In recent years the LSU offense hasn’t made much use of the tight end position, but in a year of transition for the offense the tight ends could play a bigger role.
The return of senior Travis Dickson, sophomore DeSean Smith, junior Dillon Gordon and senior Logan Stokes gives the Tigers depth and versatility at tight end in 2014. The addition of freshman Jacory Washington, who is transitioning from wide out in high school to tight end at LSU, creates another receiving threat on the outside.
Dickson, Gordon and Stokes have combined for 16 starts for the Tigers. In 2013, Gordon led the unit in catches with six while Dickson led the tight ends in receiving yards with 109.
“We expect to see a change for the tight ends,” Dickson said. “We may not have always had the role of passing catching tight ends, but we’ve always had the hit and roll in this offense. That’s still an important role for us.”
Since Richard Dickson in 2009, no LSU tight end has caught more than 20 passes in a season. In 2013, the entire unit combined for 12 receptions and 211 yards.
In 2014, this may change as the offense replaces the production of Beckham Jr. and Landry.
Beckham and Landry combined for 2,345 receiving yards and about two thirds of targets. The replacement of this production will fall on the tight ends, as well as the receivers.
Although Gordon and Dickson led the unit last season, Smith has the track record and skill set to have a breakout year.
Despite playing in all 13 games last season, Smith’s only catch of the year was against University of Alabama at Birmingham for 14 yards. This year, Smith is reunited with his former Barbe High School teammate and Class of 2014 recruit wide receiver Trey Quinn.
During his senior year, Smith recorded 815 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns, which earned him a consensus four-star rating by all major recruiting services. Quinn and Smith combined for 2,956 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns that year.
With a young quarterback at the helm, the 6-5 target of Smith cutting through the center is a sure-handed option to convert third-downs and take pressure off the inexperienced receiving corps.
Alongside Smith, Washington brings other receiving threat to the unit, as a former high school wideout.
In his senior year, Washington recorded 36 catches for 518 yards. He also participated in the Under Armour All-Star game where he caught two passes for 36 yards including a touchdown.
“The transition is really different being a wide out in high school and coming here and playing tight end,” Washington said. “I have to get my blocking techniques down and learn the offense really well.”