University of Richmond Athletics
Camp Notebook #3: Tight Ends
08/09/2024 | Football
Despite being a younger group, with only two tight ends having game experience beyond special teams, the group's early performance in camp suggests they are ready to contribute significantly during the 2024 campaign.Â
Last season, Richmond's tight ends were instrumental in the Spiders offense, helping the team accumulate average 345 yards and 28.2 points per game. Their effective blocking contributed to the Spiders impressive second-place finish in the CAA for completion percentage. In 2023, Richmond's tight ends combined for 25 receptions, 282 yards, and six touchdowns.
With Connor Deveney and Brooks Heagarty departing (who together contributed 24 of those receptions and five of the touchdowns) new faces will need to step up both as end-zone targets and as key blockers to create opportunities for running backs and exploit defensive mismatches.
Senior Matt Robbert, a transfer from Cornell, brings substantial experience with 57 receptions for 787 yards and five touchdowns over 23 games with the Big Red. With an average of 13.8 yards per catch and 34.2 yards per game, Robbert is expected to be a prominent downfield threat and a focus for opposing defenses.
Sean Clarke is the other tight end with offensive game experience. Last season, Clarke played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams, but scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard pass during Richmond's game against Michigan State. Redshirt freshman Aiden Mack appeared in one game last season.
Redshirt freshman Alex Smith and true freshman Ryan Campbell are competing for their first collegiate playing time this season, and both, along with Mack, have demonstrated their blocking skills and ability to make tough catches during the early days of fall camp.
The tight ends' youth extends to their position coach as well. Kyle Edwards, who recently joined Russ Huesman's staff, leads this young group. Edwards comes from Maryland, where he worked as a graduate assistant with the quarterbacks. As a student-athlete, Edwards was part of Alabama's scout team under head coach Nick Saban from 2017-19, contributing to the 2018 National Championship team and the 2017 Orange Bowl-winning squad. Edwards trained and shared a quarterbacks room in Tuscaloosa alongside future NFL stars Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones. At Maryland, he helped Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's younger brother, to becoming the all-time passing leader in Big 10 history and owning every single Maryland passing record.
2024 Richmond Spiders Tight Ends
#6 Matt Robbert (Sr., 6-4, 241)
#83 Ryan Campbell (Fr., 6-3, 220)
#84 Alex Smith (R-Fr., 6-2, 215)
#87 Sean Clarke (R-So., 6-4, 245)
#88 Aiden Mack (R-So., 6-4, 215)
Last season, Richmond's tight ends were instrumental in the Spiders offense, helping the team accumulate average 345 yards and 28.2 points per game. Their effective blocking contributed to the Spiders impressive second-place finish in the CAA for completion percentage. In 2023, Richmond's tight ends combined for 25 receptions, 282 yards, and six touchdowns.
With Connor Deveney and Brooks Heagarty departing (who together contributed 24 of those receptions and five of the touchdowns) new faces will need to step up both as end-zone targets and as key blockers to create opportunities for running backs and exploit defensive mismatches.
Senior Matt Robbert, a transfer from Cornell, brings substantial experience with 57 receptions for 787 yards and five touchdowns over 23 games with the Big Red. With an average of 13.8 yards per catch and 34.2 yards per game, Robbert is expected to be a prominent downfield threat and a focus for opposing defenses.
Sean Clarke is the other tight end with offensive game experience. Last season, Clarke played in all 13 games, primarily on special teams, but scored his first career touchdown on a five-yard pass during Richmond's game against Michigan State. Redshirt freshman Aiden Mack appeared in one game last season.
Redshirt freshman Alex Smith and true freshman Ryan Campbell are competing for their first collegiate playing time this season, and both, along with Mack, have demonstrated their blocking skills and ability to make tough catches during the early days of fall camp.
The tight ends' youth extends to their position coach as well. Kyle Edwards, who recently joined Russ Huesman's staff, leads this young group. Edwards comes from Maryland, where he worked as a graduate assistant with the quarterbacks. As a student-athlete, Edwards was part of Alabama's scout team under head coach Nick Saban from 2017-19, contributing to the 2018 National Championship team and the 2017 Orange Bowl-winning squad. Edwards trained and shared a quarterbacks room in Tuscaloosa alongside future NFL stars Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Hurts and Mac Jones. At Maryland, he helped Taulia Tagovailoa, Tua's younger brother, to becoming the all-time passing leader in Big 10 history and owning every single Maryland passing record.
2024 Richmond Spiders Tight Ends
#6 Matt Robbert (Sr., 6-4, 241)
#83 Ryan Campbell (Fr., 6-3, 220)
#84 Alex Smith (R-Fr., 6-2, 215)
#87 Sean Clarke (R-So., 6-4, 245)
#88 Aiden Mack (R-So., 6-4, 215)
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