2005 Cardinal Football Outlook - Tight Ends
August 15, 2005 | Football
Aug. 15, 2005
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the Louisville football team's 2005 season-opener at Kentucky fast-approaching, UofLSports.com will be providing a daily preview of the Cards' first season in the BIG EAST Conference. Today's third installment looks at the Cards' tight ends.
2005 Louisville Tight Ends
At the tight end position, the Cardinals lost one of the biggest surprises of last season in Adam McCauley, a third-team All-Conference performer. McCauley stepped in and caught 22 passes for 309 yards, earning third team All-C-USA accolades.
With McCauley gone, sophomores Gary Barnidge, Breno Giacomini and Scott Kuhn will be the key components. Barnidge emerged last year as a true freshman and gave the Cardinals a threat in the passing game. Barnidge caught just seven passes for 85 yards, however, four of them went for touchdowns. Barnidge, despite being light for the position at 230 pounds, also helped the Cardinals in the running game with his blocking ability. Petrino feels like Barnidge could be the next great tight end at Louisville and has already added size and strength through the Cardinals' winter weight program. Giacomini bulked up to play offensive tackle, but might be more helpful to the Cards at tight end. He has great size and good footwork.
Kuhn saw action in seven games, but will fill a more valuable role this year as the second tight end. Kuhn can be a target in the passing game because of his ability to catch and run with the ball. He will need to improve as a blocker because of the Cardinals' reliance on a two tight end scheme.
Freshman Careg Bonner from Huntsville High School (Ala.) caught 141 passes for 2,168 yards during his high school career and could see action as a true freshman.
