Tennessee’s tight end room isn’t just bigger and stronger entering fall camp. According to position coach Alec Abeln, it’s grown up.
The Volunteers opened preseason practice this week with a group Abeln believes is more mature than any he’s coached at Tennessee. With experienced veterans, an emerging sophomore in DaSaahn Brame, and an Austrian freshman whose “darkest sense of humor in the room” has made him an instant fit.
“I’d say we’re more mature than I feel like we’ve been in the past,” Abeln said. “I don’t mean that in a negative way. I think there’s still fun being had in the room and I think these guys love each other, but it’s a very driven group right now.”
That maturity could translate into one of the deepest tight end rotations Tennessee has had under Josh Heupel.
Abeln said the Vols have discussed using multiple tight ends together because as many as five players have shown they could contribute this season.
“It’s absolutely something we’ve talked about as a staff,” Abeln said. “There’s really five guys in the room that feel like they can contribute if they’re doing things the way they need to these next couple of weeks.”
The key, Abeln said, is versatility.
“We’re not looking to play with a Y that’s just a blocker or an F that’s just a route runner,” he said. “We want guys that are true combo, have the ability to do all of it.”
The room starts with veterans Ethan Davis and Trent Thomas.
Abeln smiled while acknowledging Davis, once one of the younger players in the room, has suddenly become one of its leaders.
“It’s weird saying that Ethan Davis is one of the mature (guys), like he’s a vet presence now,” Abeln said. “Trent Thomas is like a grown man, he might as well be 40-years old just in the way he approaches it.”
Sophomore DaSaahn Brame has also taken a noticeable step after a freshman season in which he wanted a larger role.
Abeln said Brame’s biggest improvements have come through mastering the offense and becoming a more complete player physically.
“One, just mastery of the offense, knowing what to do,” Abeln said. “It’s hard to do anything at a high level until you feel really confident in what you’re doing.”
The next step has come in pass protection, where Abeln believes Brame is beginning to translate his strength into production.
“I think that’s DaSaahn’s biggest jump right now,” Abeln said. “When it clicks for him it’s going to be really fun.”
Abeln said Brame handled the disappointment of a limited freshman season the right way.
“For the first time in his life, he’s not the guy that’s playing the number of snaps that you want,” Abeln said. “You can either mope about it and get sad about it or you can use it to fuel you. … The challenge for him, let’s not wait, let’s do it now.”
Freshman Luca Wolf has quickly become another reason for optimism.
The Austrian native arrived after spending two years at the NFL Academy in England. Abeln added Wolf entered college with an advanced understanding of the game and the maturity to compete for playing time immediately.
“I think he’s absolutely given himself a chance to be a real contributor this fall,” Abeln said.
Wolf’s transition to Knoxville has also been easier than expected.
“Culturally, man, he fits right in with our room in a bunch of fun ways,” Abeln said. “He’s probably got the darkest sense of humor in the room, which I appreciate.”
Tennessee could have the flexibility to lean on multiple tight ends more often this fall.
For Abeln, though, that opportunity has been earned long before the first game.
“I think physically, cannot say enough about the work those guys have done since January,” Abeln said. “Really proud of the work that they’ve done so far. Excited about what it means for us this fall.”
