Kent State Tight Ends Poised for Breakout Season Under Conrad’s Leadership

KENT, Ohio – As Kent State enters its second season under tight ends coach CJ Conrad, the Golden Flashes boast their deepest and most competitive group at the position in recent memory. With eight players on the roster—including six newcomers—Conrad has successfully injected the competition he felt was missing last year.

Depth Creates Healthy Competition

"This would be my second year here, and I'm excited that every single person in my room, I either recruited or they chose to stay with me," Conrad said.

The dramatic roster overhaul has created the depth Conrad was seeking, with the coach noting they're "much deeper than we were last year" and planning to utilize multiple players in the rotation.

The competition has been fierce throughout fall camp. "You can't have a bad day in my room, or somebody's chomping at your feet," Conrad explained. "That's the number one thing I wanted to do—bring competition into the room."

Returners Making Significant Strides

Both returning players have shown marked improvement heading into the season. Hunter Hopperton, a Rhode Island transfer who missed last season with an ACL injury, has been a revelation. "He has been unbelievable in terms of his mental IQ and physical. He took care of his body, took that year off, and got his mind and body right," Conrad said. "He's been a leader for us in our room, really strong dude."

Dakota Taylor, who played as a true freshman last year despite never having played tight end before, has undergone a physical transformation. "He's put on like 25 pounds since he's gotten here," Conrad noted, praising Taylor's development while acknowledging he needs continued improvement.

Newcomers Making Early Impact

Among the six new additions—three true freshmen and three transfers—several players have caught Conrad's attention early in camp. Transfer Terik Mulder has provided a unique physical presence as "the biggest guy" in the room, while fellow transfer Christian Berry continues to adapt to Kent State's system.

The freshman trio of Holtz Maine, Zy'aire Fletcher, and Garrett Long have impressed with their ability to handle the college transition. "It's not been too big for them," Conrad said. "They're not making as many freshman mistakes as some."

Versatile Skill Sets Create Options

The room's diverse body types and skill sets give offensive coordinator Clay Patterson multiple options for different situations. Conrad highlighted the contrast between players like Hopperton, whose strength lies in blocking, and younger players like Taylor, Long, and Fletcher, who "can run really well" but need to continue developing physically.

"We have a good intermix. I have some guys that can run a little bit and some guys that are more of the inline group," Conrad explained. The plan is to utilize players based on their strengths as game planning intensifies.

Focus on Consistency and Leadership

Two key areas of emphasis have emerged throughout fall camp: consistency and leadership.

Conrad has been challenging his players to maintain the same high level of performance daily, noting that "human nature is to be average, and I just refuse to be that."

With Kent State fielding a young offensive unit, Conrad pushes his experienced tight ends into leadership roles. "I got three guys who have played over 500 snaps in college football," he said. "It's time for them to lead, not just by example, but vocally as well."

Defining Success

As fall camp progresses, Conrad's definition of success is clear: "Everybody finding a role and excelling in that role." Whether that's special teams, run blocking, or pass catching, the goal is for each player to identify their strength and master it.

"Everybody wants to do everything, but if we do everything just average, we're not going to be very good," Conrad emphasized. "We need to find something that each guy is good at, and I have to do a good job as a coach and put them in successful positions."

With depth, competition, and a clear vision from their coach, Kent State's tight ends appear positioned to impact the Golden Flashes' offensive plans this season significantly.

---

Follow Kent State Football

For complete coverage of Kent State Athletics, download the official Kent State Golden Flashes app (iOS, Android) and follow the Golden Flashes on social media on X, Instagram, and Facebook for news and updates.