Pitt

Does Pitt finally have answers at tight end?

Mike Kovak
Posted on

There was a time, not all that long ago, when Pitt held an advantage over most opponents at tight end.

From 2012-16, a pair of Western Pennsylvania products -- J.P. Holtz (Shaler) and Scott Orndoff (Seton LaSalle) -- provided stability, toughness and a long line of big plays.

Holtz began his Pitt career in 2012, finishing with 81 catches for 931 yards and 11 touchdowns. Orndoff arrived in 2013, and his senior season (35 for 579, five TDs in 2016) goes down as one of the better ones for any tight end at Pitt.

Indeed, times were good.

In 2017, Matt Flanagan arrived at Pitt as a grad transfer from Rutgers. He was solid, but the dropoff from Holtz and Orndoff was evident. He was complemented by Chris Clark, who previously played at UCLA and was the No. 1 tight end in the country coming out of high school.

The starting job in 2018 was Clark's to lose, but reinforcements were in place. Charles Reeves, a hulking four-star prospect from Steubenville, Ohio, was on the roster. So was Tyler Sear, a Neshannock High School grad, and Grant Carrigan from Pine-Richland.

Clark left the team because of personal reasons toward the end of spring practice. Reeves, who had redshirted in 2017, was dismissed from the team, having never taken the field in a game for Pitt. Options were limited, but Pitt had hope in Will Gragg, a transfer from Arkansas.

Gragg played, but he primarily served as a blocker.

How bad were things at tight end in 2018 for Pitt? Well, Sear transferred to Temple, and the players combined for 10 catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns. That's five fewer yards than the 74-yard touchdown reception Orndoff had against Georgia Tech in 2016

Let that sink in.

That led to Nakia Griffin-Stewart, a grad transfer from Rutgers, joining the team in 2019. Griffin-Stewart and Gragg combined for 38 catches and more than 300 receiving yards, a marked improvement from the year before, but drops were a problem.

So where does that leave Pitt in 2020? Let's take a look at the three key figures who will be in the tight ends room while remembering Carrigan, who did not have a catch in 27 career games, has moved to the offensive line.

LUCAS KRULL

Another in the recent long line of graduate transfers at the position, Krull was stuck behind Kyle Pitts at Florida. No shame there as Pitts is one of the best at the position, a possible early selection in the 2021 NFL Draft.

But Krull's story is an interesting one as the former pitcher at Jefferson (Mo.) College is likely the starting tight end at Pitt in 2020.

The 6-foot-7, 257-pound Krull had just nine catches for 108 yards while at Florida, but the former high school receiver from Kansas is considered a crisp route-runner and freakish athlete. He'll need to get better at blocking, but Krull is the most intriguing tight end at Pitt since those Holtz-Orndoff glory days.

DANIEL MORAGA

The Oxnard, Calif., native originally went to Fresno State but ended up at Ventura College, where he played seven games in 2019 and posted 17 catches for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Moraga, who has drawn rave reviews for his blocking, committed to Pitt about 12 hours after Krull, giving the position a much-needed boost.

He won't need to shoulder the load, especially in 2020, but if he can provide some depth and a reliable target for Kenny Pickett, it could provide hope for the following season.

KYI WRIGHT 

Wright played a Farrell, a Class A school, but he displayed big-time athleticism during his time with the Steelers.

He led Farrell to a 15-0 season and a PIAA championship during his senior yer, while starting at quarterback and linebacker. Wright (6-2, 260) doesn't have great height for the position, but he is explosive and powerful. He's also unproven.

KAYMAR MIMES

At 6-5, 245, Mimes has the size for the position but he appeared in just one game (Duke) last season.

A well-rounded athlete, Mimes played basketball and participated in track during high school. He was considered a defensive end prospect out of New Jersey, but Pitt's dreadfully low scholarship numbers at tight end initiated the position switch.

KOVAK'S TAKE

The good news? Things can't worse at the position than it was the past two years. Pitt all but ignored its tight ends in the passing game during the 2018 season. Last year, when Gragg and Griffin-Stewart got chances, they often dropped the ball. Literally.

The bad news? None of the players who figure prominently into the mix this season have proven anything at the collegiate level.

In an era where tight ends are becoming more receivers than blockers, Pitt needs more production.

But if Krull's route-running and athleticism translate to a larger role, and Moraga can provide an occasional spark and solid run-blocking, there's a chance this group will be remembered positively.

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