Texas A&M looks to incorporate tight ends into offensive attack in 2017

In recent years the tight end position at Texas A&M has been kind of like a Sasquatch.

There have been a few un(Clear) sightings, but doubts remain about its actual existence.

Yet, Jeff Banks, A&M’s tight ends coach, said this year that position no longer will be the Aggies version of Bigfoot.

“You’ll probably see those first three — (Aaron) Hansford, (Taylor) Schorp and (Kalvin) Cline — play in the first game (against UCLA) and rotate as they go through depending on the packages.”

Pardon skeptics who might think that’s just another hoax.

In last year’s season-opener against UCLA no A&M tight ends caught a pass.

Indeed, in coach Kevin Sumlin's five seasons eight tight ends have combined for a mere 26 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

The most productive of them was Nehemiah Hicks, who had seven catches for 60 yards.

Not since Jamie McCoy caught 35 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns in 2009 has the tight end position been a major factor in the A&M offense.

Banks didn’t promise a tight end will accumulate more than 350 receiving yards, but did list several reasons the offense will be better with a tight end on the field.

“I think with those three guys give us a lot of options,” Banks said. “I also think because we’re so young at receiver and Tanner and Kalvin are both seniors and Aaron is a second-year player that the quarterbacks are going to be able to lean on them in the middle of the field.”

Hansford, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound redshirt freshman, is portrayed as a receiver in a tight end’s body.

He can be used flexed out or as an H-back in much the same way that A&M Offensive Coordinator Noel Mazzone used Thomas Duarte at UCLA in 2015.

That year Duarte caught 53 passes for 872 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Cline, a 6-5, 240-pound senior, and Schorp, a 6-3, 245-pound senior, both fill the role as a traditional tight end lined up next to the offensive tackle.

Their blocking ability would benefit the Aggies who reportedly aspire to run more effectively.

But Banks’ said they’re both capable receivers, too. Indeed, Cline caught 26 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman at Virginia Tech in 2013.

There is even growing depth with freshmen Camron Horry, a 270-pounder, and Keynel McZeal, who is more like Hansford.

Regardless of size, speed or potential, the Aggies aim to put the best 11 players on the field.

Banks believes a tight end will be among them.

“I think so,” he said. “We’ve got several different guys and they can all catch. And they can all catch different types of routes.”

Perhaps A&M’s tight ends will go from Bigfoot to accomplishing big feats.