Football Depth Chart: Tight Ends

There was an offseason arrest for one of the Iowa State tight ends, but it shouldn’t shake up the depth chart much with a returning starter and a couple of upper classmen to back him up. It wasn’t the most productive position on the field last season, but the returner could be one of the best receivers the Cyclones have on the field.

Kurt Hammerschmidt is a 6-foot-6, 271-pound force that will likely recieve a heavy increase in receptions. Last season, he caught 13 passes for 126 yards. His best catch was a 30-yard grab late in the game against Oklahoma from Jared Barnett.

He will have to step up as the only guy that’s had a good amount of experience at this level. But he should have some help from the JUCO transfers.

Ernst Brun, Jr., from Mt. San Antonio Community College, redshirted his first year with the program. Ricky Howard, from Chaffey College, appeared in a few games during his first season but took a redshirt after suffering a knee injury last season. Howard is the slightly bulkier guy, clocking in at 6-foot-4 and 257 pounds. Even with his experience he was listed as third in the spring football depth chart, and will be interesting to see if he regains the second spot behind Hammerschmidt.

Pierce Richardson is listed as fourth, but has been suspended indefinitely after an incident with the police back in March. The 6-foot-5, 238-pound redshirt sophomore was being arrested for public intoxication and wouldn’t cooperate with officials. After being tased by showing his fists to the police, he kept his hands in front of his body when laying down before they forced his arms behind him to handcuff him.

Obviously, he’s been suspended indefinitely with no announcement on when or if he will return to the team.

Other players that could take his spot are Mark Phillips, Ben Boesen, and Vince Ewald. Both Phillips and Boesen come into the season as redshirt freshmen, but Ewald is a redshirt senior who has seen time on special teams for the past two seasons after spending his second season as a squad member.

Brian Spaen is the lead editor for Clones Confidential, follow the site on Twitter and Facebook. Read his other work on the Oregon Ducks blog, Autzen Zoo, and Watson Talk Lacrosse.