Preview – Tight End

FOOTBALL

If there is one position that has more quality depth than the offensive line, it’s the tight end position.

Coach John Lilly has two excellent receivers and two strong blockers to work with and likely will decide based on down and distance who is on the field.

Junior Aaron White, 6-4, 237, started twelve games and finished with 13 receptions for 198 yards and four touchdowns last season. Two of his TD’s came in the bowl game against Texas A&M and earned him the Offensive Player Of The Game Award.

Sophomore Orson Charles, 6-3, 235, arrived on campus last fall as one of the most gifted and recruited athletes in the country. He started three games and finished the 2009 season as the third leading receiver on the team. His 23 receptions for 374 yards and two touchdowns earned him a spot on the Coach’s All SEC Freshman Team and the Football Writers Of America’s Freshman All American Team.

Junior Bruce Figgins, 6-4, 260, took a redshirt last year due to a shoulder injury and an off the field incident that resulted in a six game suspension. Figgins is the best blocker of the group and in 2007 became the first true freshman to start at tight end for the Dawgs since 1960. He has five career receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown. Expect to see Figgins as the primary tight end in run situations.

Sophomore Arthur Lynch, 6-5, 254, is more the prototypical blocking tight end. Lynch made only two receptions for 17 yards last year but he showed the speed and soft hands in the G-Day game that makes offensive coordinator Mike Bobo want to throw the ball in his direction.

It is entirely feasible that we see multiple tight end formations this season with Figgins and Lynch blocking while Charles or White line up in the slot position. Put A. J. Green at 6-4 or Marlon Brown at 6-5 out wide and very few defenses will have the size or speed to avoid the miss matches presented to them.

Depth Chart:

Aaron White, Junior, 6-4, 237, 13 starts

Orson Charles, Sophomore, 6-3, 235, 3 starts

Bruce Figgins, Junior, 6-4, 260, 3 starts

Arthur Lynch, Sophomore, 6-5, 254, 1 start