University of North Carolina Athletics
Lucas: Tar Heels Talented at Tight End
March 22, 2002 | Football
March 22, 2002
Lining up in practice this past Tuesday afternoon, Zach Hilton thought maybe this would be his chance. A rising senior, the rangy (6-foot-7, 276) tight end usually splits out wide when the Tar Heels line up to attempt an extra point. Often, he's covered by a shorter defender, but the Heels have yet to toss him the ball.
At practice, he was lined up against Michael Waddell, who was giving away at least eight inches. "I'm going to push off and one of two things is going to happen," Hilton told Waddell with a smile. "I'm either going to score a touchdown or draw a flag."
It's easy to smile this spring, as the Silver Spring, Md., native has finally ascended-for now-to the top slot on the tight end depth chart.
He's one of a full set of tall, athletic tight ends battling for playing time. Bobby Blizzard, a transfer from Kentucky, will be eligible in the fall and played well at times for the Wildcats. Redshirt freshman Brian Chacos and converted quarterback John Dunn are also in the mix.
In fact, the Heels are so deep at the position that playing two tight ends might even be a possibility in September.
"I'd like for them to be so good that we have to play two tight ends a lot," tight ends coach Ken Browning said. "If you do that, that means you have to have a third guy also, because you don't want to lose that part of your offense just because somebody gets nicked up."
Right now, Blizzard and Hilton appear to be in the closest battle for playing time. Blizzard, who will be a junior in the fall, still must learn some of the intricacies of the Carolina offense before he's ready to contribute. He also is adapting to the way the Tar Heels want him to play tight end. At Kentucky, he was used more frequently split out from the line of scrimmage instead of down in a tight end's three-point stance.
"When Bobby first came here he was overweight and out of shape," head coach John Bunting said. "He's learning how to do things our way and has made a lot of progress in the weight room. He was playing wide receiver at Kentucky, and we're asking him to be the total package."
Hilton knows about struggling to put together a total package. His hands and receiving ability have never been in question, nor has his enviable height that enables him to outreach most defenders for passes. Last year, he hauled in 12 receptions and two touchdowns. But that production was accomplished while splitting playing time with senior Doug Brown.
In effect, Carolina had a run-blocking tight end and a pass-catching tight end last year. Brown, who didn't catch a pass in 2001, was the blocker. Hilton was the receiver. With Brown gone, Hilton wants to do both in the fall.
"I've always had pretty good strength," he said. "But I'm really tall, so being a good blocker has a lot to do with getting my hips down and my hands in the right position. Coach Browning is a great teacher, and he's really helped me with it.
"I think it's come a long way, but it also has a long way to go. I've been concentrating on it for a while, and hopefully by next year I'll be an above-average blocker and will be able to move some people around."
"A lot of it is leverage and knowing how to use it once you get it," Browning said. "It's a matter of the muscles and skeletal system working together so that you're getting the most out of your power. There are a lot of guys who are strong but aren't very good blockers."
Blocking is what will earn whoever wins the tight end battle their playing time. But pass-catching gets more recognition from the fans. It also could be an important cog in the 2002 offense, as Carolina tries to break in an inexperienced quarterback.
Rising junior C.J. Stephens, listed first on the spring quarterback depth chart, knows how important a reliable tight end can be.
"It's very important," he said. "The tight end has to be a very versatile player. We've got some great athletes here and they're all very hard workers. We're going to be very, very good at the tight end position this year, and that will make us a more versatile offense."
Just how versatile? It might finally be the year that Hilton gets to catch that two-point conversion pass.
"It's been three years now and I'm still waiting for it," he said. "Richard Moore was a friend of mine and he used to be the holder on that play, so we'd joke about it. Hopefully this year I can jump up and get it over the little guy."
