Vols Football: Profiles for All New Offensive Signees

Kyle Oliver, Tight End

After adding two solid tight ends in the 2014 class (even though one departed after the season), the Vols only added one tight end in 2015, but he has the skills to be a stellar pass-catching tight end.

Kyle Oliver out of Murfreesboro, TN, played for Oakland High School and was rated as a three-star prospect. The 6-5, 230 lbs tight end was utilized more as a wide receiver than a typical tight end at Oakland, but he projects as an athletic pass-catching tight end in college.

As a senior, Oliver caught 40 passes for 574 yards (no scores were given, but it is believed he did catch touchdown passes) and played some on defense as well (per Max Preps).

Oliver has great size for an athletic tight end, and he showed good awareness and hands as a receiver. He will need to work on his blocking game in college, and that will be what keeps him off the field more than anything. Tight ends/special teams coach Mark Elder and Butch Jones put a great deal of emphasis on the blocking game for their ends, so expect that to be the part of Oliver’s game that gets worked on the most.

As a freshman, Oliver may see little playing time. But he has the talent and potential to play an important role for the Vols in the future.