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Tennessee tight end Miles Kitselman suffered a pectoral injury in spring practice and underwent surgery, a source with knowledge of the situation told Knox News.
The source requested anonymity because UT and Kitselman have not commented on specifics of his injury. He is expected to return for the 2025 season, but that timeline will depend on the rate of his rehabilitation, the source added.
Kitselman was one of the SEC’s best tight ends last season. He had 22 receptions for 301 yards and four TDs, which tied for third-most among the league's tight ends. And he served a key role in blocking for the SEC's No. 1 rushing offense.
Kitsleman is only returning to Tennessee for the 2025 season rather than vying for an NFL opportunity because an NCAA rule change that added a year to his eligibility. The Diego Pavia lawsuit forced the NCAA to grant blanket waivers to former junior college transfers.
Kitselman, a 6-foot-5, 255-pounder, spent the 2021 season at Hutchinson Community College. He transferred to Alabama, where he played two seasons before coming to Tennessee prior to the 2024 season.
The Vols need Kitselman’s production and leadership, so his quick return is essential. But his injury highlights a need for young tight ends to develop quickly.
UT had successfully reloaded at tight end via the transfer portal in recent years.
In 2023, the Vols added McCallan Castles (UC Davis). In 2024, they got Kitselman (Alabama) and Holden Staes (Notre Dame) from the portal, but Staes transferred to Indiana this offseason.
But now UT is leaning on its traditional recruits to replenish the depth chart at tight end.
After Kitselman, redshirt sophomore Ethan Davis, redshirt freshman Cole Harrison, freshman DaSaahn Brame and freshman Jack Van Dorselaer fill out the group in terms of scholarship players. They signed with UT out of high school, but they lack the experience of Kitselman.
That’s about to change, especially as Kitselman tries to return before the start of the 2025 season.
Davis played 177 snaps on offense last season as the third tight end. He had 13 receptions for 100 yards and two TDs.
Davis, a 6-5, 248-pounder, is an athletic tight end with a good rapport with quarterback Nico Iamaleava. But he must improve his blocking to be a factor in the two tight end set that UT utilized well last season.
“It’s a personal challenge to me. I had put on weight, but the strength wasn’t really there,” Davis said. “So it’s been a main focus of mine to do extra work in the (tackle) box on hands, feet and hand placement (in blocking).”
Harrison, a 6-5, 238-pounder, played in only two games last season and took a redshirt. Coaches hope he can take a step forward in 2025.
Brame, a 6-4, 230-pounder, enrolled early as one of the top prospects in the country. He was ranked the No. 4 tight end in the 2025 class by 247Sports Composite.
Van Dorselaer, a 6-5, 236-pounder, also enrolled early as the No. 18 tight end in the 2025 class. His physicality could give him a faster track to the field, especially if a blocking tight end is needed while Kitselman rehabs. Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Miles Kitselman injury update: Tennessee football tight ends must be ready
Continue reading...
The source requested anonymity because UT and Kitselman have not commented on specifics of his injury. He is expected to return for the 2025 season, but that timeline will depend on the rate of his rehabilitation, the source added.
Kitselman was one of the SEC’s best tight ends last season. He had 22 receptions for 301 yards and four TDs, which tied for third-most among the league's tight ends. And he served a key role in blocking for the SEC's No. 1 rushing offense.
Kitsleman is only returning to Tennessee for the 2025 season rather than vying for an NFL opportunity because an NCAA rule change that added a year to his eligibility. The Diego Pavia lawsuit forced the NCAA to grant blanket waivers to former junior college transfers.
Kitselman, a 6-foot-5, 255-pounder, spent the 2021 season at Hutchinson Community College. He transferred to Alabama, where he played two seasons before coming to Tennessee prior to the 2024 season.
The Vols need Kitselman’s production and leadership, so his quick return is essential. But his injury highlights a need for young tight ends to develop quickly.
With Miles Kitselman sidelined, who is Tennessee's No. 1 tight end?
UT had successfully reloaded at tight end via the transfer portal in recent years.
In 2023, the Vols added McCallan Castles (UC Davis). In 2024, they got Kitselman (Alabama) and Holden Staes (Notre Dame) from the portal, but Staes transferred to Indiana this offseason.
But now UT is leaning on its traditional recruits to replenish the depth chart at tight end.
After Kitselman, redshirt sophomore Ethan Davis, redshirt freshman Cole Harrison, freshman DaSaahn Brame and freshman Jack Van Dorselaer fill out the group in terms of scholarship players. They signed with UT out of high school, but they lack the experience of Kitselman.
That’s about to change, especially as Kitselman tries to return before the start of the 2025 season.
Davis played 177 snaps on offense last season as the third tight end. He had 13 receptions for 100 yards and two TDs.
Davis, a 6-5, 248-pounder, is an athletic tight end with a good rapport with quarterback Nico Iamaleava. But he must improve his blocking to be a factor in the two tight end set that UT utilized well last season.
“It’s a personal challenge to me. I had put on weight, but the strength wasn’t really there,” Davis said. “So it’s been a main focus of mine to do extra work in the (tackle) box on hands, feet and hand placement (in blocking).”
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These Tennessee freshman tight ends could play in 2025
Harrison, a 6-5, 238-pounder, played in only two games last season and took a redshirt. Coaches hope he can take a step forward in 2025.
Brame, a 6-4, 230-pounder, enrolled early as one of the top prospects in the country. He was ranked the No. 4 tight end in the 2025 class by 247Sports Composite.
Van Dorselaer, a 6-5, 236-pounder, also enrolled early as the No. 18 tight end in the 2025 class. His physicality could give him a faster track to the field, especially if a blocking tight end is needed while Kitselman rehabs. Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
Get the latest news and insight on SEC football by subscribing to the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Miles Kitselman injury update: Tennessee football tight ends must be ready
Continue reading...
