UCLA tight end Caleb Wilson will play a bigger role this week against UNLV

On Sunday, with UCLA’s overtime loss to Texas A&M still a fresh wound, quarterback Josh Rosen delivered some encouraging news to tight end Caleb Wilson.

“We’re going to get you in the game more,” Wilson, a redshirt freshman, remembers Rosen telling him. “We saw some good things from you.”

Wilson is in his first season with the Bruins after transferring from USC, and he will play a bigger role in UCLA’s (0-1) home opener against UNLV (1-0) on Saturday. UCLA Coach Jim Mora was high on redshirt senior tight end Nate Iese leading up to the season — even likening his hands to those of NFL Hall of Famers Cris Carter and Jerry Rice — but he said after practice Wednesday that Wilson will receive more snaps while Iese sees “a little less time.”

In the loss to the Aggies, Wilson caught one pass for 17 yards. But his ascension up the depth chart, according to Mora, had been brewing during the off-season.

“You need to be able to depend on guys to do the right thing on every single play. There has to be an element of dependability so that a quarterback has confidence,” Mora said of Wilson. “I believe Josh has that confidence in Caleb, and we want to get him more time.”

At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Wilson is a big target who is athletic enough to create separation in the right matchup.

But to be an every-down tight end for the Bruins, his blocking needs to be as strong as his playmaking ability.

Mora said Wednesday that redshirt sophomore Giovanni Gentosi also will see more time at tight end. Gentosi weighs 250 pounds and — with experience as a center, guard and fullback — is a reliable blocker in two-tight-end sets.

Mora said UCLA subbed in an extra offensive lineman at tight end on a few plays against Texas A&M to bolster the running game.

Wilson has separated himself with his sure hands and his chemistry with Rosen, but he can’t stop there. Austin Roberts was the most-targeted tight end against the Aggies, finishing with five catches for 61 yards, but he also had a critical drop while the Bruins were clawing back into the game.

“I don’t want to be a pass-reception tight end because that’s good for a little while, but being able to block and receive is scary for the defense,” Wilson said. “Because now they really have to think about you. They don’t think, ‘Oh, he’s just passing; we can blitz him,’ or, ‘We can bully him.’ ”

During practice, tight ends coach Rip Scherer is watching Wilson’s blocking with a close eye. They’re specifically working on hand placement and run-blocking footwork, and Wilson feels he’s making good strides.

So does the coaching staff, which is expecting Wilson to build on his first career catch while the rest of his game takes shape.

“I’m not going to get too high on myself,” Wilson said. “I have to continue to work and continue to show that I can play more and I can contribute to the team.”

On the other side of the ball, Mora said defensive end Takkarist McKinley (groin) is “unlikely” to play against UNLV. Defensive end Deon Hollins (concussion) is questionable for the game, according to Mora.

The Bruins will again look to freshman Keisean Lucier-South to generate pressure off the edge. Mora said Jacob Tuioti-Mariner, who also plays defensive tackle, likely will see more time at end given the injuries.

“To have a guy like that is valuable,” Mora said of Tuioti-Mariner and his versatility. “We, like I said, just have to make sure we don’t stress him out by having him play too many positions.”

jesse.dougherty@latimes.com

Twitter: @dougherty_jesse