Reintroducing the Tight End Promises to be a Boon for Air Raid

FORT COLLINS – Matt Mumme sat down with Clay Millen to give his quarterback a reminder.

This is a tight end. When used properly in the Air Raid offense, this player can be a major producer. That's a bit of a facetious statement, but it's not far from the truth.

"As soon as I started feeling good about Dallin (Holker) in the recruiting process, I called Clay and said, 'Look, that room is about to change,'" CSU quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme said. "Then when we added Vince (Brown), that was like gravy on the mashed potatoes. I think Clay automatically triggered in his mind I've got two more weapons; how soon can I start working with them and get them in the mix."

Now, the first thing they all want to see is better pass protection. That will go a long way toward being more productive in the passing game and lead to averaging way more than 13.2 points per game. That's a figure which won't get you anywhere these days in college football.

Last season, Colorado State tight ends combined to catch 22 passes for 236 yards and one touchdown. That came late from true freshman Jordan Williams, who was picking up the nuances more and more as the season progressed.

But in the offense's heyday at Nevada, the tight end was a featured piece. Cole Turner's final two seasons (one a covid year), he averaged 55 catches for 641 yards and 9.5 touchdowns. That's a huge disparity.

Also, a primary reason Holker came over from BYU, to play in an offense he excelled in as a prep.

"It was a huge part, seeing what they've done with tight ends in the past and they kind of lacked that last year. The fun part is knowing we can come in here, be a vital part of this offense and help us win," Holker said. "It's like a different start for me. Every day I'm so excited because I just know what we can do and how much they use tight ends. This summer was big. That's all we were doing all summer, seeing what each other was thinking and getting on the same page. That's the biggest part of it.

"I think about it all the time. I think it's a huge challenge, but one I'm super excited for. The tight end can do so many things – open up the middle of the field, help out with blocks. I think it's one of the biggest parts of the offense and that's a fine line every day."

The offensive staff is excited because of the multiple benefits which stem from high production from the position.

Clay Millen, entering his second season behind center, enjoys having experienced players at the spot and athletes who fit the mold of the offense. Adding experience helps immediately, but he sees the long-term benefits for Williams and the other young tight ends.

"It's huge. I think last year we didn't get a lot of throws down the middle of the field, and I think to be a good offense we need that. To be a good offense, we have to be able to stretch the middle of the field," Millen said. "I think Dallin and Vince have come in and helped Jordan; Jordan got a lot of game time last year. I think just those guys being older in the room help the tight ends learn. Jordan has taken that, and it's helped him a lot too. Having those guys, I can trust who know the defenses in college, their experience, that helps us a lot."

The Rams were never really able to establish the middle of the field, and as Millen noted, the offense was never able to take advantage of the intermediate throws in the system. Quality tight ends will make it possible. It should be noted, they'll open up the entire field base on the presence of threat alone.

Which makes one more notable player very happy: Tory Horton.

All he did was catch 71 passes for 1,131 yards and eight touchdowns despite receiving special attention from the defense. With a tight end threat, some of that will disappear.

"They kind of came and said that. They make jokes about it, and I make jokes with them," Horton said. "They're happy to be here. They come out and say, 'how about I get doubled this time and you get a one-on-one, and we flip sides to each other. It's nice having them.

"It's going to mean a lot. They're going to eat up the middle, and it's going to drive the defense crazy. Good tight ends are going to be a headache for the defense."

As fall camp starts, Millen is well aware of the tight ends on the field now. Holker joked they dropped him a note as spring began – "hey, we're back" – but with Holker and Brown on hand for the spring and the summer, the reintroduction of the tight end into the Air Raid is well underway.

Mumme has already seen the results, and the feedback he's received from the CSU secondary is glowing. They've told him Holker is hard to handle in the passing game.

"I think it was pivotal because we'd just be learning right now," Mumme said. "To be able to have those guys in the mix … Last year the tight end spot was non-existent, even though it was in the game a lot. That put coverage on Tory. Being able to now have seven months of work with these guys is a pretty big deal."

The idea being the next four months will become a bigger deal for the defenses they face.

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