Quarterback Kyle Trask and tight end Kyle Pitts celebrate following a touchdown last season. (Photo: Jay Metz/UAA Communications)
The Kyle Konnection: Trask and Pitts
Monday, September 7, 2020 | Football, Scott Carter
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By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – When trying to project what Florida's path toward a potential SEC East title in 2020 might look like, if there's one common denominator among pundits and fans alike, it's that the Gators must beat Georgia for the first time under head coach Dan Mullen.
And while that is certainly a sensible starting point, another factor for reasonable minds to consider is the connection between quarterback Kyle Trask and tight end Kyle Pitts must continue to grow and produce. Both players enjoyed breakout seasons in 2019, Trask by way of an injury to starting quarterback Feleipe Franks and Pitts by natural evolution as a player. Pitts, after hauling in just three receptions as a freshman in 2018, led the Gators with 54 catches as a sophomore.
At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Pitts runs like a much smaller receiver and has the size to overshadow nearly any defender. He was named a Walter Camp preseason first-team All-American earlier this summer, leaving no doubts how those outside the program view Pitts as he enters his third season. Kyle Pitts
"Kyle's a mismatch,'' Mullen said. "That's what we want in a tight end, is a guy that creates problems all over the field. Is he a receiver? Is he a blocker? Yes, and yes. We asked him to do everything. He was one of our premier playmakers.
"Now you get in Year 3 right now, where now he knows how to run routes. He's become a much more physical point-of-attack blocker and he creates mismatch problems for people out there on the field."
According to Pro Football Focus – and we'll get back to them later in discussing Trask –Pitts caught 25 of his 42 passes targeted 10-plus yard downfield last season. Only Iowa State's Charlie Kolar had more. Pitts caught at least two passes in every game and was at his best in the biggest games, hauling in a career-high eight passes in the home win over Auburn and a career-best 108 yards in the loss at No. 1 LSU.
When talking to Pitts about what he has worked on entering an unprecedented 2020 season, one altered by the global coronavirus pandemic, Pitts gets down and dirty. He talks about hat and hand placement at the line of scrimmage. He mentions getting his hands inside on blockers and using his in-steps rather than the balls of his feet when locked up with a defender at the line.
In other words, he's become a student of the game to learn more about the sport that many expect to make Pitts a wealthy young man soon as a potential first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
"Knowing the game from the defensive side, know how they are going to play you and how I can maneuver in certain situations,'' he said of his offseason studies. "I'm just honing in on the small details. Getting a feel for the game. There's always room for improvement. There's things I'm going to focus on this year that I would like to add what I was focusing on last year to make me a better player."
The Gators have their second scrimmage of training camp on Monday night. In the first one, Pitts did not take any reps. Mullen knows what the Gators have in Pitts and wanted to get other players reps while protecting Pitts from the risk of injury.
If Pitts caught any opponents by surprise as a sophomore, there's no chance of that happening in 2020. The scouting report is out. Pitts dropped only four passes last year and assures that whatever others are saying about him, he doesn't plan to let it impact his steady approach.
"I don't really pay attention to it. I stick to the script and do what I came here to do," Pitts said. "I don't really let that stuff get to me because I think sometimes players can be affected by it. I just try to keep a level head and know what I can do and what I'm capable of and don't let the outside hype affect me."
Meanwhile, Trask has a similar temperament and approach to his daily work. While the Kyle Konnection blossomed in public view last season, both players said it was planted in 2018 when they would star for the second-team offense at practice. They also connected off the field due to their laid-back personalities. Of Pitts' 54 catches a season ago, 43 were delivered by Trask, eight by Franks and three from Emory Jones.
Trask is a reserved Texan who has started to come out of his shell since taking over as the starter. Pitts is from the Philadelphia area and prefers hanging out in small groups rather than being the center of attention.
"We developed a pretty strong relationship as the season went on last year,'' Trask said. "I think just over time, with the repetitions and the experience of going through that whole last season and now going through this whole offseason, it's only gotten stronger. Kyle is just a very, very hardworking guy and just poses a matchup problem no matter who you line him up against."
Quarterback Kyle Trask sets the offense in last season's win over Auburn. (Photo: Courtney Culbreath/UAA Communications)
Added Pitts: "In the offseason we got chemistry down and last year it just got better and better each week. I think now our connection is better than ever."
As for Pro Football Focus, the football analytics website is much more favorable to Pitts than Trask. It recently ranked Trask the 48th best quarterback among the 130 FBS schools, which raised some eyebrows among those who follow college football closely.
Gators quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson was asked about the ranking after Wednesday's practice.
"Kyle has made a bunch of big-time throws for us,'' Johnson said. "I don't know how PFF classifies big-time throws. I'm sure they have some metric they go by. In terms of quarterbacking, I think he does an excellent job with the ability to put tempos on the ball and anticipate when those check-the-ball-down appropriately. I couldn't think of 48 guys I'd rather have than him."
A fifth-year senior eager to capitalize on the long-awaited opportunity that came his way early last season – Trask threw for 2,941 yards, 25 touchdowns and only seven interceptions – those around Trask daily can see his newfound demeanor.
"I think before he was a guy that was competing for the job, which he still knows he is every day, but it's different when you've had the job,'' Mullen said. "There's a confidence that comes with that. We'll end up putting a lot more on him this year: checking within the game plan of him getting us into specific plays.
"He's spent every offseason preparing. He prepared himself to be ready to go."
To make the most of his final college season, Trask said he dropped around 13 pounds in the offseason from a healthier diet and focused training. Once he returned to Gainesville over the summer, Trask resumed regular workouts with his receivers.
Johnson liked what he saw from Trask in the team's first scrimmage.
"He was kind of firing on all cylinders and played really efficiently,'' Johnson said.
When Trask is in the groove, his favorite target will be ready. Their continued connection is likely to play a big part in how the 2020 season plays out for the Gators. And perhaps help deliver a win in that much-debated matchup with Georgia.
Pitts considers Trask at the top of his game.
"I think he has taken it to another level and it's just him running everything,'' Pitts said.
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