Advertisement

Meet the Rams: Lance Kendricks and Cory Harkey are different types of leaders for the tight ends

Share via

As the Rams get to work at training camp at UC Irvine, we’ll take a look at the team’s roster, position by position. Today, the tight ends:

The Rams released their top pass-catching tight end Jared Cook before the draft, clearing the way for Lance Kendricks to take over.

But it could take the combined efforts of Kendricks and draft picks Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway to replace Cook’s production.

Advertisement

Meet the Rams: Defensive line »

Meet the Rams: Receivers »

Sports

Final steel beam placed in new Rams stadium construction On Now

Final steel beam placed in new Rams stadium construction

Carlos Balderas of the USA Olympic Boxing team On Now

Carlos Balderas of the USA Olympic Boxing team

2016 US Open of Surfing On Now

2016 US Open of Surfing

Rams open training camp in Irvine On Now

Video: Rams open training camp in Irvine

Rams receiver Tavon Auston, "We in Cali" On Now

Rams receiver Tavon Auston, "We in Cali"

Behind the scenes: Creating Olympians' portraits On Now

Behind the scenes: Creating Olympians' portraits

Rams training camp from a St. Louis perspective On Now

Rams training camp from a St. Louis perspective

Rams Trumaine Johnson back home in California On Now

Rams Trumaine Johnson back home in California

Kanoa Igarashi: Huntington Beach is the first Asian-American surfer to qualify for the World Surf League's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour. On Now

Kanoa Igarashi: Huntington Beach is the first Asian-American surfer to qualify for the World Surf League's Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour.

Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry recap Rams training camp Day 2 On Now

Gary Klein and Lindsey Thiry recap Rams training camp Day 2

Advertisement

Over the last three years, Cook caught 142 passes for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns. He led the team in reception yards in 2013 and had the second-most yards in 2014 and 2015.

But it’s not all catches, runs and glory when you’re a tight end. There’s work to be done in the trenches, which is where former UCLA Bruin Cory Harkey comes in.

Harkey is officially listed as a tight end, but he’s also the team’s unofficial, official fullback because of his ability as a blocking specialist and he’s also a special teams player.

Advertisement

This season the tight ends will have a friend in the booth calling plays in offensive coordinator Rob Boras, who has been the tight ends coach since 2013.

No. 88 Lance Kendricks, 6-foot-3, 250 pounds

Kendricks, 28, is entering his sixth NFL season, all with the Rams.

As the primary tight end in 2012, his second year in the league, Kendricks had career highs in catches (42) and yards (519).

Since then he’s been secondary to Cook, but remained a big red-zone target. Nine of his career 15 touchdowns have come from within 16 yards.

Last season, Kendricks had 25 catches for 245 yards with two touchdowns.

Kendricks also has the speed and skill as a receiver to line up on the outside.

In Week 1, he caught a 37-yard touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter to tie the game with the Seattle Seahawks and force overtime. The Rams eventually won on a field goal.

No. 46 Cory Harkey, 6-foot-4, 259 pounds

Advertisement
Rams tight end Cory Harkey is tackled by 49ers linebacker Gerald Hodges during a game on Jan. 3.
Rams tight end Cory Harkey is tackled by 49ers linebacker Gerald Hodges during a game on Jan. 3.
(Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press)

Harkey, 26, has come the long way to being a vocal leader of the tight ends. He was undrafted out of UCLA and went back and forth between the practice squad and active roster his first year in the league.

Since 2013, Harkey has appeared in all but one game and caught 26 passes for 215 yards and three touchdowns.

In 2014, Harkey caught a pass from punter Johnny Hekker on a fake field goal for a two-point conversion.

Harkey re-signed with the Rams in March on a deal that will keep him under contract through 2018. He also won a skills competition at a Lakers game, earning himself a new truck, in April.

No. 89 Tyler Higbee, 6-foot-4, 243 pounds

Advertisement
Tyler Higbee listens to instructions during a Rams rookie mini-camp practice on May 7.
Tyler Higbee listens to instructions during a Rams rookie mini-camp practice on May 7.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times )

Higbee probably should have been selected higher than the fourth round, but an arrest in the weeks leading up to the draft caused his stock to drop.

Higbee was first-team Conference USA as a senior at Western Kentucky, where he caught 68 passes for 1,054 yards and 14 touchdowns in four seasons.

He’s also a former receiver, but can block and played on special teams.

No. 84 Temarrick Hemingway, 6-foot-5, 244 pounds

Hemingway was the second leading receiver at South Carolina State last season with 39 catches for 418 yards. He was named first-team All MEAC as a senior and is also a converted receiver.

Other tight ends: No. 83 Benson Brown (N.C. State), No. 48 Justice Cunningham

Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme

Advertisement
Advertisement