Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
PROVO — He's yet to play a game or line up in the position against anyone other than his own teammates, but the early results of BYU sixth-year senior Keanu Hill's move to tight end are in.
By unanimous decision, the move has already been deemed a success.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound pass catcher from Bedford, Texas, has already put on 20 pounds — a weight issue he's struggled to avoid since arriving at BYU in 2019 during a somewhat injury-stunted career — and the extra weight, if you can believe it, makes him "feel like I'm a little bit faster."
There's also one key non-football reason for Hill to love the move.
"I can't wait until I go home to eat my dad's cooking this year, though," the son of former Texas Tech All-American and 1994 NFL draft pick Lloyd Hill said with a grin as the Cougars wrapped up spring practices.
Hungry Texans and individual growth aside, there's a lot to like about Hill's move from wide receiver to tight end.
The career pass catcher of 73 receptions for 1,212 yards and 11 touchdowns was already one of BYU's better downfield blockers, drawing praise from coaches, teammates and opponents alike for the part of the game that doesn't always shine as much as long balls for touchdowns.
Hill departs a wide receiver room that is already as deep as any that receivers coach Fesi Sitake has seen in his time at BYU for a tight end group that will look to replace former Freshman All-American Isaac Rex with a youthful group that includes redshirt freshman Jackson Bowers and true freshman Ryner Swanson, as well as Ethan Erickson, Mata'ava Ta'ase and others.
So asked if after 15 spring practices and a few more trips to the weight room, the "experiment" of Hill at tight end could be deemed a success, offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick was quick in his affirmation.
"Absolutely," he said. "He's a tight end. He's doing a really good job. It's been great, because he doesn't have to battle his weight to stay light enough to play wide receiver. He's a mismatch as a route runner at tight end, and he's a good blocker."
Does the player feel the same way?
"I would say, yes; fa sho, fa sho. I would say that," Hill said. "Just moving to the tight end position was a little hard for me. But I feel way better now, and I feel really good at this weight. I feel like it's a success."
The mutual affirmation for the position is important for Hill, Roderick and Sitake, because the decision to move was always "a collaborative deal," the receivers coach said, even as new tight ends coach Kevin Gilbride was making his transition to BYU from the NFL to replace veteran coach and recruiter Steve Clark.
During exit interviews following the Cougars' first season in the Big 12, which ended with a five-game losing skid and a 5-7 mark to miss a bowl game for just the second time in 19 years, the topic was broached about Hill moving to tight end.
With a crowded room and Hill's own weight often fluctuating throughout the year, the decision still needed to be unanimous — including from home.
"It was something that we involved him and his family with," Sitake recalled. "Everyone got on the same page, and he was great with it. He's all-in, and the guy has looked phenomenal."
The biggest change, though? Without a doubt, that's been adjusting to the blocking schemes, Hill says.
Hill was already used to blocking in Roderick's scheme. But there's a difference in blocking downfield as opposed to hitting at or near the line of scrimmage — and still finding the right route, at times.
"I'm not blocking the little short, fast guys anymore; I'm blocking big, stocky guys," Hill said. "Always focusing on my technique will help me better with this transition."
Hill knows he still has work to do — he wants to add a couple more pounds, maybe as many as five, if he can keep his speed.
But he also feels like playing tight end will be good for his game, for the team, and for his future — perhaps even in professional football.
"It should help me get open," he said of his speed, "going against linebackers and not DBs."
