A look at Vanderbilt football's tight end options after Cole Spence's season-ending injury

Vanderbilt football already knew it would have to rebuild at tight end entering 2023. With Ben Bresnahan and Gavin Schoenwald both moving on from college football, the Commodores and coach Clark Lea hoped redshirt freshman Cole Spence could be the next man up.
But Spence will miss the season with an ACL tear, and that leaves Vanderbilt severely depleted at the position. It likely will remain a spot of weakness, but the Commodores do have three players who have begun to step up.
The first of those options is Justin Ball. The senior has played in 26 career games but made just seven catches and has dealt with injuries. At 6-foot-6 and 247 pounds, he has the size to play a role if he can stay healthy.
With his experience, Ball feels better prepared for the speed of the SEC game.
"I've always known the plays, always been comfortable in that but being able to come out, read defenses quickly, know certain techniques I can use in situations has been really a tool for me this summer, this fall camp," he said Thursday after practice. "I've been able to utilize what happened in the past, some of the experience, using it to come out here, seeing stuff in real life speed."
Another option is Brown transfer Chris Boyle. Though he had just 22 catches in three seasons in the Ivy League, he did average 10.1 yards per catch. He's smaller than Ball at 6-3 and 239 pounds, so he may be able to play the more versatile "flex" role.
While Ball said that he has experience playing the flex as well, his size makes him a more ideal option as a traditional tight end whose biggest contribution comes in blocking.
"(Boyle) gives us a chance to add experience and skill, too," Lea said Wednesday. "Now his challenge is learning how we function and how to play football at Vanderbilt and what our process looks like."
Logan Kyle, a senior who spent his first three seasons as a sparingly used receiver before making the switch to tight end in the spring, is another option. He showed flashes throughout Thursday's practice.
Vanderbilt also has two true freshmen, Kamrean Johnson and Josh Palmer. Lea said one of his goals in the preseason is to figure out if, and how, either could help the team this season. Johnson seems like the better bet to contribute at 6-5, 221 pounds. Palmer also has gotten reps in practice, but at 192 pounds, he may need to add weight to be effective in the SEC.
Ultimately, Vanderbilt may need to lean more on its experienced receiver group, which returns all three of last season's starters: Will Sheppard, Jayden McGowan and Quincy Skinner. Sophomore Gamarion Carter, redshirt freshman Daveon Walker and freshman Junior Sherrill also could see time in three- or four-wide receiver sets.