One of the encouraging signs of spring practice has been the performance of tight end Jacob Tamme.
Tamme (pronounced the same as ?Tammy?) came to UK as a wide receiver, redshirted in 2003, and played in every game in the 2004 season. He received a trial at tight end during the season finale at Tennessee, in which he caught four passes for 55 yards and his first two collegiate touchdowns. That performance encouraged the coaching staff to make the move permanent, a change Tamme has welcomed.
?I?ve been excited about it,? said Tamme, who will be a sophomore during the 2005 season. ?When Coach Phillips (offensive coordinator Joker Phillips) approached me with what I thought about it, I told them that I would play wherever would help the team.?
Of course, the most difficult challenge for a wide receiver moving to tight end is the change in blocking assignments.
?I feel like I block OK, but I have a lot of work to do. You don?t have to be a really big guy to be effective, but you have to play with heart. I?ve put on enough weight to mix it up,? said Tamme, who stands 6-5 and whose work in the weight room has helped him grow to 237 pounds.
?Jacob has put on about 20 pounds while maintaining, or even increasing, his speed,? tight ends coach Steve Ortmayer said. ?I?m pleased with how he has approached the change mentally. Each day he?s learning more about the blocking aspect of playing tight end. He came in with a good knowledge of the receiving part (of playing the position). As a receiver, he?s able to get into routes quickly, cuts quickly, and has an outstanding set of hands.?
Tamme has made several catches for big gains during the first week of spring practice, a trend that Phillips believes will continue.
?Jacob is a great route-runner as a tight end,? Phillips said. ?He brings speed to the position and gives us a lot of flexibility in what we can do offensively. There are a lot of things we can do with him in the game.?
Kentucky returns to practice Saturday at 11 a.m., which will include a scrimmage. Practices are held in Commonwealth Stadium or the Nutter Field House and are open to the public and media.
Kentucky Football Calendar (practices held in Commonwealth Stadium or Nutter Field House):
Sat. Apr. 9 – Practice (scrimmage), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mon. Apr. 11 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 13 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 15 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 16 – Practice (scrimmage), 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Mon. Apr. 18 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Wed. Apr. 20 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Fri. Apr. 22 – Practice, 9-11 a.m.
Sat. Apr. 23 – Blue/White Spring Game, 1 p.m., Commonwealth Stadium
Yeast Signs New Contract in Canadian Football League: Former Kentucky wide receiver Craig Yeast, who led the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in receiving yards and kick returns last season, has agreed to a two-year contact, the CFL club announced Thursday.
Yeast appeared in all 18 regular-season games last season and caught 59 passes for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns. He also returned 41 kickoffs for 805 yards, 53 punts for 420 yards, and had eight missed field goal returns for 250 yards and one touchdown. Yeast totaled 2,703 all-purpose yards, ranking second in the CFL.
Yeast played at Kentucky from 1995-98 and became the all-time receiving leader in Southeastern Conference history with 208 catches. A native of Danville, Ky., Yeast played at Harrodsburg High School before coming to UK.
