Using Multiple Options to Reach the Same Conclusion

There were the 64 catches, good for 767 yards and six touchdowns. Those numbers led to John Mackey Award consideration. One person did all that.

Dallin Holker answered more than one prayer for Colorado State's football team in 2023. Everyone will long remember the one against Boise State. More to the point, he brought production back to the tight end position.

Just one guy did all that. But it doesn't have to be that way this year.

"I'm really impressed with Vince Brown and where he's at right now. He came in 210, and he's 235 now," CSU tight ends coach James Finley said. "He did everything he could do to put weight on his body and get used to carrying it. Jaxxon Warren came in at 240, and he has a really good ball-skill set.

"In my mind, we might not get Dallin production from one, but we definitely can get it from the whole with Peter Montini, Mason Muaau and Jordan Williams, all those guys. If we do it as a whole, it may be easier for us. We can get those 64 catches we got last year."

The catch is this: There isn't a whole lot of experience in the room when it comes to doing tight end things in the Air Raid. Montini, is the versatile one, serving as a fullback or H-back when needed. He has five catches at CSU for 66 yards. Vince Brown caught four passes for 32 yards a season ago, Williams four catches for 36 yards and a score the year before. Muaau redshirted last year, Warren comes to the Rams via an eight-week experiment in junior college at the position after beginning the schedule as a quarterback.

They have to be quick, viable studies. Montini, Muaau and Williams have always been tight ends. Brown was a big wideout when he joined the team last year. Yet it is Brown and Warren who have moved to the top of the Air Raid role in the room because of their abilities to assist the passing game.

"It's been a good adjustment. Things are starting to come together by stacking days," said Warren, who a few years ago was a 6-foot-2, 185-pounder behind center. "Everyone is just doing their job, and as I continue to do mine, I'll keep improving on what I need to improve and keep getting more comfortable.

"I feel like everyone in the room is selfless. We're all there to succeed and we coach each other up when we fail."

Warren has made plays in camp, and so has Brown, who is looking increasingly comfortable as a tight end and as a veteran.

Naturally, he's done all he can to make himself a viable option to replace Holker's production, but in looking around his own locker room, he's become extremely mindful of being an elder statesman in a young room and what it really means.

"I feel like we're the best tight end room in the Mountain West. Spring ball definitely helped me out, and I'm definitely trying to step up and be the leader for this group so we all can produce on the field," Brown said. "Doesn't matter if it's me, Jaxxon, Mason or J-Will, I want everybody to produce if their name is called upon."

Some of what they needed fell out of Finley's hands and directly to the work done by Jordon Simmons and his speed and strength staff in the offseason. Every one of them has added bulk to their frame, mainly in the addition of muscle which has made them all look more like tight ends and not just big targets.

Those gains have also helped them all in another primary task which Finley does have to oversee.

Improvement as blockers.

Warren laughs, admitting as a former quarterback, he never blocked a soul in his life. Brown, as a wide receiver had done some, but the style, the technique and the size of the targets is now much different.

"I feel like it's been fun. That's the biggest thing I wasn't used to, being a wide receiver," Brown said. "Once you get good at it, it's fun; it's not fun when you're not good at it. Once you get your technique right and you get that dog in you on a block, definitely the most fun part about being a tight end is blocking."

Finley gives them all a passing grade, at least when it comes to the effort they've put into becoming reliable blockers, be it attached to the line or even a bit spread. They need to impact the passing game, but in order to have the chance, they need to be part of the solution as Jay Norvell looks to make the run game a threat.

Those improvements in size and blocking will aid another main request of the group, to be active and regular contributors on special teams. Montini has always been a standout there, and Brown made his mark on the units last year. Williams has done so too, but Finley expects his room to be leaders in the charge.

"They're much better. It's learning the techniques," Findley said. "Blocking from the line is a lot different than blocking outside like a wideout. That was a focus, these guys getting better and understanding the run game, fronts and what they see. It's very important these guys learn that, especially if they want to play at the next level. You've got to be able to block some.

"All of the tight ends, special teams are a must. We did a really good job on teams last year. Dallin played on a lot, and Vince was starting, and Pete is awesome."
One guy carried the load last year, which was fine. Norvell's offenses have produced stellar tight ends in the past. But production is production, and the Rams feel they can still get the same neighborhood of numbers this season.

How they get there, they don't really care. And if it takes more than one player, so be it.

"It's definitely going to be a group effort," Brown said. "I feel like we have so many skill sets when it comes to each tight end, so when it comes to who replaces that, it will be a group effort from the tight end room."

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Dallin Holker

Peter Montini

Mason Muaau

Jaxxon Warren

Jordan Williams