Miami Hurricanes 2017 Player Preview: Chris Herndon IV
Miami Hurricanes tight end Chris Herndon IV is one of the team’s most important players for the 2017 season. He is Miami’s only experienced returning tight end.
Herndon and Njoku shared a lot of time in two tight end sets a season ago. Njoku decided to forego his final two seasons of eligibility with the Miami Hurricanes to declare for the NFL Draft. He was the 30th pick in the first round by the Cleveland Browns.
Herndon finished last season with 28 receptions for 334 yards and two touchdowns. Njoku caught 43 passes for 698 yards and eight touchdowns. That leaves a huge void in Miami’s passing game. The Hurricanes also lost Stacy Coley who led the team in receptions and touchdowns a season ago.
Herndon and Njoku combined to produce NFL type stats at tight end in Mark Richt’s pro-style offense. Richt and Miami Offensive Coordinator Thomas Brown like to use their tight ends. In addition to Herndon, the Hurricanes return rising sophomore Michael Irvin II and incoming freshman Brian Polendey as Herndon’s backups.
Irvin is the son of Miami great Michael Irvin. He primarily saw playing time on special teams a season ago. With Njoku, Herndon and the departed Stan Dobard at tight end, it’s surprising that Richt didn’t choose to redshirt the 2016 true freshman.
According to Richt, Herndon is significantly better than Polendey and Irvin:
"“They’ve got a ways to go. There’s a pretty good little dropoff between Herndon and the next guy. Those guys are learning and getting better, but Herndon is leading the pack by a pretty good margin.”"
The lack of experience at both tight end and wide receiver behind Ahmmon Richards could have Herndon headed towards a big season. Njoku had a big jump from 2015 to 2016. We could see the same thing happen from Herndon this season.
Tight ends coach Todd Hartley discussed Herndon with the Palm Beach Post in April:
"“Chris Herndon is an unbelievable football player, just because he’s so versatile in what he can do…You’re talking about a kid who can line up and play in the slot, and be really good in the slot, a guy that can line up as a traditional tight end and be the best tight end in the country, and you can put him at fullback and he can hold his own at fullback. A guy like that gives you a lot of options on offense.”"
Herndon seems dedicated to being a leader and showing that the returning players and newcomers can replace Njoku, Coley and Miami’s other departed receivers.
"“We just want to show that with the people who left last year, we didn’t really fall off and that we can still execute the same assignments, still make the same plays, and try to do it even better than we did…It’s going to take a lot of hard work, a lot of focus and dedication. This spring, getting a lot of field work this summer, film work, correcting mistakes the team made last year, finding things to work on and continuing to work.”"
Without Njoku is going to be interesting to see what Richt, Brown and Hartley decide to do with the tight ends this season. With only three tight ends and plethora of talent at wide receiver could we see the Hurricanes go to a three-wide receiver set? That would only increase Herndon’s value.
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If they do go to three receivers, that would mean that Herndon would be counted on more as a blocker than a receiver. Herndon will also likely be the receiver that Miami’s new starting Quarterback goes to as a safety valve. Departed starting Quarterback Brad Kaaya used Njoku as his safety valve often last season.