The energy is building in Lexington as the Kentucky Wildcats rev up for the 2026 season with a fresh new look. Head coach Will Stein and his staff have completely reshaped the roster, bringing a much different philosophy to the program compared to the previous regime. It's hard to overstate just how different this team will look when they take the field this fall. As we go position by position and break down how each group projects on the depth chart, we turn our focus to one of the team's clear strengths: the tight ends.

Willie Rodriguez was the top priority for Stein and his staff to keep on the roster—and for good reason. Rodriguez is a do-it-all tight end who plays with relentless effort. He can block with authority and emerge as a legitimate threat in the passing game. If you've studied Stein's offenses at Oregon, you know he always gets his tight ends involved. Kenyon Sadiq was just selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, and Jamari Johnson is projected to be a high pick in the 2027 class. That's the kind of production Stein expects from this position.

Watching Oregon last season, you'd see Sadiq and Johnson used in a variety of ways. They lined up inline, in the slot as receivers, and even out wide in certain formations. Stein loves creating mismatches with his tight ends, putting them in favorable situations to win downfield routes. You'll also see them catching screen passes from multiple looks, keeping defenses guessing.

Sadiq and Johnson were both among Oregon's top five leading receivers a year ago, each eclipsing 500 yards on the season. Rodriguez is a traditional Y tight end who will be on the field for a majority of snaps this fall. Kentucky has quality depth in this tight end room, but it's unclear if they have a player who can match Johnson's production from 2025. That's exactly why I expect Rodriguez to emerge as an All-SEC candidate this season.

Mikkel Skinner is the one guy who could potentially fill that Jamari Johnson-type role, though asking him to produce a 500-yard season would be a tall order. The redshirt freshman has the perfect build to be a traditional move tight end—you'll see him lined up in receiver stance frequently. Skinner has exceptional movement ability for his size and should become the second tight end in terms of receiving production. The big question is how big of a step he can take in his first season as a real contributor.

Skinner is the ideal move tight end who can eventually become a great player for the Wildcats—it just may take some time. Henry Boyer is the opposite mold, which is perfect for this position group. Boyer can make tough catches through contact, but he won't be actively targeted in this offense. His main role is as a pure blocking tight end, someone you'll see in 12 or 13 personnel sets, helping the Wildcats gain numbers by adding an extra blocker at the line of scrimmage.