Lethal tight ends

Whether it is the Fun-n-Gun, the Dink-and-Dunk or the Spread-Option Attack; they all have the ability to take advantage of today’s athletic tight ends.

It is clear to see that Urban Meyer and company have put a great emphasis on the bigger, faster, athletic tight ends and that is exactly what Florida has with Cornelius Ingram and the addition of Aaron Hernandez.

With limited scholarships in 2008, the Gators will likely sign only one tight end. One of the best is 6-4, 243-pound Brandon Moore. Moore, who the Gators offered during the first week of April, had 25 catches, 350 yards and five touchdowns last season. The Trotwood (Ohio) Madison star has the same sort of abilities that Ingram and Hernandez possess.

He was surprised when the defending national champions called, and he is definitely interested in the Gators.

Another tight end prospect to keep an eye on is 6-5, 235-pound Nick Plato of Edwardsville (Ill.). Plato is more of your pass catching tight end and is on the radar as well.

Both Moore and Plato have the ability to bring speed, size and athleticism to the tight end position for the Gators. Something the Gators gained from Ingram during the last couple of games of the 2006-07 season.

In 2005, Ingram was lost, confused and thought about leaving the team all together. Fast-forward to the end of a 30 catch, 380-yard, one touchdown season, and it is a different story all together. Ingram has the kind of ability that could see him taken on day one of next year’s NFL draft.

Ingram sat out the Orange and Blue game and most of the spring, allowing newcomer Aaron Hernandez to take a majority of the reps at tight end.

At 6-4, 235-pounds, five-star Hernandez took the receiving world by storm last year. Bristol (Conn.) Central was a destination of many college coaches from around the nation. Hernandez finished his senior season with 67 catches for 1,807 yards and 24 touchdowns. The U.S. Army All-American selection set a National High School record for receiving yards per game with 180.7.