BOULDER — It can be argued that any listings of Colorado’s most important or valuable players for this season absolutely must include senior tight end Ryan Deehan — and near the top.
Tight end lacks depth, and after Deehan there is an enormous gap in proven production. A 6-foot-5, 245-pound Californian, Deehan recorded 25 catches in 2010. Other returning tight ends combined for three.
“I know they’re counting on me,” Deehan said.
Regardless of past performance, tight end will always be a focus of the man in charge. Coach Jon Embree played that position for Bill McCartney at Colorado in the 1980s and was proficient enough to attain his dream of reaching the NFL.
This is Embree’s first head coaching gig. Previously, he coached tight ends at CU and UCLA, and more recently at the next level with the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington Redskins. Talk about lofty expectations.
“When you’ve got a head coach that has played that position, has coached that position, it’s going to be carefully watched and hopefully utilized quite well,” CU tight ends coach J.D. Brookhart said. “It’s good that we have Ryan this year.”
Even more important than Deehan’s experience is his versatility. Coaches say that among the experienced tight ends, Deehan is the only one equally adept at receiving and blocking.
The second-team tight end, senior Matt Bahr, is a former 305-pound offensive lineman who said this week he has slimmed down to 250 pounds. Sophomore DaVaughn Thornton (6-4, 225) is a plus athlete from Denver East who specializes in yards after the catch.
Former Chatfield standout Kyle Slavin (6-4, 235) has shown promise during August drills, but he is an untested redshirt freshman.
“They all have their strengths, but Ryan is kind of the ‘complete’ guy,” Brook- hart said. “He can do both (catch and block). The other guys might be a little better at this or a little better at that. But Ryan is way more complete.”
Colorado junior safety Ray Polk often goes head-to-head with Deehan in practice and said he looks for the senior to have a monster year.
Deehan has 40 career receptions and, with a big season, could finish as one of the most productive tight ends in CU history. He needs 41 catches to pass Embree’s career total of 80. The all-time CU receptions leader among tight ends is Daniel Graham (1998-2001) with 106.
“I’m not thinking about individual honors,” Deehan said. “I just have the goal of helping us win. We haven’t done enough as a team in my time here to worry about individual goals.”
Footnotes.
Embree got an estimated 900 Colorado fans and boosters fired up Friday during the annual Boulder Chamber of Commerce kickoff luncheon at Balch Fieldhouse on campus. “These guys have done everything we’ve asked, and more; you’re going to be proud of this team,” Embree said. “We will fight you. We will compete. We will get after you.” . . . Citing a litany of injuries on other Pac-12 teams, Embree said Thursday of this week was the final August practice in full pads.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
