With the loss of NFL-bound tight end Vernon Davis at the end of last season, the Maryland football team was in need of a go-to guy onoffense. Questions surrounded a young, unproven receiving corps, and with Davis? exit, the tight end position was up for grabs.
With one glance of the Maryland media guide, which cited junior Joey Haynos and sophomore Dan Gronkowski, it was obvious the tight end picture was a cloudy one. Even Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen?s comments about Davis? successors in the team?s 2006 media guide weren?t exactly rousing support.
“Gronkowski and Joey Haynos both block pretty well,” Friedgen said in the publication. “Are they Vernon Davis? No. But they are two good tight ends, and hopefully they can continue to improve.”
Haynos, a 6-foot-7 target, does not possess the speed and explosiveness of Davis, but he has been a stabilizing force in the Terps? passing game. He has caught 32 balls for 305 yards and two touchdowns ? both in losses to West Virginia and Georgia Tech.
Amid a solid personal season, the Rockville native and product of Gonzaga College High School (D.C.) is looking to help the team finish strong.
“I?m very happy with my progression,” Haynos said. “I knew I could be a player here, but I didn?t know I?d have this kind of role. I just want to go out and have the last win.”
Gronkowski has done his part, as well, hauling in a key touchdown in the Terps? win over Florida State.
While the duo won?t replace Davis? 871 yards and six touchdowns from last season, they each provide larger targets than Davis, a 6-foot-3 talent that ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and was drafted by San Francisco in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft. Haynos is quite an athlete himself, having also played quarterback and linebacker in high school. He also played basketball.
Maryland has had issues scoring inside the red zone at times despite Haynos (6-foot-7) and Gronkowski (6-foot-6) both showing quarterback Sam Hollenbach towering targets.
“We haven?t been hitting a lot of stuff in the red zone,” Haynos said. “I don?t care who [Sam] hits … I?m happy either way.”
