The spring season is right around the corner, and one thing that fans and draft nuts are always looking for is the next man up. In an offense that isn’t supposed to be near as heavily focused on tight ends as John Donovan’s was, Devin Culp has an opportunity to establish himself as the true TE1 for Kalen DeBoer’s offense for the 2022 season.

With Cade Otton off to the NFL, and Mark Redman transferring to San Diego State, the path to the starting job seems to be a two-man race between Culp and Quentin Moore. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Jack Westover worked his way into the race, because it’s highly unlikely he (or anyone) sees time at H-back in DeBoer’s scheme.

Culp showed what he’s capable of in two of his four starts, where he totaled 11 catches for 164 yards. In his first start of the year, against Cal, Culp recorded five catches for 81 yards. Later on in the season, he pulled in six catches for 83 yards against Colorado. In those two games, Culp displayed his excellent athleticism, ability to run routes, soft hands, and a high football IQ, finding soft spots in zone coverage and picking up yards after the catch.

He also displayed great strength as a run blocker. There aren’t a lot of plays to point to on film because of the rest of the scheme, but I was able to find one clip that stood out watching in person. Culp gets his hands on Oregon’s top pass rusher, Kayvon Thibodeaux, drives him five yards off the ball, and takes him completely out of Cameron Davis’ rush lane, which cleared the way for a six-yard gain.

While it’s unclear how tight ends will be utilized, spring practices are right around the corner and should answer a lot of questions. The biggest element that Culp brings to the offense is the ability to make people miss after the catch. While Cade Otton was a great weapon, and could still pick up yards after the catch, Culp’s speed and athleticism are an exciting aspect, and they make him a big-time name to watch this spring.