McCallan Castles was surprised when he found open space in the end zone.
As the Tennessee tight end lined up late in the second quarter against Alabama on Saturday, he didn't see how he could get open based on the immediate look of the Crimson Tide defense. Then he was running parallel to the goal line, unaccounted for.
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Castles hauled in a Joe Milton III pass that marked the fourth-straight game that a Vols' tight end scored a touchdown and provided Tennessee with a 13-point lead at halftime.
"(It was) a blitz look. A lot of guys off the edge," Castles said. "I was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to get through here,' then the rub-route and comes and they all run into each other and I was running naked in the end zone. Joe (Milton) just makes a great play, just feathered back off the blitz and touches the ball. I don't think if Joe makes that throw the way he did, he's probably getting sacked, so pretty good job from Joe."
The tight ends have accounted for five touchdown receptions through seven games, which marks the most by the position group since totaling six scores in 2012.
For Castles, it has been about making the most of opportunities in the Vols' passing game coupled with the relationship he has built with fellow senior Jacob Warren, who has caught the other three touchdown passes this season.
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"I think it's just pushing each other in practice," Castles said. "We get a lot of work with the quarterbacks but not as much as the wide receivers, so we make the most out of all of those opportunities that we get, so that way when you get that chance in the game, you want to make a play. I think it's just that me and Jacob both push each other and we both talk about it and watch film together. We kind of just iron out all of those details together."
Tennessee's passing game has had its struggles.
The Vols rank eighth in the SEC and outside of the top 50 nationally with 220.9 passing yards per game. The wide receivers have only combined for six of the team's 12 touchdown receptions.
Castles and Warren have been largely consistent despite spending less amount of time running routes with quarterbacks in practice.
"I think obviously there's plays we went back and got a couple drops, but at the same time, I do feel like we've done a lot of good when it's come our way as well," Tennessee tight ends coach Alec Abeln said. "It's something that obviously you got to spend a lot of time in practice. You got to find ways to find work with those guys.
"That's offseason, that in-season. I think they've done a decent job of maximizing when it comes their way."
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Aside from what Castles and Warren have provided on the field, their example has been paramount in the development of freshman tight end Ethan Davis.
Davis was one of Tennessee's top signees in its 2023 recruiting class and flashed his play-making abilities in the spring. Injuries and being the youngest player in a room that includes two seasoned veterans have kept him from seeing the field more, but what he's absorbing now could pay off next season when he is expected to lead the tight ends room.
"I think it's great (for Davis to watch Castles and Warren)," Abeln said. "What the expectation level is shouldn't be dictated by what guys around you or what guys before you have done. It is something that, obviously seeing guys that know how to work and come into the room every day and handle it like pros, I think that's more important than anything on the field.
"I can tell you this about Ethan, like when the lights are on, he's a competitor, he is a play maker. He's got those traits for sure. I think he'll expect that when it's his time to roll."
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