Six Tight Ends In The Mix For Utah Football With Emergence Of Caleb Lohner, Miki Suguturaga

Aug 13, 2024, 8:30 AM

Utah Insider

SALT LAKE CITY – Utah Football has been hard at work in fall camp for the last two weeks. Progress is being made and clarity is being found with the team.

The team had their first scrimmage this past Thursday and is set to have another one on Wednesday. There is still plenty to figure out with this squad but Kyle Whittingham made it clear, this year’s tight end room is loaded.

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There are six tight ends in the mix

As highlighted here before media availability yesterday, Utah seems to have pretty impressive depth at the tight end position. Whittingham verified that sentiment.

“We’ve got six tight ends that are really in the mix right now,” Whittingham shared. “We’ve got Brant Kuithe obviously, [Dallen Bentley], Carsen Ryan, Landen King, Caleb Lohner- is really doing a great job and really ahead of the curve right now of where we expected, [and Miki Suguturaga].”

This sort of depth at the tight end position is significant. To have multiple options in general is great but to have as many as six, frankly, is unheard of.

Not all six we’ll see extensive playing time. Reps will ebb & flow but all seem capable of getting time this season. They play the same position which means there are similarities. But each of them possesses qualities that make them unique as well.

Kuithe has found great success creating separation with his route running underneath. King has the ability to get vertical and stretch the seams.

Ryan has proven to be a very capable blocker and a reliable option in the short & intermediate areas of the field. Bentley has limited playing experience but is similar to Ryan and entered fall camp as the starter.

There is just a lot of flexibility with the six tight ends. Each has ways they can contribute to the team. That’s a big boost to the potential of the offense.

How is Caleb Lohner progressing?

Making the move from basketball to football and Utah Football at that- a program well-regarded for its physicality style of play, that transition is an interesting one. The good news is Whittingham feels like he’s handled it quite well.

“As well as he possibly could have, he’s not afraid, at all,” Whittingham said. “He’s a big, tall guy so he’s got to work on keeping the pads down. That’s always an issue for guys that have that kind of height. But he throws it in there, he is not afraid.

Coach Whittingham expanded on the standout qualities Lohner possesses. But also made it clear there is a lot more they need to see from him over the next two weeks.

“He’s an exceptional athlete, great in pass routes, soft hands,” he shared. “He’s got a chance, we’ll just see how things progress. We’ve still got 13 practices before we line up and play.

Miki Suguturaga’s improvement is noteworthy

Not only was Lohner mentioned as a standout but Whittingham gave a very encouraging review of the other tight end, who has received good reviews so far in camp.

“Miki Suguturaga might be our most consistent tight end,” Whittingham shared. “He’s here every day, he never misses, and he’s a complete tight end. He can block, he can catch, he can do it all, so very pleased with his progress.”

Last season was an up-and-down experience for Suguturaga. Still, the experience he gained is valuable, particularly now with the progress he’s made this offseason.