GREEVER | At Louisville, the Brohm tight end could be back at the right time | Sports

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Jeff Brohm's debut season as the head coach for his hometown alma mater was undeniably successful.

The former Trinity High School and Louisville quarterback is the only coach in Cardinal history to win at least 10 games in his first year. And he did it without the typical aerial attack we saw Brohm rise up the coaching ranks with at Western Kentucky and Purdue.

But there was one key element of that passing attack — and even the running game too — that was not a pronounced part of the Cardinals' first-ever push to the ACC Championship Game: a consistent tight end.

"We want that position to be a big part of the offense," Jeff Brohm said.

ULBC Nate Kurisky — Louisville tight end Nate Kurisky celebrates a first-quarter touchdown catch in Louisville’s win over Boston College.
ERIC CRAWFORD

"Our offense uses the tight end quite a bit," Louisville offensive coordinator Brian Brohm said. "I think if you look through the history of our offense, we put a number of guys in the National Football League just because we use the tight end in a number of ways."

The biggest names that come to mind are Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, who became a star at WKU, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Payne Durham, who emerged under the Brohms at Purdue. Higbee's collegiate career high for receptions was 38 in 2015, while Durham had 56 in 2022. Brycen Hopkins actually has the most single-season catches for a Brohm tight end, reeling in 61 receptions for the Boilermakers in 2019.

"Other guys are better on the ball. Other guys are better off the ball," Brohm said when asked about tight end usage. "And it's important that between receiving and catching the ball between the hashes, stretching the field occasionally and being able to block, that they all do a really good job for us."

He listed off five names on the Cardinal roster, in this order (if that really matters much): Mark Redman, Jamari Johnson, Nate Kurisky, Jaleel Skinner and Izayah Cummings. Kurisky emerged in some key moments last year but finished the season with just 18 catches. That was the most among the 2023 Louisville tight ends, a group that did not produce another pass-catcher with double-digit receptions.

"I think you did see us make a concerted effort in the offseason to go out and get some tight ends that could do some different things to give us some depth there," Brian Brohm said. "We have some athleticism and, really, a deep group of weapons to choose from at that position now as opposed to a year ago, where we couldn't focus the offense as much on the tight end. I think we have some options now to be able to do that."

Redman and Cummings transferred in from San Diego State and Kentucky respectively. Redman is on his third school in five years, previously playing at Washington for his first two seasons. He had 59 receptions for 641 yards and five touchdowns in his last two with the Aztecs.

Louisville tight end Izayah Cummings during preseason practice on August 5, 2024.
ERIC CRAWFORD

Cummings doesn't need an introduction to the city of Louisville. A former star wide receiver at Male High School, he switched positions at Kentucky but never saw a ton of action with the Wildcats. Still, he has flashed his athletic ability and looks bigger now after having a few years to adjust.

Skinner came to Louisville from Miami, where he had 10 catches for 138 yards and a touchdown over two seasons.

Jeff Brohm said U of L has multiple packages to feature anywhere from one to three tight ends on the field this season. Some could split out to effectively be another wide receiver or some could be used more frequently to help block.

"I think we have a quite a few veterans at tight end that played a lot of football," Jeff Brohm said. "And even though some of them are new pieces, they all have really good traits and characteristics they bring to the table. And we got to figure out a way to utilize all those tight ends at what they do."

Johnson is one who has not played a lot of football. The former four-star recruit redshirted as a freshman, working with position coach Ryan Wallace and Brian Brohm to fully adjust to the college game.

"It's hard to come in and play as a true freshman," Brian Brohm said. "I think that's regardless of where you're at. But Jamari has done a really good job of attacking getting in shape, getting his body right and being physically ready to go because he has huge upside, huge talent, great size, great hands and runs really good routes."

Louisville tight end Jamari Johnson stretches before a preseason practice on August 9, 2024.
ERIC CRAWFORD

The California product and U.S. Army All-American Bowl alum looks the part now. As U of L looks for more big plays with a new quarterback in Tyler Shough, Johnson could emerge as a weapon to help the Cards consistently get chunk plays.

"He's done a really good job of developing and we would like to see the fruits of that work come about during the regular season," Brian Brohm said. "So, that's a big jump. I think from year one to year two is always a big jump. I know for myself, as a freshman in college to that sophomore year, there was a world of difference.

"So I believe that yes, from freshman to sophomore year, you're going to look and hope to have a nice big jump there in just being comfortable, understanding what you're doing, what you're supposed to do and being able to go out there confidently and attack the game. We're looking for him to do that, and I think he will."

The whole position group needs to make that jump as Louisville's head coach continues to emphasize the need for playmakers to step up. If it does, a Brohm offense will look much more like what we've gotten used to seeing.

"They've had a really good fall camp, and if they know exactly what they're doing, they can go out there and produce," Jeff Brohm said. "And we need to make sure that all those guys see the field."

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