38 catches for 465 yards and four TDs. In 2020, Riley’s first season with the Mustangs, they found ways to get tight end Kylen Granson the ball. Granson had 35 catches for 536 yards and five TDs.
TCU, meanwhile, had two tight ends combine for just nine catches last season. Dominic DiNunzio had six catches for 69 yards, while Geor’Quarius Spivey had three catches for 9 yards.
So it’s no surprise that tight ends are seemingly getting more involved in the offense this spring, especially with the team running more 12 personnel sets (one running back, two tight ends). Riley specifically mentioned Spivey and redshirt freshman D’Andre Rogers as two tight ends who have stepped up of late.
“Spivey has made some really good plays,” Riley said. “DJ Rogers is a guy who has been coming along. He’s a young guy who has talent and athleticism. I’ve been happy with his start.”
Along with Spivey and Rogers, TCU returns DiNunzio, Carter Ware and Brent Matiscik as tight ends on the roster. Former quarterback Alex Honig is also transitioning to the tight end spot. Texas transfer Jared Wiley also joined the tight end corps this offseason.
Overall, Riley seems pleased with how the entire offense has handled spring practices to date. He mentioned three specific goals for the spring: laying the foundation for the offense; improving fundamentals; and identifying strengths and weaknesses by the end of it.
“Once we get through the spring, we need to be able to look back and really identify who we are,” Riley said. “That’s what spring is about. It’s fundamental development, it’s player development, it’s identifying strengths and weaknesses and really building team chemistry on top of that.”
