By Ben Lampkin
With the departure of starting wide receivers Deion Branch and Zek Parker, the tight end position will be a crucial part of the offense. However, look for Ronnie Ghent to solidify his place among the nation’s best. With the speed and hands of a wideout, Ghent is a mismatch waiting to happen for unsuspecting defenses. Last season’s 34 catches, 330 yards, and five touchdowns should be surpassed easily, and Ghent will be the favorite to collect All-Conference USA honors for the third consecutive year.
Lining up with Ghent will be senior Tone Slatter and junior Richard Owens. It may take a few games for Slatter to get into the flow after having a metal pin inserted in his foot early in the fall. Early in fall drills, Ghent suffered an injury after taking a hard hit and sat out several practices. With both Ghent and Slatter out of the mix, Chad Jorgensen, a 6-6 220 true freshman, has stepped up and looked impressive. While Jorgensen is not expected to play this season, he should provide a stable backup if one of the starters is lost for the season.
With the multiple tight end formations the Cards will undoubtedly employ, Slatter and Owns should see significant playing time in the running game and in short passing situations. Owens has already shown his knack for making plays, as three of his four career receptions have been touchdowns.
