Marshall University Athletics
MCGILL: Herd tight ends are versatile, can be weapons for offense
4/22/2019 10:43:00 PM | Football, Word on the Herd
Marshall coaches have ideas how to use talented group
By Chuck McGill
HerdZone.com
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – What's the good in having a toolbox filled with nothing but hammers?
When Marshall football coach Kyle Segler arrived on campus, he took a peek in the tight ends position room and found one of everything. The versatility at the position has been on display during spring football drills, which culminate this Saturday with the annual Green and White scrimmage. Fans will get a glimpse of senior Armani Levias (6 feet, 4 inches and 247 pounds), junior Xavier Gaines (6-2, 220) and sophomore Devin Miller (6-3, 229), among others.Â
"Variety is a big part of the best rooms I've had," said Segler, who was announced as the team's new tight ends coach in March. "If you have players with the same cookie-cutter skill-set, it limits what you can do as a coach."
Levias emerged as the lead tight end last season, and he looks every bit of his height and weight. Gaines is a converted quarterback who oozes athleticism. Miller has been a breakout player this spring. Another converted quarterback, Garet Morrell, joined the room prior to the spring and showed he'd be another capable option for the Herd before he was beset by an injury. Each player brings a different blend of skills to the position, which will allow second-year offensive coordinator Tim Cramsey to get more creative in 2019.
"The tight end is the most dangerous spot and the best weapon on the field," Cramsey said. "You can create mismatches where linebackers aren't athletic enough to cover them and secondary guys aren't big enough to cover them. Receivers do what receivers do; running backs do what running backs do. But those tight ends – they do what receivers do, they do what running backs do, they do what offensive linemen do and we have a guy who is going to do what quarterbacks do sometimes."
Cramsey is not revealing any secrets there. He had Gaines attempt a pass in December's Gasparilla Bowl win against USF.
"You're going to see Xavier Gaines play the tight end spot, the slot position, in the backfield and at quarterback," Cramsey said. "You saw a couple snaps last year at quarterback and we're expanding that package for him this year. His skill-set is as talented as anyone we have in this offense. He has a unique ability as far as what he can do with the ball in his hands, his size and his ability to run and catch."
Levias, though, offers the Herd offense something entirely different. Segler said Levias is the equivalent of a five-tool baseball player.
"He's got the mass and size to play in-line, but he has the athleticism and dynamic ability to be a big dude who can catch the ball and play in space," the first-year tight ends coach said.
Levias and Gaines combined for 38 receptions for 540 yards and four touchdowns last season. Levias had more receptions (25 to 13), receiving yards (327 to 213) and touchdowns (three to one), but Gaines led the team – not only tight ends – in average yards per catch at 16.4.
Miller saw action in 12 games, and has flashed his potential this spring as another person who can be a playmaker at the position.
"Devin is the big fundamental," Segler said. "He's Tim Duncan. He's not flashy, but I love his game. Those are the guys you cheer for. He's made several big plays in the pass game this spring, and he comes in every day with his lunch pail in hand and works.
"That's why I would say that it is inaccurate to say we have one starter. We have those three, and we have Morrell who is a wild card. If he continues to develop the way he did at the beginning of the spring, you're talking about having four real dudes at that position. There's not too many tight end coaches in the country who can say the same thing."
Chuck McGill is the Assistant Athletic Director for Fan/Donor Engagement and Communications at Marshall University and a seven-time winner of the National Sports Media Association West Virginia Sportswriter of the Year award. In addition to HerdZone.com's Word on the Herd, McGill is the editor of Thundering Herd Illustrated, Marshall's official athletics publication. Follow him on Twitter (@chuckmcgill) and Instagram (wordontheherd).
