We caught up with Connor Spears twice this week, just before learning Bryce Dixon might rejoin the team and the day after the university announced it would not be reinstating Dixon as a student-athlete.
Spears has been on a quest to become a "hand-in-the-dirt" tight end. The 6-6, 255-pound walk-on transfer from Columbia has put on the requisite weight and is working fiercely in several areas in preparation for a potentially large role this fall.
What did you think about the most recent news involving Bryce Dixon?
CS: “It’s tough to hear. Bryce is obviously a close friend of mine. We got pretty close last fall and this spring a little bit. It’s definitely tough to hear but I’m praying for him. I wish him the best. We’ll see what happens. The university let out that statement but we’ll see in the next couple of months. I wish the best for him.”
How does this change your role?
CS: “He would add a great deal of depth and he’s obviously got experience and that’s something we don’t have a lot of at the tight end position. But we’re just trying to get ready like we would any other game, whether we have Bryce or we have Jalen (Cope-Fitzpatrick) or not. We’re not trying to think about all the outside distractions. It hasn’t changed my approach. I’m just trying to get ready. You can’t think about, what if we had two tight ends? It doesn’t change our approach. You have to get ready with the numbers you have and the situation you have now.”
Given all the instability at your position, I imagine you’ve been mentally preparing yourself for a while to potentially have a big role on the team.
CS: “My mindset did change a little bit. Coming out to the first spring practice, I thought I was going to be running with the threes. It was a wake-up call, to say the least. I’ve been able to get that in my mind that this is going to be real. Now we’re just trying to get ready for the games. In the spring, I was able to make strides toward doing that. In the fall, I’m just putting it all together.
“Weird stuff happens all the time. It’s a weird situation. I’m just trying to take advantage of it. The opportunity kind of fell in my lap. Some negative and unfortunate scenarios have happened but it’s something I’m trying to take advantage of. Just help this team win, that’s my main concern right now.”
All of the other tight ends on the roster are new. What does that mean for you exactly?
CS: “Tui (Marques Tuiasosopo) has told me this, and he’s told all the tight ends this, he has a different expectation for me. He expects me to be prepared every day. I’m held to a different standard because I was here in the spring and was able to get reps in the spring. He knows it’s going to take some time for the other guys to get going.”
Coach Steve Sarkisian said tight end is the second-toughest position to learn on offense because of its involvement in the pass and run game.
CS: “It’s true. Tight end is a really versatile position where we have to run like wide receivers, catch balls like wide receivers, and we have to block like offensive linemen. There’s a lot of different aspects of the game but I think that’s what makes it fun. If you can do it, it’s an awesome position. We are held to a different standard. We have so many things to take care of. That’s just part of the responsibility.”
What area do you need to grow in most?
CS: “The physicality of the game. That’s one area that could really take my game to the next level. I definitely have room to improve in that sense. Just getting open is another thing with my size, I can create body position, but one thing is trying to use that body position, use that speed to try and get around these quicker linebackers and safeties. Trying to get open and increase the physicality, that’s something Tui has really stressed.”
And how do you feel like your physical development is progressing?
CS: “It’s coming along. I’m really just trying to work on the run game. I’ve come a long way but I have a ways to go. Coach (Bob) Connelly has helped me a lot and Coach Tui has helped me a lot. I’m really just trying to get that down and not think too much about it, just get some confidence in me and try to make an impact in the run game. We have pass catchers. I want to be able to block.
“I haven’t really had a whole lot of experience in the run game. This is all kind of new to me. I’m just trying to be able to do it and I want to do it. (Connelly, who’s standing nearby, says, 'Tell him, "knowledge is power."') And knowledge is power, that’s what we always say. I know what to do, I just have to go out and believe in myself and believe in my technique and what the coaches are telling me."
How have all the first-team repetitions helped?
CS: “It’s just increasing my level of comfort at the (Division-I) level. I’ve never played ball at this high of a level. It takes some time to get comfortable with the level of play and the physicality. Being able to go on the field, I progressed through the spring but in fall camp I’m really starting to be comfortable with taking (first-team) reps and knowing I belong.”
