Zack Kuntz compares himself to a participant on a divisional rival.
Kuntz, a seventh-round draft decide by the Jets in final week’s NFL draft, started his faculty profession at Penn State earlier than transferring to Previous Dominion for his ultimate two years of eligibility. So it's pure Kuntz fashions his recreation after former Penn State tight finish Mike Gesicki, who spent 5 seasons with the Dolphins earlier than signing with the Patriots this offseason.
“I’m aware of him via our roots at Penn State,” Kuntz mentioned about Gesicki. “A few of the coaches that we had and the offenses that we slot in. Clearly, it’s a straightforward comparability for me.
“He’s an athletic freak, as all people is aware of. He’s a man that I sort of see as comparable.”
If Kuntz’s profession mirrors something near Gesicki’s, the Jets might have one of many steals of the 2023 draft. In 5 seasons with the Dolphins, Gesicki caught 231 passes for two,617 yards and 18 touchdowns. Gesicki parlayed that right into a one-year, $9 million contract with the Patriots.
Throughout his final two seasons at Previous Dominion, Kuntz registered 85 catches for 836 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Kuntz received’t be requested to be a major contributor to the offense instantly. Gang Inexperienced already has Tyler Conklin, C. J. Uzomah and Jeremy Ruckert (who the crew chosen within the third spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft).
“My greatest factor is being beneath these guys right here quickly and getting a really feel for the room,” Kuntz mentioned. “The factor about tight ends, a whole lot of it's cheering for each other and everyone seems to be in one another’s nook.
“I’m excited for the chance to be taught from these guys who've been doing it for some time, so that they in all probability discovered a factor or two. I’m the brand new man round right here, so I’m going to do the whole lot that I can to be taught.”
This weekend throughout rookie minicamp, many drafted gamers watched to the facet whereas undrafted free brokers and gamers who have been there on a tryout ran 7-on-7 and positional drills. The Jets coaches simply wished to get gamers on top of things earlier than OTAs, which start Could 22.
“You’re simply attempting to get them acclimated, one to the conditioning, so that they’re not falling out so early and subjecting themselves to harm, however on the identical time, there’s the meal plans, the nutritionist, the power coach, the regen, all of the various things that can get thrown at them, together with the playbook.
“It may well get overwhelming.”
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