Dabo Swinney On The Improvement Of His Tight Ends
Grayson Mann
One of the central question marks heading into the 2022 season was what we should expect from the tight end group going into the fall. The Tigers have not had significant production from the position since the days of Jordan Leggett, who was a substantial piece of the 2016 national championship team.
Dabo got the chance after Wednesday’s scrimmage to speak on the progression of his tight ends from the start of fall camp to now. He started with Davis Allen, whom Swinney called “the epitome of a pro.” Allen has been the starter at tight end since 2020 and the most productive since Leggett left for the NFL. Allen finished 2021 with 28 catches for 208 and a team-high three receiving touchdowns. Allen will be relied on to be a significant part of the offense heading into the fall.
Dabo had heavy praise for Jake Briningstool, calling him the best version of himself. He compared last season’s Briningstool to a “two-year-old lab running around out there.” He said Jake had to get bigger and stronger and has had a great camp. In Jake’s first year, he caught three passes for sixty-seven yards and a score.
He also mentioned Luke Price’s value on the goal line, saying that Price is the guy you want in those situations. He called freshman tight end Josh Sapp a “home run” player. Swinney mentioned Sapp has made a play every day, including a touchdown during Wednesday’s scrimmage.
Swinney is very confident with what this group can do. If the tight-end group can elevate their play and be another set of weapons for DJ, there is no telling what this offense can do in the 2022 season.
