Tennessee TE Holden Staes in goal, but Miles Kitselman can return

Tennessee football’s tight ends could look a lot different than expected after Holden Staes entered the transfer portal and Miles Kitselman was given the chance to return for another season.

Staes announced Thursday that he plans to enter the portal after just one season at Tennessee. The Notre Dame transfer had 15 receptions for 131 yards and a TD for the Vols in 2024 while playing behind Kitselman.

Reserve tight ends Charlie Browder and Luke Shouse also entered the portal. They were walkable and recorded no reception in 2024.

Kitselman, meanwhile, has a year of eligibility back if he chooses to use it, as the NCAA has granted blanket waivers to former junior college transfers following the Diego Pavia lawsuit.

Pavia, the Vanderbilt quarterback and former junior college transfer, received a restraining order giving him an additional year of eligibility. And the NCAA Division I board then approved an additional year of eligibility for junior college transfers whose eligibility would otherwise have been exhausted after the 2024-25 season.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Kitselman has not announced whether he will declare for the NFL Draft or return to Tennessee for the 2025 season. But Staes’ decision to enter the portal suggests Kitselman will likely be part of the Vols’ plan in 2025.

In 2024, Kitselman had 22 receptions for 301 yards and four touchdowns, ranking third-most among tight ends in the SEC.

DYLAN SAMPSON IS GOING TO THE NFLTennessee running back declares for the 2025 draft

Here’s what Tennessee’s tight ends could look like in the 2025 season

The departure of Staes and the possible return of Kitselman have changed UT’s options at tight end next season.

Kitselman wasn’t supposed to be eligible to play and Staes was supposed to take the starting job. The departure of Browder and Shouse also changes the group.

But don’t be surprised if there’s a rookie tight end next season. Four-star recruits DaSaahn Brame and Jack Van Dorselaer signed with UT in the class of 2025. Both are freshmen and will participate in spring practice.

Brame, a 6-4, 219-pounder, was ranked as the No. 4 tight end in the 2025 class by 247Sports Composite. And Van Dorselaer, a 6-4, 230-pounder, was ranked as the No. 16 tight end in the class.

How Josh Heupel is using tight ends now more than ever

The Vols have increasingly relied on tight ends in Josh Heupel’s offense.

In the 2024 season, UT’s tight ends had 50 catches for 532 yards and seven touchdowns.

In 2023, the tight ends had 44 catches for 538 yards and nine touchdowns. In 2022, they had 36 catches for 417 yards and three touchdowns. In 2021, they had 37 catches for 406 yards and four touchdowns.

Tennessee TE Holden Staes in goal, but Miles Kitselman can return

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

Related Post

Bill Clinton’s “List” desire to make secret documents public

Where was “The Inheritance” (2024) filmed? All filming locations explored

Empoli vs Genoa prediction, lineups, betting tips and odds

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

Bill Clinton’s “List” desire to make secret documents public

Where was “The Inheritance” (2024) filmed? All filming locations explored

Empoli vs Genoa prediction, lineups, betting tips and odds

Bowl schedule for Thursday, December 26th