This spot was the weakest position on last year's Hurricanes. I'll say it plainly. I think it's going to be the most improved and the most explosive group on the whole roster this year.
Here's why.
Elija Lofton is at the center of it. We got back the version of Lofton nobody actually saw healthy last year — not the 250-plus, banged-up version, but the 238-pound, fast version that turned heads as a true freshman and sophomore.
Cam Ward used to compare him to Deebo Samuel, and the comparison made sense for one reason: once Lofton catches the ball, he plays like a running back, not a tight end. Last year, injuries and a heavy frame took that away from him — the first defender always brought him down.
This camp, he cut weight, elevating off the ground more than I've ever seen from him, and getting genuinely high-pointed catches instead of body-catching everything. If he gets any real space in the middle of the field behind this receiver room, that's a different offense.
Israel Briggs might be the best surprise in the building. He gained weight the right way — natural, cross-country move, 200 pounds in high school up to 230 now — and looks outstanding.
He's the pure vertical threat of the group, the guy making acrobatic, contested catches down the field, in the mold of what Elijah Arroyo gave us as a big-play seam threat. The one question mark coming out of high school tape was whether he could actually block on the line, and camp answered that — he's doing the technical stuff, crossing the shoulder, finishing blocks, and the effort is real.
Gavin Mueller is the physical piece. Big hands, big shoulders, still filling out. He absorbed real contact in the first scrimmage at the Rock after spending spring in a no-contact jersey, which is exactly what people wanted to see from him.
Between Lofton, Briggs and Mueller, that's a healthy rotation with three different skill sets, and I don't think we need a fourth guy to get heavy volume to make this room work.
Behind those three, Owen Ruskavich, a former walk-on with real size, and Cole McConathy are both pushing, with McConathy needing to clean up his hands. Jackson Carver had a strong first scrimmage and is still battling.
Nobody in that group has separated yet, but there's enough talent there that I expect one of them to get real short-yardage snaps at some point.
Considering the receiver room and the running back depth we already have, I don't need a plethora of tight ends. I need this room to do exactly what it's shaping up to do — and right now, I'm genuinely excited about it heading into Stanford.
We'll be tracking every one of these guys once the season starts — subscribe so you don't miss the breakdown after week one.
Here's why.
Elija Lofton is at the center of it. We got back the version of Lofton nobody actually saw healthy last year — not the 250-plus, banged-up version, but the 238-pound, fast version that turned heads as a true freshman and sophomore.
Cam Ward used to compare him to Deebo Samuel, and the comparison made sense for one reason: once Lofton catches the ball, he plays like a running back, not a tight end. Last year, injuries and a heavy frame took that away from him — the first defender always brought him down.
This camp, he cut weight, elevating off the ground more than I've ever seen from him, and getting genuinely high-pointed catches instead of body-catching everything. If he gets any real space in the middle of the field behind this receiver room, that's a different offense.
Israel Briggs might be the best surprise in the building. He gained weight the right way — natural, cross-country move, 200 pounds in high school up to 230 now — and looks outstanding.
He's the pure vertical threat of the group, the guy making acrobatic, contested catches down the field, in the mold of what Elijah Arroyo gave us as a big-play seam threat. The one question mark coming out of high school tape was whether he could actually block on the line, and camp answered that — he's doing the technical stuff, crossing the shoulder, finishing blocks, and the effort is real.
Gavin Mueller is the physical piece. Big hands, big shoulders, still filling out. He absorbed real contact in the first scrimmage at the Rock after spending spring in a no-contact jersey, which is exactly what people wanted to see from him.
Between Lofton, Briggs and Mueller, that's a healthy rotation with three different skill sets, and I don't think we need a fourth guy to get heavy volume to make this room work.
Behind those three, Owen Ruskavich, a former walk-on with real size, and Cole McConathy are both pushing, with McConathy needing to clean up his hands. Jackson Carver had a strong first scrimmage and is still battling.
Nobody in that group has separated yet, but there's enough talent there that I expect one of them to get real short-yardage snaps at some point.
Considering the receiver room and the running back depth we already have, I don't need a plethora of tight ends. I need this room to do exactly what it's shaping up to do — and right now, I'm genuinely excited about it heading into Stanford.
We'll be tracking every one of these guys once the season starts — subscribe so you don't miss the breakdown after week one.
