Miami Hurricanes’ tight ends a versatile group. How they fit into offense’s plan
The Miami Hurricanes have a long history of producing tight ends who have strong college careers and then proceed to the NFL.
Elijah Arroyo continued that trend last season, overcoming an injury-riddled start to his UM tenure to become the sixth Hurricanes tight end since 2000 to be selected within the first 50 picks. His 590 receiving yards were the most in a single season by a Miami tight end since David Njoku in 2016, and his seven touchdown catches were the most since Brevin Jordan in 2020.
UM’s tight end group this season hopes to continue that on-field success without Arroyo.
For that to happen, it will likely be a collective effort from a group that has a lot of versatility among its four main players.
“We’re gonna be a special group,” sophomore Elija Lofton said.
If that’s the case, the success will most likely start with Lofton, who isn’t your stereotypical tight end. The sophomore, who is 6-2 and 242 pounds, has a unique blend of speed, power and skill to do a little of everything. He has the ability to split out wide as a receiver. He can play in line and has shown improved blocking skills. He can go into the back field as an H-back and take handoffs.
He did all of that in a limited role as a freshman while playing behind Arroyo, eighth-year senior Cam McCormick and Riley Williams. Despite the minimal time on the field, he still caught nine passes for 150 yards and a touchdown and ran for another score with coaches getting creative to ensure he got quality reps on the field.
“He knows that it’s his opportunity to really take that next step, and he’s excited for it,” tight ends coach Cody Woodiel said. “He’s put in the necessary preparation, I believe that it won’t fail him in the end. ... I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes out there and he could be a dominant football player.”
Woodiel said Lofton has an increased sense of urgency going into his sophomore year knowing that he will be the main guy instead of a complementary part in the tight end room.
“As a young guy, especially when you’re a deep room like we had last year, you can, as a coach, put him in places where he’s going to be successful,” Woodiel said, “but now he knows first, second, third down, fourth down, that he’s got to be ready to roll and be ready to execute everything that we do at tight end. ... The expectation for himself is super high.”
Added Lofton: “Urgency is a big thing in our room. We want to play fast and play smart, but we want to do everything fast. We get lined up fast and see the defense fast. That’s what we mean by urgency.”
From there, Alex Bauman brings size at 6-5 and 250 pounds and experience after playing 39 games over three years at Tulane before transferring to UM in January. He has experience as an in-line blocker but also has 63 career catches for 610 yards and 13 touchdowns — with 12 of those touchdowns coming in the past two years. He has the look of a potent red-zone threat for the offense.
“He’s showing up every day like a veteran,” Woodiel said.
And then there are Miami’s two freshmen, a pair of four-star prospects in Brock Schott and Alex Gilbert. The two became friends on the recruiting trail and committed to Miami within a week of each other. They are roommates now and pushing each other through their first year of college ball.
“We’re getting to know each other pretty well,” Schott said. “Coming in here, watching film together. Anything we can do together to try to build some chemistry.”
Schott is more of a pure pass catcher, similar in size (6-3, 245 pounds) and skill set as Lofton. He had 1,673 receiving yards in final three years of high school in Indiana, including 11 touchdowns over his final two years while also playing defensive line.
Gilbert, at 6-7 and 255 pounds, is more of a blocking tight end in line who has put an emphasis on improving his route running since getting to Miami.
Both understand that playing time might be limited this season considering Lofton and Bauman’s status, but they’re working toward defining whatever role they can to get on the field in their first season.
“Whether that’s special teams or actually getting in the game,” Schott said, “just continuing to work during this camp to try to earn a spot.”
Added Gilbert: “I honestly don’t know yet. If it’s on the field, special teams, water boy, whatever, I just want to help the team whatever way I can.”
They’re leaning on the veterans in Lofton and Bauman during the process, too.
“They’re really helping us out, bringing us up to speed,” Gilbert said. “Me and Brock are freshmen just getting here, and they’re telling us what what to expect with camp. We haven’t even put on pads yet so there’s still a lot to go, but they’re helping us a lot with mentoring and telling us little things about the game that me and Brock didn’t know coming to high school, so they’re a huge help. They’re both great players. They’ll be great this year.”
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 1:48 PM.
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