UND's tight end depth shines at Spring Showcase

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Apr. 18—GRAND FORKS — Eric Schmidt was "skeptical" about the tight end room around this time last year.

With Schmidt's second spring practice as UND's head coach wrapped up, he's entering the summer with a completely different outlook on the position group.

In Saturday afternoon's Spring Showcase at the Pollard Center, two different tight ends hauled in touchdown passes as the offense beat the defense, 30-28.

"We've come a long way," Schmidt said. "A year ago, we were really skeptical about what we had there. Now I look at it, and it may be the deepest room on our offense. I think we can play with three or four tight ends on the field, and then there's a lot of competition in there to be at the top of that depth chart."

Sophomore Tray Kuntz, a Grand Forks native, caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jerry Kaminski in the second quarter.

"It's always great to end off the spring on a good note," Kuntz said. "(The catch) was awesome in the moment. The ball is hanging up there for an hour, and you're just hoping to bring it in. But it was a great throw by Jerry."

Kaminski connected with junior Aidan Behymer for a 6-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

The duo's red zone touchdowns made them stand out from a crowded room on Saturday, but the Hawks' tight ends are asked to do much more than catch passes.

First-year offensive coordinator Danny Freund wants to build the room "like a basketball team," focusing on presenting challenges to the defense through positional versatility.

"The tight end room, to me, is very versatile and very deep," Freund said. "I think there are a lot of different skill sets in there, whether it's playing on the ball and being able to block in the run game, stretching the field vertically in the passing game, and then being able to flex out and catch passes.

"I think you saw that today with a couple of guys catching touchdowns in the red zone. So there are different skill sets, and I think at tight end, you want to build that room like a basketball team, with some big guys, some guys that can flex out. We're going to utilize those guys. I think it puts a lot of stress on the defense when you can play with tight ends and then get in different formations."

Sophomore Nathan Hromadka has been one of the standouts as a well-rounded tight end who can factor into the passing game.

"Hromadka is really going to take a jump here from year one to year two," Freund said. "Very, very skilled player. Can be a complete tight end in terms of his blocking, his pass catching, his length. He can stretch it down the field in the vertical passing game. I've really been impressed with him."

Hromadka flashed in limited reps as a true freshman last season. He collected four receptions for 22 yards and a touchdown in three games before suffering a season-ending injury.

"This spring, I think I've improved way, way more than last year," Hromadka said. "I feel way more confident going into fall camp next year, and just going into the season a lot stronger, a lot healthier. … I put on really good weight, just getting faster every day. But I put on five to 10 pounds of good muscle. I just feel a lot more powerful out on the field."

Freund believes Behymer could also step up as an offensive weapon.

"He's another one in the passing game that I think is a very natural player," Freund said. "Looks like a big receiver out there. If he can continue to work on his blocking and that sort of thing, he can play more downs for us."

Behymer and Hromadka aren't the only standouts. When asked about the tight ends, both Freund and Schmidt touched on nearly every player and the unique toolkit they bring.

There's Kuntz, who Schmidt believes is physically "in a whole other place" than he was a season ago.

Schmidt described Hunter Kallstrom, a 6-foot-4, 242-pound sophomore, as "genetically different from a lot of guys."

Kallstrom transferred in from Wyoming last offseason and did not play in 2025.

Seniors Mason South and Haydn Stay have both been around the program for years now, setting the tone through their work ethic and leadership.

"The competition level every day — (tight ends coach Gordie Haug) will say it himself, we're competing against each other every single day for reps," Hromadka said. "Who wants this play, that play, all that. Every dude in the room can play on the field. When you've got a room that competitive, you've got to bring it every single day."

* Sophomore wide receiver Caleb Goodloe, a transfer from Bowling Green, hauled in an impressive 20-yard pass from Kaminski along the sideline in the first quarter. Goodloe also secured a tight-window catch on a slant from Kaminski for a first down later in the quarter.

* The offense took an early 3-0 lead over the defense in the first quarter with a roughly 28-yard field goal by Luke Silvernale. He also made a 47-yard field goal in the second quarter.

* The defense scored the next six points by forcing back-to-back three-and-outs. A pass breakup by senior safety Nate Frankfather and a quarterback pressure from junior edge Braden Mohr were two of the standout plays from the series.

* Sophomore defensive back Grant Noland forced an incompletion with excellent coverage on a pass attempt to sophomore wide receiver Deng Deng in the first quarter.

* Redshirt freshman running back Charles Langama didn't break out for any major field-flipping runs, but he consistently churned out tough yards by bouncing off tackles and showing off some shifty movement.

* Redshirt freshman Cameron Weir, a transfer wide receiver from Washington State, showed off a bit of his speed with a roughly 25-yard catch from Kaminski.

* In addition to his two passing touchdowns, Kaminski scored on a quarterback keeper from two yards out.

* Redshirt freshman running back Griffin Broderick nearly broke off a touchdown rush from over 20 yards out, but he fumbled before reaching the goal line. It was recovered for a touchback, handing the defense six points for a turnover.

* Kaminski, junior quarterback Javance Tupou'ata-Johnson and sophomore quarterback Jack Sulik had a contest at halftime to see who could throw the longest distance. Sulik and Kaminski each reached 61 yards, while Tupou'ata-Johnson hit 55.

* The third quarter featured red-zone drills. The defense held the offense to a field goal on the first drive, highlighted by a quarterback pressure from sophomore edge Erick Paye and a pass breakup from sophomore defensive back Travis Hines II.

* The fourth quarter was dedicated to the two-minute drill, and it was dominated by the defense. The offense was unable to get a first down on its first drive. On the second drive, redshirt freshman defensive tackle Wyatt Kuhn got a hand on the ball to force an incompletion on fourth-and-5.

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