Season preview: A look at FAMU football's swiss army knives of tight ends
When playing the tight end position, athletes must be a swiss army knife.
It is a necessity to have the blocking of a monstrous offensive lineman paired with having the hands of a pillow like a wide receiver.
The Florida A&M 2022 football team has those type of players entering the season with key returners and a Power 5 newcomer.
The best part about it is that most of their junior class of tight ends is deep and will be back once more for the 2023 season.
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The Godby Boys
The Rattlers struck gold by landing Godby football alumni Nicholas Dixon and Kamari Young in consecutive recruiting classes (2018, 2019).
In 2021, the former Cougars led the Rattler tight end group in getting playing reps.
Although both not crossing the double-digit mark in receptions, the duo serves as redzone threats for the Rattler offense.
Young, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior tight end was a homerun player for the Rattlers a season ago with four of his seven receptions went for touchdowns. He tallied 140 receiving yards after appearing in 12 games.
His two-time teammate Dixon stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 230 pounds. He played in six games in 2021 and caught six passes for 48 total yards, and a touchdown. He will enter his final season as a Rattler.
The man from across town
The Rattlers got a big catch from Florida State football in tight end Koby Gross.
Gross, 6-foot-1, 245-pounds announced his commitment to FAMU on May 5 after entering the transfer portal in April.
Thank you for bringing me into the FAMULY💚🧡 @Coach2Bless & @HCWillieSimmons LETS GET TO WORK!! pic.twitter.com/jYoLZjuJdu
— K (@Koby13k) May 5, 2022
Prior to joining FAMU, Gross was three-star prospect and spent time at Diablo Valley College before joining FSU in 2020. While with the Seminoles, he got scout team reps during his two years on the roster.
Gross will enter his junior year in his first season for Willie Simmons' offense as he competes for playing time as a newcomer.
The depth chart
One half of the Godby Boys in Young played the first snap of the Orange and Green Spring Scrimmage in April. He also got most of the tight end reps in the 2021 season.
That could point that he is in motion to retain his starter status.
Young has a capable option behind him in his fellow Godby alumnus Dixon.
Cam Shelton is new to FAMU as he prepares for his junior season as a transfer from Delta State in Division II. He tallied 15 receptions, 111 receiving yards, and a touchdown while playing for the Statesmen.
Redshirt junior Jeremiah Pruitte and redshirt sophomore Jalan Black are also returning in 2022.
Gerald Thomas III covers FAMU athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact him via email at gdthomas@gannett.com or on Twitter @3peatgee.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: FAMU Football: 2022 tight ends led by junior tight ends
