The Hurricanes got a first-hand look at how an effective passing game to the tight ends can pay huge dividends.
In last week’s loss to No. 10 Louisville, Cardinals tight ends racked up 113 receiving yards on 10 catches and scored a pair of touchdowns. They effectively matched Miami’s season-long production from the position in a single game.
“To be a successful team, you have to be able to own the middle of the field more than we have,” Cardinals coach Jeff Brohm said after the win. “And they have to be a great complement for us.”
The Hurricanes have a long history of excellent tight ends who went on to professional success, earning the nickname “Tight End U.” But this year, tight ends have been noticeably absent from the passing game. UM tight ends have been targeted for only 21 passes through 11 games. They have only 12 catches for 107 yards and one score.
“I want to get those guys the ball as much as possible, but that’ll come,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “I promise you it’ll come.”
There is not much time left in the season for the tight ends to become heavily involved in the passing game. UM has one regular-season game left against Boston College and then a to-be-determined bowl game.
Eighth-year Oregon transfer Cam McCormick has the most catches of the group, with six catches for 51 yards. Freshman Riley Williams has five catches for 47 yards and a score. Sophomore Jaleel Skinner has one catch for 9 yards. Third-year sophomore Elijah Arroyo and freshman Jackson Carver have not caught a pass.
Arroyo’s absence has been due to injury. He suffered a season-ending ACL tear last season that limited him to four games. His recovery took longer than expected and has been limited to just 36 offensive snaps in three games this season.
Arroyo’s absence has been a factor in the tight ends’ limited production. Miami coach Mario Cristobal said Arroyo is expected back for Friday’s game after missing the last three.
“He’s one of our best players,” Cristobal said. “He really is, and last year, when he was lost, it drastically affected what we do and how we do things. He looked really good (Monday), so we’re very excited about his return. Just want to get to Friday and make sure that he’s out there and everything goes to plan. He’s been through a lot, being nicked up and being legitimately injured a year ago. But he’s a dynamic football player and a great, great team leader, great human being as well. He’s been sorely missed, so looking forward to having him back.”
McCormick has played the most snaps at tight end, racking up 472 offensive plays. He has been primarily used as a blocker and has a 57.3 pass-blocking grade and a 58.4 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus. He has been targeted 12 times in the passing game.
Dawson’s offense has used tight ends often in the past. At Houston, his quarterbacks threw to tight ends 34 times in 2022 and 60 times in 2021. The lack of tight-end targets this season sometimes comes down to simple reasons. Sometimes quarterbacks just throw the ball to other players and not tight ends.
But Dawson also said there was some miscommunication at key moments against Louisville.
“There were certain situations in the game towards the end that the tight end could have honestly been the hero of the game if there wasn’t a little bit of miscommunication,” Dawson said. “We’ve got some young kids out there, too, and in those specific situations, things aren’t always the smoothest right now.”
Skinner has played just 25 offensive snaps this year and has not played in an ACC game after getting on the field for 145 snaps last season. He had nine catches for 129 yards and a score last season.
Cristobal said Skinner had things to work on before he can become a major contributor.
“(Skinner’s) approach to the game has to be a lot more diligent,” Cristobal said. “He’s a really good young man. He’s a talented young man. He can run. He’s a little bit thin, but he’s working on his body. I think he has a really bright future. Just has to go all-in on what it takes to be a great football player at that position. You have to be good at the line of scrimmage and you have to be good detached. You’ve got to be able to have great balance and body control and track the ball because if you’re that size, you want to be able to make contested catches. Those big-body throws, right? Those back-shoulder fades and those deep balls where you just jump over people. So we challenge him daily. Going to keep challenging him daily because he has to get more out of himself and we need to get more out of him for him to be a productive player in our system.”
Dawson said he thinks Skinner has looked better in practice lately.
“I think Jaleel’s had, the last couple of weeks, man, his practice has been really good,” Dawson said. “Been playing fast.”
Williams and Carver have had opportunities. Williams has the bulk of those, getting 259 snaps on offense. Carver, who only started playing football as a senior in high school, has six snaps on offense (all of which were early in the season).
“Everybody’s got certain things they need to work on,” Dawson said. “Riley’s the more ready guy to play right now. But as time goes, we’re going to need those guys to play more and more.”
