During this month’s spring football workouts, one of the responsibilities assigned to new BYU tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride has been converting former receiver Keanu Hill into a tight end.
After the Cougars finished their third full week of spring camp last week, Gilbride stated that it is a transition that is harder to exe2019cute than many fans may realize.
Gilbride has accomplished this feat previously, which is fortunate for Hill and the Cougars. Prior to the 2019 season, Gilbride, the tight ends coach for the Chicago Bears, turned Princeton receiver Jesper Horsted into a tight end.
“Rookie mini-camp was the first time he had ever assumed a three-point stance. I pulled him away while they were putting on their practice pads and we were having our walkthrough and meetings. I asked, “Hey, have you ever been in a three-point stance?” stated Gilbride. Approximately twenty minutes prior to his first NFL practice, I instructed him on how to assume a three-point stance. I have some experience with that, so yes.
As spring practices started on February 29, BYU’s Hill—who has 73 career receptions for 1,212 yards and 11 touchdowns—was prepared for the shift because he had been informed a few months earlier by offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick that the position transition would be occurring. However, the redshirt senior still need some guidance on alignment in his new position or positions on the field.
Gilbride stated, “If you have never done it before, you have got to be taught.” It is comparable to everything else. However, he became aware of it pretty fast.
Hill is a fantastic receiver blocker; as a tight end, his hardest adjustment will be to learn how to block stronger, bigger defenders. Gilbride stated that Hill might not align inside as much as some of the other players in the squad he manages, which includes fullback types like Mason Fakahua, Ray Paulo, and Mata’ava Ta’ase.
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