SerpApi.Org
Kentucky football fans have been clamoring for the proliferation of the passing attack, particularly to one position. One question has become a popular offseason refrain: Is this the year Kentucky finally throws it to the tight end? Will Stein made it abundantly clear that it will be the case in 2026 with Willie Rodriguez.
“Willie’s one of the best tight ends in the country and is going to be a staple in our offense,” was one of the first lines Stein shared on Monday at SEC Media Days.
One of the first orders of business for the new Kentucky head coach was keeping Rodriguez on the roster. He made Willie a priority because he will be a priority in Stein’s offense.
“He can do it all,” said Stein. “I mean, he can block. He can stretch the field vertically. He’s really good, ball-in-hand. He’s got excellent strength, great hands. He’s as good as anyone that I’ve been around over the last three, four years, and that includes a second round pick, a first round pick and probably another first round pick at Oregon. So, I’m really excited about where he’s developed himself over the last six, seven months, and he’s going to continue to improve over the season.”
Therein lies the hook. Year after year, Vince Marrow fed empty promises to Kentucky fans about what his tight end room was capable of. Will Stein is not providing lip service. He has proven production on his resume.
Rodriguez shared with KSR that he’s being asked to do “a lot” more than what was tasked in the past. “It’s great, moving me around everywhere: backfield, split-out receiver, slot, in-line. You know, everything you can do.”
You’ve probably heard that from tight ends in the past, but haven’t seen it. You know who did it last year? Kenyon Sadiq, a first round draft pick, and Jamari Johnson, who Stein referred to as “probably another first round draft pick.” The two tight ends combined to catch 83 passes for 1,070 yards and 11 touchdowns. Each had 32+ receptions. Kentucky has not had one tight end do that since Jacob Tamme’s senior season.
Kentucky has a head coach with a proven track record of getting the ball to the tight ends and a player who can go. Willie Rodriguez is fired up to show the world what he’s capable of in 2026.
“There is contagious energy,” said Rodriguez. “It’s been crazy. You can feel it… It spreads quick and that makes practices, workouts, everything better.”
