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SALT LAKE CITY — "Our strength right now is that we've got two tight ends that I think are as good as anybody in our league." -Utah co-offensive coordinator Dennis Erickson
"I think they could be one of the best tandems in the conference this year if they continue to develop." -Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham
"They run great routes. They know how to get open. They're big targets and they're definitely people that I trust throwing to." -Utah QB Travis Wilson
Check. Check. And check.
Looking over Utah's roster, the tight ends aren't just the best position group on the offensive side of the ball, but perhaps on the whole team.
A position group that usually has been nothing more than glorified blockers for the Ute football team, the tight ends will be asked to play a big role in the offense this fall.
Jake Murphy
While there may be many unknowns for the Utah football team in the coming season, one player/position that is a known commodity is Jake Murphy at tight end.
Murphy is now a junior coming off a season where he was honorable mention All-Pac 12, had 33 receptions and four touchdowns, and will be representing the Utes at Pac 12 Media Day later this month in Los Angeles.
The 6'4, 254 lbs tight end out of Alpine, Utah came into his own last season as a reliable target for Travis Wilson, and with Dennis Erickson driving the offensive side of the ball, Murphy will surely be featured in every situation but most notably in the red zone. Murphy's skills and athleticism will be a nightmare for opposing linebackers, and his NFL size will be too much for safeties to defend.
As Utah fans know, their offense struggled last season, but one bright spot was Murphy. Now with another spring camp and a fall camp soon to begin, Dennis Erickson and the offensive staff will most certainly have identified who the playmakers are and Jake Murphy will be right at the top of that list.
Travis Wilson, if you want to be successful, throw the ball to Jake Murphy and good things will happen.
Westlee Tonga
Jake Murphy isn't the only Utah tight end that had a terrific spring camp. Westlee Tonga, a 6-foot-4 252 pound senior from Spring, Texas, is currently listed as a co-starter going into fall practices.
While Murphy may have more receptions than Tonga, Westlee's pass catching ability can't be underestimated. Just ask BYU LB Kyle Van Noy. The career highlight for Tonga has to be his spectacular one handed catch over Van Noy in last year's 24-21 win.
Another of Tonga's strengths is his ability of getting up and off his stance quickly to block and make space for the running backs.
So the question is raised - will Utah have two tight end sets under the revamped offensive scheme?
"You'll see both Jake and Wes on the field at the same time frequently this fall," Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said.
The Utes also have two players to add to the mix - former Alta High star Harrison Handley and JUCO transfer Greg Reese, both of whom participated this spring.
For a position group that has generally gone under the radar, the table is set for Utah's tight ends to have a very productive 2013 season.
