When things like this appear - is it wrong to discuss?

Posted on: August 15, 2019 at 13:02:13 CT

With Okwuegbunam and Parker on the sideline, Brendan Scales was the first-team tight end Monday, which is a clear sign that he’s ahead of the others on the depth chart, notably returning players Messiah Swinson and Logan Christopherson. It’s been a struggle for Scales to earn playing time the last couple years, but he’s clearly working himself up the depth. Former Tigers coach Gary Pinkel used to say he never liked to give up on a player if they didn’t play early in their career. This team has a few examples, starting with Scales, the fourth-year junior from Lafayette High. The last few years haven’t been easy.

“It’s patience, frustration, all of that,” he said. “Because, you know, most freshmen come in thinking they're going to play right away. So did I. But it’s just patience. I wanted to be here and I love the school. There’s nowhere else I want to be.”