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Stanford football 2009 tight ends
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As far as depth is concerned, the tight end position could be the deepest position on the Stanford football team. They will certainly have the numbers when you include four incoming freshman that are listed at tight end.
Jim Dray should be the starter. The senior recovered from a knee that required two surgeries after he hurt himself in game 6 of .jpg)
the 2007 season. Last year he played in eight games and started in five of those. He ended up with only two catches, one for a touchdown. But as the season progressed and his knee healed he became a bigger part of the offense. In 2006 he had 19 catches and 178 yards so the potential is there. He is a fine run blocker and with good health, he should have a bigger role in the pass game in 2009.
the 2007 season. Last year he played in eight games and started in five of those. He ended up with only two catches, one for a touchdown. But as the season progressed and his knee healed he became a bigger part of the offense. In 2006 he had 19 catches and 178 yards so the potential is there. He is a fine run blocker and with good health, he should have a bigger role in the pass game in 2009.Coby Fleener is a guy to keep an eye on. The redshirt sophomore made 13 catches for 176 yards in his first year playing in 2008. He is not the blocker that Dray is yet, but at 6-6, 241-pounds he .jpg)
brings some speed that could create some matchup difficulties for a defense. Fleener made a great play on one ball thrown by Andrew Luck during the spring game that worked for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Fleener could be a huge target down the middle splitting a deep zone.
brings some speed that could create some matchup difficulties for a defense. Fleener made a great play on one ball thrown by Andrew Luck during the spring game that worked for a 40-yard touchdown pass. Fleener could be a huge target down the middle splitting a deep zone.Tight ends coach Greg Roman said there is more to Fleener than just that. “He is becoming a very balanced player. He has a lot more work to do but I saw such improvement in him in the four weeks we had spring football.”
Konrad Reuland is a bit of an unknown quantity. The redshirt junior sat out last year after transferring from Notre Dame, where he played for two years off the bench. He is still learning the position, and 
the offense, but he is said to have great ball skills and the blocking is coming along.
the offense, but he is said to have great ball skills and the blocking is coming along.“He has a lot on his plate and has digested everything so far,” Roman said. “We have thrown a lot at him and he has done a great job.” My guess is that Reuland won’t start any games this year (without injuries in front of him), but it would be a surprise not to see him on the field.
With three capable tight ends on the field it seems unlikely the freshman class will play in 2009. But if one of them does stick out, maybe he does work his way into the rotation. Zach Ertz, Ryan Hewitt, Jordan Najvar and Levine Toilolo are highly regarded at their positions coming out of high school. If they don’t make it on the field in 2009, you can be sure there will be great competition in 2010. With four incoming freshman, and a young Coby Fleener on the roster, it seems likely at least one or two of these tight ends will end up moving to other positions.
While the numbers have not been splashy at the tight end position, there is some very good potential. With an expected improved passing game this year, look for some key contributions from the position. Dray looks like the anchor right now, but I am guessing we will see more than a few big plays from Fleener as well.
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