The injury bug bit senior tight ends Deangelo Peterson and Mitch Joseph last season.
Peterson and Joseph missed three games each last season with ankle and knee injuries, respectively.
But now that they are both healthy, Peterson and Joseph are in line to lead the tight ends into their senior seasons.
Peterson is the tight end strongest at catching passes, and his skill was sorely missed in the first three games of 2010, Joseph said.
“Right before the first game, I remember them saying Deangelo was going to be out with an injury,” Joseph said. “I just remember thinking we had to step up because he’s more of a route running guy and speed guy.”
Joseph caught five passes for 51 yards starting in Peterson’s place, his only receptions of the season.
Peterson said lining up in four-wide receiver sets is a strong suit that he enjoys. The New Orleans native started the Tennessee, Auburn and Texas A&M games last season and hauled in 16 catches for 198 yards, No. 4 on the team, with no touchdowns.
He also ran 23 yards on a reverse play on fourth-and-1 against Alabama.
“That was a cool play,” Joseph said. “Deangelo is our passing game guy, and he’s also improved on his run game.”
When Joseph was out against West Virginia, Tennessee and Florida, Peterson said the team missed a huge blocking presence at tight end. Joseph checks in at 6 feet 5 inches and 265 pounds.
“As a group we’re getting better now,” Peterson said. “We’re pumped for this season since last year we had a lot of new things to learn.”
Junior Chase Clement, another key contributor at tight end last season, is feeling the injury sting this spring.
Clement broke his collarbone in March and has not returned to spring practice.
It’s safe to say Clement had the most to learn on the field, as he played tight end for the first time at LSU last season. Clement served as a reserve defensive end as a redshirt freshman before moving to tight end.
He’s played in every game in his two-year career and started eight games in 2010.
Two redshirt freshmen see their first playing time this spring: Travis Dickson and Nic Jacobs. Dickson has LSU tight end genes, as his brother Richard set the school’s tight end records for receptions (90), yards (952) and touchdowns (10) in his career, which ended in 2009.
Richard signed with the Detroit Lions after the 2010 NFL Draft, and Travis said he is able to stay close with his brother in Baton Rouge.
“He’ll come hang out at practice, and he’ll criticize me when we get back to the house later,” the younger Dickson said. “He likes to pick on me.”
Travis started playing football as a defensive lineman, but he said Richard became his mentor when he switched to offense. Travis said he likes the heightened speed of practice.
“I get a lot more reps coming from a scout team guy to being on the field,” he said. “The change of pace is completely different and more exciting.”
Peterson said he foresees good performance from Dickson.
“Dickson has stepped up a lot since last year. I see him catching the ball and blocking more, and his technique is better,” Peterson said. “[Jacobs] is still learning. … He’s got no technique, but he’s strong so he should be good, too.”
Tyler Edwards returns as a junior this season, having played in all 13 games as a reserve blocking tight end in goal-line situations. His only reception was for 10 yards in the Cotton Bowl.
Follow Rachel Whittaker on Twitter @TDR_RWhittaker.
 
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