64 FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2013
UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA CAVALIERS
The Northern Virginia Daily
Virginia TE McGee looks to be every-down player HANK KURZ Jr. AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTESVILLE — Jake McGee has been making spectacular catches since he arrived at Virginia. The first catch of his career at tight end— a one-handed grab of an errant pass for a 17-yard gain against Richmond— began a stream of highlight-reel receptions. There was the 44-yard pass he caught on third-and-16 against Penn State, defenders draped all over him. And the 19-yard catch-and-run touchdown against Georgia Tech, finished when he hurdled a defender to get to the end zone. Now the 6-foot-6 converted high school quarterback wants to become an everydown player, and not just a one-dimensional threat. He has bulked up to 250 pounds and has worked to improve his blocking and pass protecting. “That was part of it, to be able to have the mass to stay with the D-ends and stuff like that, but it’s also part of the position,” McGee said of the 15 extra pounds he’s added this offseason. “To be a full tight end, there’s a body type that you need to be.” The Cavaliers played three tight ends last season, and Paul Freedman and Colter Phillips were both more adept at the lineman-type skills, meaning McGee’s entrance into games almost telegraphed why he was in.
AP file
Virginia tight end Jake McGee (83) makes a reception in front of Penn State linebacker T.J. Rhattigan (22) and safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (7) during last season’s game in Charlottesville. The converted high school quarterback looks to have a bigger role in Virginia’s offense, and to that end, he added about 20 pounds in the offseason hoping to make his blocking as effective as he catching. teams game-planning what they do based on what he’s limited at.”
McGee’s emergence has drawn obvious comparisons to Heath Miller, New offensive coordinator Steve Fair- another former quarterback who He caught 28 passes, including five switched to tight end at Virginia and child said he purposely didn’t go back touchdowns, but drew more attention and look at much film from last season, emerged as one of the top tight ends in as the season wore on. the country. Miller was a first-round but it didn’t take long in the spring to “People that have film, they look at draft choice of the Pittsburgh Steelers realize that McGee was a big target the film and try to see, like we all do, in 2005, and made his first Pro Bowl in with a knack for making big plays. personnel and what you do when you 2010. “There’s no way, shape or form of gethave particular personnel in,” coach Teammates say McGee has the same ting around it,” Fairchild said. “You’ve Mike London said. “One of the things abilities. we always want to work on with him is got to have guys that can make plays, and he appears to be one of those guys “He’s got all the talent in the world. being physical at the point of attack. that, even if he’s not open, he’s got a He’s just got to want to do it,” guard It’s something that Jake has been chance at getting the football and mak- Luke Bowanko said. “He’s a super talworking on and will continue to work ing something happen. I’m excited. We’ll ented kid. He’s a great basketball playon and knows that that has to be part of his game as well. ... We don’t want just develop and see what he does.” er, great softball player. He’s going to be
fine. He just needs to put the weight on, which he has, and want to do it. Get his nose dirty a little bit.” McGee hopes he gets the chance to show his willingness to do it. “I’m confident in saying that I could be an every down blocker and an every down player. It’s taken a lot of work and I’ve put a lot of time in this summer and spring and winter,” McGee said. And he’s not shying away from comparisons to Miller. Said McGee, “I’m not going to complain if I get mentioned in the same sentence as he is.”