Nippert Stadium has been home to some very good tight ends over the past decade and a half or so. Cincinnati has put together a pretty impressive list of tight ends that have moved on and excelled in the NFL, headlined by 2017 Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl champion Brent Celek and most notably Kansas City Chiefs two-time Super Bowl champion, Travis Kelce. Celek was a staple in the UC offense during the late 2000s. He actually helped usher the Bearcats into the Big East from Conference USA back in 2005. A similar situation the program is going through right now moving from the AAC to the Big 12.
Notable Bearcat Greats
Just a few years after Celek was drafted into the NFL, Kelce entered the fold. A Bearcat from 2009-2012, Kelce is obviously the most notable Bearcat Tight End in the NFL now, but there are some guys that followed who have made their way in and remained in the league since. Josiah Deguara was a third-round pick in 2020 to the Green Bay Packers. Gathering almost 40 catches, 371 yards, and a pair of touchdowns in his first two seasons. Most recently, Josh Whyle was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of this year’s draft. He’ll look to make his way into the Tennessee offense, continuing the ongoing success of Cincinnati tight ends in the NFL.
With a great reputation of tight ends with this UC program, there are some caveats. Yes, it’s ideal to keep producing NFL-level talents and making that a selling point to potential recruits. But, that does mean doing a lot of replacing year after year. There was a lot of continuity and consistency in the past 3-4 years with Whyle and current UDFA Jacksonville Jaguar, Leonard Taylor. Fans know they will have to learn some brand new faces on offense, but there’s one in particular at tight end that there should be a lot of excitement around.
Chamon Metayer
Chamon Metayer was the best recruit in the class of 2021 for the Bearcats. According to ESPN ratings, he signed as the only 4-star for Cincinnati and was a highly touted prospect.. Holding offers from many prestigious football schools across the country, Metayer originally chose to play college ball at the University of Miami. Choosing the Hurricanes over schools such as Florida, Auburn, Florida St, and Kentucky to stay in his home city. After a short while Metayer decommitted and found his way to Cincinnati. A long way from home, but perhaps a lineage of recently successful tight ends had something to do with his decision to make the long move north.
All Cincinnati fans know that there was a significant amount of departing transfers this past off-season. Some might have thought that this would include Metayer, and I am sure he probably had some suitors interested, but he never wavered. Metayer hung tough, however, and I’m sure realized that it was now his time to take the reins at the tight end spot.
Metayer played high school ball in southern Florida, where it’s some of the best in the entire country. He attended Miami Central high school in 2019, a school that is widely considered one of the best high school teams in the country, helping lead them to a state title in the 6A division. He then finished his high school career at North Miami high school. There, he was primarily a dynamic tight end and wide receiver while also playing some outside linebacker.
The Run Game
Metayer was listed at 6’5 and 225 pounds coming out of high school. The official Cincinnati roster lists him now at 248. He played sparingly in the crowded room last year, but did put some things on film. Metayer has a very ideal frame and build. He has long arms, is pretty flexible, and shows athleticsm all over the field. There was a very impressive willingness to block from him in limited snaps last season. A physical force, not afraid to put his helmet into a defender when blocking. He uses great drive in the lower half to consume and dominate defenders when blocking at the line of scrimmage. Having the ability to set the edge and drive guys back clearing paths for runners.
The Pass Game
Expect to see Metayer be a crucial part of the air attack this season. He shows good, loose hips that allow him to adjust to the ball in air and stride out to cover some good ground when in space. Playing a lot of wide receiver in high school prior to filling out his frame, he boasts of good twitch and a large catch radius. But, after the catch Metayer can be at his most threatening. He is not afraid of getting hit. The physicality he shows in his run blocking shows up after the catch. Don’t be surprised to see him running through and over some guys this season. He’ll go right into a defender.
Next Man Up
Metayer has some big shoes to fill in the Cincinnati tight end room. A lot of people expect the lineage of staple tight ends in UC offenses to continue with him. One of the higher and more decorated recruits in program history, this new staff has a shiny new toy at their disposal. I am sure they’re excited to see Chamon Metayer thrive in his first year where he is the guy. If you don’t know the name now, Bearcat fans, learn it and don’t forget it.
