Big South TEs 2013

[bjtheflamesfan]

We conclude our look at the offensive skill positions by looking at the unsung heroes of any running or passing game, the tight ends:

Charleston Southern

Kirby Broome 4 Rec 63 Yards 1 TD
Nathan Prater 3 Rec 76 Yards 1 TD

With most of the passing going to the receivers, the TEs for the Bucs didnt get a whole lot of looks, but both Prater and Broome made the most of it, getting long TDs (41 for Broome and 37 for Prater) last season. With Perera returning from injury and Jones looking to build on his 2012 all conference campaign, don't expect much more than a modest uptick in numbers for either, with Broome probably getting the nod as the "starting tight end" in the 2 TE set come the season opener

Coastal Carolina

Thomas Pauciello 6 Rec 135 Yards 1 TD
Cody Craig (No 2012 Stats...played QB)

Coastal loses a good tight end in David Duran, who returned in 2012 on a medical hardship and finished his Chanticleer career second team all conference. Pauciello is the top returning TE on the roster, but he likely will be pushed by former backup QB Cody Craig as well as senior Kyle Vargo and fellow sophomore Craig Weick. With all the attention going to Bennett, Hazel and Mastromatteo (which sounds like the name of a law firm to me), look for Pauciello or whoever comes out of this race with the starting TE spot to have a marked increase in touches in the passing game.

Gardner-Webb

Seth Cranfill 37 Rec 366 Yards 2 TD (2012 Big South All Conference First Team)
Hudson Smith 3 Rec 37 Yards 1 TD

Cranfill exploded onto the scene last year as a redshirt sophomore, finishing third on the team in catches and tied for second in TDs on the way to first team all conference honors after starting his career in Boiling Springs as a WR. Smith has been all over the field for the Bulldogs, starting his career as a defensive end, even playing some RB in 2011 when the team was in need of a running back, and now a TE and Cranfill's likely backup.

Liberty

Brandon Apon 5 Rec 98 Yards 2 TD
Peter Gagliardi 1 Rec 21 Yards 0 TD

Former walkon Brandon Apon only had 5 catches last season, but two of them went for scores, including a key score against Cranfill and the Runnin Bulldogs last season. Apon will go into 2013 as the unquestioned starter and 2012 redshirt Canon Smith also could get some looks as well. Gagliardi since arriving from Buffalo has been somewhat of an H-back style of player, lining up at both fullback and tight end for the Flames.

Presbyterian

Joey Gilkey 7 Rec 80 Yards 0 TD
Andrew Osborne No 2012 Stats

Gilkey is the only returning TE with any stats after Joel Ruiz did not return for 2013 (anybody from PC with some insight into that?) , but Gilkey and the others will likely be asked to serve more in protection and run support as in the passing game with the issues that the Blue Hose had keeping their QB upright in 2012.

VMI

Mario Thompson 19 Rec 166 Yards 2 TD
John Graves No 2012 Stats

Thompson is the only returning TE to log any stats in 2012 and will probably be the starter again in 2013. The Keydets bring in three redshirt freshmen from last season in Henry Reeves, Bradley Hann and J.C. Garvin. The only other TE not either a freshman or redshirt freshman is Graves but there is no information on him so we could see either Reeves, Hann or Garvin end up the backup to Thompson come the first game against Richmond

Rankings

Team

1. Gardner-Webb
2. Liberty
3. Presbyterian
4. VMI
5. Coastal Carolina
6. CSU

Individual
1. Seth Cranfill, G-W
2. Brandon Apon, Liberty
3. Mario Thompson, VMI
4. Joey Gilkey, PC
5. Thomas Pauciello, CCU
6. Kirby Broome, CSU
7. Peter Gagliardi, Liberty
8. Hudson Smith, G-W
9. Nathan Prater, CSU
10. Cody Craig, CCU

[Stickman]

Joel Ruiz transferred from PC to Georgia State and will sit out this year (eligible for 2014). Blue Hose also have a juco transfer at TE (Kris Hurley) who will be in the mix.

Thanks for the summary, enjoy reading.

[bjtheflamesfan]

I enjoy doing it Stickman. I like the discussion that it breeds as well