Rebels tight ends work for ‘War Daddy’ moniker

The UNLV tight ends have a nickname for themselves. They’re just not allowed to use it yet.

Rebels offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Barney Cotton carried the name “War Daddies” to Las Vegas from Nebraska, but he’s not just giving it to his players. When the tight ends tried to break down after practice by saying “War Daddies” in unison a few days ago, Cotton told them they’re not ready.

“It’s definitely a title you have to earn, you can’t just say it,” junior Tim Holt said.

The name is supposed to symbolize someone violent and physical who makes opponents afraid to go against them. That wasn’t always the case last season for the Rebels, who brought in transfers Holt and junior Trevor Kanteman to give their tight end room a different feel.

“It’ll be good to have depth at the position. Last year, we were down to one tight end at the end of the year with injuries,” said fifth-year senior Andrew Price, the expected starter. “(Holt and Kanteman) are coming along fast, so it’s nice.”

Holt joined UNLV from Fullerton College in California, where he had 45 catches for 580 yards in two seasons. At 6 feet 2 inches and 230 pounds he’s the smallest of the team’s three primary tight ends but also the fastest. He can line up anywhere from fullback to out wide, where he can use his speed to take advantage of mismatches.

“I’m not your big-bodied, 6-foot-5 tight end. With that being said, I can line up in different spots and do different things that a big tight end can’t do,” Holt said. “I came here to bring some spark to Las Vegas, and I really want this to be a winning team.”

Kanteman started his career at Illinois before going to Los Angeles Pierce College, where he had 280 receiving yards in nine games last season. He chose UNLV over Fresno State, and he’s already settled in as perhaps the team’s best inline blocker.

“I really like run blocking,” said the 6-4, 240-pound Kanteman. “I like it a lot, knowing I can keep the running back safe, that they depend on me to do whatever it takes to make sure they can run the ball.”

Kanteman has bitten off some of Price’s workload in practice, as Price now doesn’t have to stay in with the offense three or four drives in a row as the only inline tight end.

That doesn’t mean the Rebels aren’t expecting a big season out of their senior. At 6-6, Price provides the biggest receiving threat and finished fourth on the team in receptions (17) and receiving yards (173) last season.

This season, coach Tony Sanchez gave him a specific goal: best the 42 catches Sanchez had as a senior at New Mexico State in 1995.

“He said, ‘I’ll beat that,’” Sanchez said. “I hope he does. I hope he crushes it.”

Price is still working on his run blocking, and Sanchez wants to see him be more consistent in practice. Price graduated in May with a degree in kinesiology and is working on medical school requirements, but the potential is there for a future in football.

“Andrew’s biggest thing is he’s a very, very talented guy who when he comes and he’s focused and he gives a physical effort, he’s a solid guy,” Sanchez said. “We challenge him all the time that you’ve got to come out and be more intense about things … He could be a guy that plays on Sundays if he could mentally lock in.”

Helping his position group earn its nickname might be a good first step.

“I think we’re getting there. We’re getting a lot better as a group, as a unit,” Holt said. “(It’s) just continuing to do what we’re doing and making plays, being strong up front.”

Ben Gotz can be reached at bgotz@reviewjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter: @BenSGotz