Cincinnati Football: Tight ends Leonard Taylor, Josh Whyle mentioned on watch list

Both of the Bearcats senior tight ends, Leonard Taylor and Josh Whyle, earned a spot on the John Mackey Award watch list. After combining for 588 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, Taylor and Whyle are expected to remain major targets in the offense. Cincinnati joined Georgia, Michigan, Penn State and South Carolina with multiple members on the preseason list.

Taylor racked up a career-high 28 receptions for 268 yards and four touchdowns in 2021 including at least one catch in 24 consecutive games. Whyle might have been even better, compiling 320 yards and six touchdowns on 25 catches. As a junior, Whyle led the Bearcats with 353 receiving yards and six touchdowns en route to being named to the All-AAC Second Team.

Cincinnati Football: Tight ends Leonard Taylor, Josh Whyle mentioned on watch list

When former offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock left to take the LSU job, Nate Letton took over as tight ends coach in February. Following a playing career at Centre College, Letton coached positions including offensive line, tight ends and wide receivers at his alma mater from 2015-2019 before being hired as a graduate assistant with the Bearcats in 2020.

Cincinnati should continue to get a ton of production from Taylor and Whyle but a couple of younger tight ends could make an impact as well. Redshirt freshman Chamon Metayer and sophomore Payten Singletary are obviously inexperienced but filled with talent and will serve as quality backups behind the two John Mackey Award watch list honorees.

“Both of those guys in their own way have come out of their shell from a leadership standpoint. Those two have done a tremendous job as leaders in our room,” Letton explained via The Athletic. “A new, young guy coming in to lead the room, it could have gone one of two ways, and both of them have been totally bought in from the start. I really appreciate that.”

Letton later discussed what each tight end brings to the offense: “Josh is your flex guy who you can move around. There are a lot of things he does in the run game that set him up for screens. Lenny is highly intelligent. He’s crafty and understands the game plan and how he fits into it. You see that on third downs and in the red zone.”