Position Breakdown: Tight Ends
This is the eighth in a series in which each position will get broken down prior to the start of the 2021 season.
Tuesday, August 17: Offensive Line
Wednesday, August 18: Quarterbacks
Thursday, August 19: Cornerbacks
Friday, August 20: Running Backs
Saturday, August 21: Linebackers
Monday, August 23: Receivers
Tuesday, August 24: Defensive Line
Wednesday, August 25: Tight Ends
Thursday, August 26: Safeties
Friday, August 27: Specialists
Starters Returning (0): None
Starters Lost (1): Marcus Williams (7 starts)
Other Returning Letterwinners (3): Kyle Jarvis (2 starts), Conner Kinslow, Connor Witthoft
Other Letterwinners Lost (0): None
Redshirts (1): Caleb Marra
Incoming Transfers (0): None
Incoming Freshmen (4): Trace Bruckler, Jacob Trussell, Simon Gay, Kai Jessie
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — UNM’s tight ends are asked to do many things, and with only three tight ends on the roster that have seen action in a college game, one would think that tight end might be a trouble spot for New Mexico.
One would be very, very wrong.
Despite the loss of four-year starter Marcus Williams, UNM’s tight ends room has plenty of talent to replace the venerable local product. It starts with Kyle Jarvis, who showed last year solid hands and a knack for delivering a healthy block. Being strong both as a pass catcher and a run blocker is a theme for the Lobo tight end group.
Conner Kinslow had just one catch in 2020, but it was a big one, going for a 49-yard touchdown. Kinslow is the prototype of what coach Derek Warehime wants from his tight ends. He is big, strong, can catch and block and almost seems like an overly big receiver.
Connor Witthoft is the one returnee that played in 2020, but didn’t get a ton of snaps at tight end. He has made up for that in fall camp and has been one of the surprise revelations with his technique and solid hands. Witthoft has become a favorite target of the Lobo QBs this fall.
Everyone else is new, or newish. Caleb Marra would fall under the latter category, having redshirted in 2020. He, like Witthoft, has shown great hands and has adjusted well to the extended reps.
What’s been a bit of a shock is how quickly the true freshmen are coming along. Kai Jessi and Trace Bruckler are big targets that follow in the footsteps of Kinslow in that they almost look like bigger receivers. Both have shown well at camp, especially Bruckler, who was a receiver in high school. Simon Gay has proven that he belongs in the mix and could see time this year as a walk-on. Jacob Trussell has been slowed by an injury but looked good in his early reps.
Tickets: Season-game tickets are still available via golobos.com/tickets, and fans can now get in on mini-plans as well. UNM is currently ahead of the 2019 season ticket totals.
There are two mini-plans for fans to get in on, the Cherry Plan and the Silver Plan. The Cherry Plan gets you a three-game set of the opener against Houston Baptist, New Mexico State and UNLV. The Silver Plan gets fans tickets for New Mexico State, Air Force and Utah State.
Single game tickets are available by clicking the game below:
9/2 Houston Baptist
9/11 New Mexico State
10/2 Air Force
10/16 Colorado State
11/6 UNLV
11/26 Utah State
Thursday: A breakdown of UNM’s safeties.