Big targets: Kansas’ Air Raid demands play-making TEs

Kansas University tight ends Kent Taylor, left, and Ben Johnson talk about practice on Friday in Memorial Stadium.

Kansas University lists sophomore Ben Johnson and junior Kent Taylor as tight ends on its football roster. That doesn’t mean offensive coordinator Rob Likens has to agree with those labels.

In KU’s new Air Raid offense, Likens doesn’t need — or want — a traditional tight end. You know the type: wears No. 80-something, too slow to play wide receiver, too slim to play on the offensive line, does more blocking than route-running. Likens isn’t looking for warm bodies. He requires play-makers.

“We don’t do a lot of true tight-end stuff,” Likens said. “They’re pass-receivers. It’s just good to have bigger guys in there. They’re not big, slow tight ends. They’re just bigger-body guys that are playing inside receiver.”

The 6-foot-5, 234-pound Johnson and 6-5, 220 Taylor give the coordinator and quarterbacks coach the kind of reformist tight end he demands. The beauty of players such as Johnson and Taylor, Likens says, is that they don’t have to be open to be open.

Let him explain.

“As long as the quarterbacks are accurate, the tight ends can be open when maybe the defense doesn’t think they’re open. Like, ‘Hey, I’m on the guy.’ OK, yeah, that’s fine. But my wingspan right here, Kent Taylor, I can catch a pass right here,” Likens said, reaching up high, above his head, “even though you are covering me.”

Taylor is glad to be a tight end in this era of football. The former Florida player said the game has evolved because of tight ends such as NFL standouts Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski.

“It’s not that they don’t ever block, but the reason that they are who they are is because of what they’ve done in the receiving game,” said Taylor, who thinks he and Johnson can be big, long targets capable of getting out in space and creating mismatches against defenders.

Junior quarterback Montell Cozart considers Johnson, Taylor and 6-4 freshman Jace Sternberger all “dual threats” because of their versatility. Cozart said they can put their hand in the dirt, line up inside or even break out wide.

“All of them are huge targets for us,” Cozart said. “We like to get the ball to them in space.”

According to Cozart, Johnson is the quicker of the two older tight ends and an option on quick-hitters. He said KU will try to utilize both in ways that play into their strengths.

“Kent, he’s a little bit more a down-the-field type of guy,” Cozart added.

KU junior safety Bazie Bates IV has seen his share of both tight ends during preseason practices. When coverages and offensive formations dictate it, he will cover Johnson or Taylor.

“Ben is a little bit more beefy, so he’ll try to run you over,” Bates said. “Kent’s kind of finesse-y. That’s why sometimes he’s lined up outside.”

Likens learned a lot about the Air Raid offense while working with Sonny Dykes at Louisiana Tech and Cal, and he said the system doesn’t always rely on tight ends. Likens said his former boss, who coached Gronkowsi when Dykes was offensive coordinator at Arizona, taught him this philosophy on tight ends: If you have players worth using, use them.

“You put the best players out on the field that help you,” Likens said. “As long as Ben and Kent are one of the four guys that we deem are the four best (receiving options), then they’ll be out on the field. When they’re not, then they won’t. It’s pretty much that simple.”