We continue our post-spring depth chart breakdown today as we take a look at the tight end and fullback positions.
Tight End/Fullback analysis:
After spending the previous 4 seasons as offensive coordinator, Aaron Stamn will now focus exclusively on the tight ends and fullbacks. Under Gill, the tight end has never been utilized in the passing game very much with the tight end position collectively averaging season numbers of 26 receptions for 374 yards and 4 touchdowns since Gill took over in 2012. Stamn has also had a different starter at tight end each season, from Justin Gunn to Brandon Apon, Dexter Herman, and Will Johnson. If Kendall Couamin remains healthy, the Flames will have its 5th different starter at tight end in as many seasons.
The fullback position figures to take on a different look in 2016 under new offensive coordinator Joe Dailey, and because of it last year’s starter, Buddy Edwards, transferred. Liberty only has 2 fullbacks on the roster, Thomas Kennedy and walk-on Connor Maitland.
Tight End
1. Kendall Couamin (R-Jr., 6-2, 240)
Couamin was expected to be the Flames’ best tight end passing target in several years entering 2015, but he suffered a season-ending injury in the first quarter of the first game of the season. He was limited during the spring as Gill says he’s “not quite 100%. (We) took it easy on him during the spring. We kept him away from contact. He needs to get back into football shape, (but) he should be 100% and going into (the season) will be our top guy.”
2. Canon Smith (Sr., 6-4, 255)
Smith was Liberty’s top receiving tight end in 2015, hauling in 14 receptions for 172 yards. He’s a veteran, 5th year senior, who has seen playing time in 33 career games
3. Zac Foutz (R-Fr., 6-4, 220)
The Cave Spring product redshirted last season and hopes to make an impact in 2016. During his recruitment, we chronicled his impressive story of overcoming meningitis early in high school career.
Fullback
1. Thomas Kennedy (Jr., 5-11, 230)
Kennedy is a hard-nosed, prototypical blocking fullback. While playing in all 11 games in 2015, he logged just one carry and one reception.
Last year’s starting fullback was not Edwards…it was Kennedy
Maybe not utilizing the TE and FB in the passing scheme is why Liberty struggled offensively on 3rd down, and why there were so many changes in the coaching staff duties this offseason?? Revamping the offense is not the solution. Last season, Instead of taking a 12 yd gain for a first down, we’d rather have a 30 yd incompletion or interception trying to hit the home run! Watch the film, too many times to count our FB or TE is running free in the flat and would be ignored. And Edwards was not the starting FB last year, Kennedy was.