Spring Football Spotlight: Tight Ends Finding Voice Amid Injuries and Change

For Jarrett Anderson’s tight end room, the story of the spring so far has unfortunately been about injuries, as redshirt senior Michael Trigg and redshirt junior Kelsey Johnson have not been practicing. While Anderson didn’t provide details on the specifics of the injuries, neither player is expected to be out long-term.

On Tuesday, Anderson gave an update on Trigg, saying, “Trigg has practiced one day and had a slight injury. For precautionary measures, we held him out for the rest of spring. Why bring him back with two or three practices left if we had to do that?”

As for Johnson, who redshirted last season, Anderson noted, “He’s rehabbing from an injury he suffered early in the season. We decided to have surgery right after the season to try a quick fix. It’s something that happened probably back two years ago, and it’s been bugging him. It’s time to get that surgery, move on and get him to a healing process where he can play at full strength.”

Last fall, Trigg was fourth on the Bears in receptions (30) and fifth on the team in receiving yards (395). Across the last three games of the regular season, Trigg came into his own, recording 12 receptions for 168 yards and a touchdown, but missed the Texas Bowl against LSU with an injury. 

Despite being inactive this spring, he’s remained a positive presence in the tight end room, according to junior Matthew Klopfenstein, who played in 11 contests last season and caught six passes for 62 yards and a touchdown.

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TE Michael Trigg (RSr.) has not practiced for the majority of spring camp.

“He’s a character — that’s for sure,” Klopfenstein said of Trigg. “He’s pretty funny, and he’s a dude that you want to be friends with because he’s always got a smile on his face. He’s a great player, and he’s the type of guy you want to rally behind. He’s always going to have your back. If you’re making a play, he’s the first one cheering, flexing or running on the field.”

Another storyline this spring for the tight ends is replacing Gavin Yates, who Anderson says was “a big part of the puzzle.” Yates was the unquestioned leader of the room and Swiss Army knife for the Bears last year, whether blocking in the backfield, blocking on the perimeter or hauling in a pass.

“Our whole room feels it; there’s an empty part of the table, and we all love Gav,” redshirt sophomore Hawkins Polley said. “He’s definitely a big vocal leader in our tight end room and on the team. I think me, Cody [Mladenka], Klop and Trigg feel that, and we’re doing our best, but we’re still not going to go outside of our personalities or what we feel comfortable with. We’ve acknowledged that Gav is not here anymore, but we’re ready to take on the role that he leaves.”

Klopfenstein added, “We’re missing Gavin. It’s one of those things where Gavin was usually the person that was telling us, ‘Hey. You know your footwork or this or that.’ So we’re all three helping each other in that sense, and Trigg is involved too. We’re all helping each other, and we know we have to take the next step — all of us do.”

Without Trigg or Johnson available and Yates out of eligibility, Klopfenstein and Polley have gotten the majority of the reps and have started to gain a better understanding of second-year offensive coordinator Jake Spavital’s scheme.

“I think it’s just getting more comfortable and everything becoming more second nature,” Polley said. “We’re not having to stop and think through things as much. It’s seeing the signal, seeing the look, and being able to go. We’ve all felt that this spring.”

Anderson was profusive in his praise of Klopfenstein, saying, “He’s elevated from being new in this offense, and it’s one of those things where the sky is the limit for him.”

Despite Klopfenstein being an early stand-out, Anderson believes everyone on the roster is capable of stepping up and playing a significant number of snaps. However, the biggest emphasis this spring has been on playing with confidence, not hesitation.

“Not being unsure, ‘Am I making the right decision or not?’ Now, they see what I’m seeing, so it makes it easier for them,” Anderson said. “I tell them that you've got to play the game; it’s just you 11 out there, but I want you to see what I’m seeing, so when we get on the film or the field, you’re going and running and you don’t have any doubt that you’re playing at 100%.”

Injuries aside, as the spring narrows to a close, confidence in the offense and the tight end room remains high, especially after seeing what was accomplished last fall in the first season under Spavital.

“Last year, we had such success with Trigg, Gavin and everyone,” Klopfenstein said. “It was definitely a point where we were like, ‘This is something we can build on.’ Obviously, it sucks not having Gavin because he was such a good vocal leader and great player, but it’s allowed us to step up. It gives us confidence knowing that we can build off of last year.”

Other Spring Football Spotlights:

• Prentice, Wilson Help Round Out Revamped Wide Receiver Room
• Cornerbacks Embrace Change Under Paul Gonzales
• Baylor's Running Back Room Gears Up for Big Season Ahead
• Led by Robertson & Spavital, Offense Eyes Greater Success
• Baylor’s O-Line Focuses on Improvement and Consistency