Oct 22, 2022; Piscataway, New Jersey, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights tight end Johnny Langan (21) catches the ball during the second half against the Indiana Hoosiers at SHI Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
With new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, it is likely that the tight end position takes on a bigger role in the Rutgers offense this season.
Johnny Langan returns for a final season after making the transition to tight end full-time last season. Langan was second on Rutgers with 31 receptions along with 296 receiving yards and a touchdown in 2022. He made at least one catch in all 12 games played in 2022.
Shawn Bowman joins Langan after an all-conference career at the FCS level for Maine. He has big play ability and isn’t afraid to make tough catches up the middle. Bowman could also be a useful blocker due to his size and experience.
“He is big guy, a strong physical player,” Schiano said of Bowman after the second scrimmage of training camp. “He’s got really good hands. I think Shawn is going to help us in several ways.”
In addition, Mike Higgins has shown to have the potential to be the best pass catching tight end on the Rutgers roster. And Victor Konopka returns after missing most of last season with an injury. Both players serve as quality depth and could contribute behind Langan and Bowman.
Overall, tight end could play a prominent role this season for the offense, both in the run and the pass.
Listen and watch to the fifth of ten positional previews regarding the tight ends below. Joining me for all of these positional preview episodes is football writer and Rutgers fan David Anderson.
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Great discussion. So, we have an OC who knows how to get his TEs involved in the offense & we have a corp of TEs who have promise as productive blockers and/or receivers (in a short passing game). I’ll trust the OC to manage his TEs based on the opposition’s defensive strengths/weaknesses on a game by game basis. That he has the talent available to allow that is what I find exciting.
It will be a welcome relief to see TEs become a big part of our offense again. It won’t be just the fans who feel relieved, it will be Wimsatt. I live in the SF bay area so get to watch George Kittle every week so I see who a great TE can shred the defense and open up the offense. I am not saying our TEs will approach the level of Kittle but it sure sounds like we have more talent there than in a long time.
pj43
August 25, 2023 at 2:33 pm
Great discussion. So, we have an OC who knows how to get his TEs involved in the offense & we have a corp of TEs who have promise as productive blockers and/or receivers (in a short passing game). I’ll trust the OC to manage his TEs based on the opposition’s defensive strengths/weaknesses on a game by game basis. That he has the talent available to allow that is what I find exciting.
thevinman
August 27, 2023 at 12:04 pm
It will be a welcome relief to see TEs become a big part of our offense again. It won’t be just the fans who feel relieved, it will be Wimsatt. I live in the SF bay area so get to watch George Kittle every week so I see who a great TE can shred the defense and open up the offense. I am not saying our TEs will approach the level of Kittle but it sure sounds like we have more talent there than in a long time.
thevinman
August 27, 2023 at 12:01 pm
That David and Aaron!