Blue Team tight end Tim Biere (86) is congratulated by receiver Christian Matthews after Biere caught a touchdown pass during the first half of the Spring Game on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Tim Biere couldn’t help but grin when asked about his 20-yard touchdown reception in the Kansas University football spring game Saturday.

“We’ve been running that on the defense all spring,” the tight end said. “It always gets them.”

Off play-action, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior sprinted past a linebacker, then broke off on a corner route, leaping above a defender to bring in the catch from quarterback Jordan Webb.

It’s the type of play that Biere believes could happen more frequently in 2010.

In recent years, KU’s spread offense under former coach Mark Mangino often opted for an additional receiver rather than a tight end.

At Saturday’s spring game, however, new KU offensive coordinator Chuck Long used a tight end with nearly every set. He even broke out some two-tight-end looks.

“It felt good,” Biere said. “Pretty much all spring ball, it’s been similar in the scrimmages: a couple pass catches in all of them.”

KU fans were able to get their first look at what Biere’s teammates have seen all spring. The Omaha, Neb., native brought in three catches for 56 yards to finish the game as KU’s second-leading receiver.

“Biere’s like the sleeper,” KU running back Angus Quigley said. “Nobody really knows that Biere’s athletic, and he can jump, and he’ll make the tough (catch). Nobody really knows that.

“He may not look like the most athletic guys in pads, but the guy can play.”

In his first two years, Biere played in 23 games but didn’t log many receptions. He had six catches for 65 yards as a true freshman in 2008 before posting 14 receptions for 183 yards in 11 games last year.

Both years, Biere led all KU tight ends in receptions. He has yet to score a touchdown.

“He’s going to surprise so many people this year,” Webb said. “I really think he’s going to have a great year.”

Quigley indicated that KU’s new offense should give Biere and the other tight ends more opportunities to get one-on-one matchups.

Biere took advantage of one such matchup for his long touchdown catch.

“He’ll come down with the ball,” KU sophomore quarterback Kale Pick said. “You saw one (Saturday). It was kind of a jump ball, and he just went up and got it.”

Added Webb: “He has really strong hands, really soft hands. I saw him breaking, and I knew if I put it up for him, I knew he was going to come down with it, and no one else would.”

Biere recognized early in practices that he would have a greater role in the offense than in recent years. He caught as many passes in his first day of practice this spring as he did during an average week last season.

He also says he’s more comfortable now than he ever has been at KU.

“Coming into my third year, I know what it takes to play in the Big 12,” Biere said, “so I can prepare myself for that.”

Quigley said he could foresee a big year coming for Biere.

“If you’re going to catch the ball that comes to you, and you’re open, the quarterback’s going to find a little favorite,” Quigley said with a laugh. “They’re going to throw him the ball.”