2023 Position Preview: Unproven Tight Ends Will Get Their Shot

Image: Indiana Athletics

Written by: Zachary Greene

The Hoosiers will be needing to get production out of a mix of young and veteran tight ends this year. The group enters fall camp with 10 players on the roster including three transfers. Last season, the position struggled and battled through injuries. AJ Barner failed to live up to expectations and transferred to Michigan in the off-season.

This season, the position is up for grabs. With a mix of talented youngsters and bulky blocking tight ends expect offensive coordinator Walt Bell and tight ends Coach Kevin Wright to get more versatile.

The Veterans

Bradley Archer - Redshirt Senior - Stanford Transfer

Archer transferred to Bloomington after spending the past four seasons at Stanford. He appeared in 28 games with the Cardinals, making four starts. Over the last two seasons, Archer played in 22 games and was used a lot in a heavy power run game. Archer was a sought-out prospect out of Livermore High School but underperformed with the Cardinals. This could be in part to the way the program used him. The Hoosiers will use Archer as the offensive’s number one blocking tight end, but Archer displayed great awareness and ability to coach the football in High School. As the season progresses, Archer has a legitimate shot at being the Hoosiers number one tight end depending on the way they use him. He was not the most sought out transfer this offseason but more underrated. He’s got the frame, the experience, and the talent. We’ll see if he separates himself during fall camp.

James Bomba - Redshirt Sophomore - Miami (Ohio) Transfer

Bomba enters his third season with the Hoosiers. He walked-on during the spring of 2021 and was scout team player of the week against Minnesota. Last season, Bomba appeared in nine games with three starts. He was able to haul in a couple balls and impressed coaches. This season, Bomba has a chance to be used a lot. It’s still unknown what the Hoosiers will be looking for in their tight ends, but it could be a Tight End by committee. In this scenario, Bomba will be used a lot in the passing game and line up in the slot.

Aaron Steinfeldt - Redshirt Sophomore - Bloomington North High School

Steinfeldt enters his third season with the Hoosiers after making two starts last season. He appeared in all 12 games for the Hoosiers and caught his first career touchdown against Maryland. He had a touchdown that was taken off the board against Michigan for an offensive pass interference call. Steinfeldt is the most well-rounded prospect of the previous two guys listed. He has a good ability to block and line up on the line as well as the slot. Keep an eye out for Steinfeldt who impressed coaches last season after Barner failed to live up to expectations.

The Youngsters

Sam West - Freshman - Greensburg Community

A quarterback and tight end during high school. West was a highly rated prospect in the state and could get some playing time this season. He finished his high school career nearly 3,500 yards of offensive and 39 touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Walt Bell could utilize West’s abilities for wildcat plays. West is an interesting prospect who will a player to look out for in the coming seasons.

Ryan Miller - Redshirt Freshman - Kenston High School

Miller missed most of his senior season of high school due to injury. Last season, Miller did not see the field. He will be going on two full seasons without seeing the football field. This season, Miller has a chance to be utilized a lot in the passing game. He impressed during spring camp making a couple acrobatic catches. He’s not expected to be a high-level blocker but can move up the depth chart in Walt Bell’s offense.

Brody Foley - Redshirt Freshman - Anderson High School

Foley is linked with Miller as both stand at 6’6 and come from Ohio. Foley is about 25 pounds heavier than Miller and will be used more as a run blocker. He can line-up as an H-back and could be used when the Hoosiers use two Tight End Personal. In High School, he was first team All Ohio as a defensive lineman in 2021 and ranked as the 16th prospect in the state. Foley along with Miller have multiple years of eligibility left so expect to hear their names in the near future.

Anthony Miller Jr. - Freshman - Duluth High School

Miller is an interesting prospect for the Hoosiers as he enters his first season with the program. He can play both sides of the ball including defensive end. He is explosive and could transfer to the position, but the Hoosiers currently have him listed as a tight end. At Duluth he made 63 catches for over 1,000 yards and 12 touchdowns. Given the Hoosiers depth at tight end Miller could transition to defensive line as it may be his best shot at seeing the field.

Depth Pieces

Trey Walker - Redshirt Senior - New Trier High School

Walker enters his fifth season with the Hoosiers after appearing in five games last season mostly on special teams. He did not play football in high school but impressed coaches during the 2019 season earning himself a spot as a walk-on. Walt Bell had this to say about him last season. ““the one guy that has really grown and really has started to improve is Trey Walker, who was a walk-on here. He's a big, long guy, that gives us some value at the point of attack, runs better than a lot of people think he does and has caught the ball really well up to this point in this camp.”

Zac Scott & Bryce Hendershot

Scott transfers from Blinn (Texas) College and enters as a Redshirt Senior. Standing at 6’4 he adds depth to the tight end room. Hendershot is the brother of former Hoosier Peyton Hendershot and walked-on to the program. He’s another depth piece but given his youth and multiple years of eligibility expect him to move up the depth chart in the coming seasons.

Final Assessment

The tight end position is filled with a mix of veterans and youngsters. Time will tell how the group will mesh together. Expect to see more of a “tight end by committee” to open the season before a player starts to separate himself. Offensive coordinator Walt Bell will try to utilize the players who impress most during fall camp. He runs a pro-west coast offensive but also likes to mix two tight end sets and use an H-Back. Bell wants a guy who’s a terrific pass catcher and can also run block. Now, the Hoosiers have a mix of pass catchers and run blockers but not a well-rounded prospect. The position will be highly dictated on how the offensive line plays as well as who separates himself during fall camp.