Spears has been on a quest to become a "hand-in-the-dirt" tight end. The 6-6, 255-pound walk-on transfer from Columbia has put on the requisite weight and is working fiercely in several areas in preparation for a potentially large role this fall.
What did you think about the most recent news involving Bryce Dixon?
CS: “It’s tough to hear. Bryce is obviously a close friend of mine. We got pretty close last fall and this spring a little bit. It’s definitely tough to hear but I’m praying for him. I wish him the best. We’ll see what happens. The university let out that statement but we’ll see in the next couple of months. I wish the best for him.”
How does this change your role?
CS: “He would add a great deal of depth and he’s obviously got experience and that’s something we don’t have a lot of at the tight end position. But we’re just trying to get ready like we would any other game, whether we have Bryce or we have Jalen (Cope-Fitzpatrick) or not. We’re not trying to think about all the outside distractions. It hasn’t changed my approach. I’m just trying to get ready. You can’t think about, what if we had two tight ends? It doesn’t change our approach. You have to get ready with the numbers you have and the situation you have now.”
Given all the instability at your position, I imagine you’ve been mentally preparing yourself for a while to potentially have a big role on the team.
CS: “My mindset did change a little bit. Coming out to the first spring practice, I thought I was going to be running with the threes. It was a wake-up call, to say the least. I’ve been able to get that in my mind that this is going to be real. Now we’re just trying to get ready for the games. In the spring, I was able to make strides toward doing that. In the fall, I’m just putting it all together.
“Weird stuff happens all the time. It’s a weird situation. I’m just trying to take advantage of it. The opportunity kind of fell in my lap. Some negative and unfortunate scenarios have happened but it’s something I’m trying to take advantage of. Just help this team win, that’s my main concern right now.”
All of the other tight ends on the roster are new. What does that mean for you exactly?
CS: “Tui (Marques Tuiasosopo) has told me this, and he’s told all the tight ends this, he has a different expectation for me. He expects me to be prepared every day. I’m held to a different standard because I was here in the spring and was able to get reps in the spring. He knows it’s going to take some time for the other guys to get going.”
Coach Steve Sarkisian said tight end is the second-toughest position to learn on offense because of its involvement in the pass and run game.
CS: “It’s true. Tight end is a really versatile position where we have to run like wide receivers, catch balls like wide receivers, and we have to block like offensive linemen. There’s a lot of different aspects of the game but I think that’s what makes it fun. If you can do it, it’s an awesome position. We are held to a different standard. We have so many things to take care of. That’s just part of the responsibility.”
What area do you need to grow in most?
CS: “The physicality of the game. That’s one area that could really take my game to the next level. I definitely have room to improve in that sense. Just getting open is another thing with my size, I can create body position, but one thing is trying to use that body position, use that speed to try and get around these quicker linebackers and safeties. Trying to get open and increase the physicality, that’s something Tui has really stressed.”
And how do you feel like your physical development is progressing?
CS: “It’s coming along. I’m really just trying to work on the run game. I’ve come a long way but I have a ways to go. Coach (Bob) Connelly has helped me a lot and Coach Tui has helped me a lot. I’m really just trying to get that down and not think too much about it, just get some confidence in me and try to make an impact in the run game. We have pass catchers. I want to be able to block.
“I haven’t really had a whole lot of experience in the run game. This is all kind of new to me. I’m just trying to be able to do it and I want to do it. (Connelly, who’s standing nearby, says, 'Tell him, "knowledge is power."') And knowledge is power, that’s what we always say. I know what to do, I just have to go out and believe in myself and believe in my technique and what the coaches are telling me."
How have all the first-team repetitions helped?
CS: “It’s just increasing my level of comfort at the (Division-I) level. I’ve never played ball at this high of a level. It takes some time to get comfortable with the level of play and the physicality. Being able to go on the field, I progressed through the spring but in fall camp I’m really starting to be comfortable with taking (first-team) reps and knowing I belong.”
