Boden Groen stepping into bigger role at tight end
When tight end Boden Groen makes a catch, there is almost never a defender in the near vicinity. The Rice transfer has been schemed into wide-open space for 10 catches for 171 yards and two touchdowns. Against Cincinnati, Groen caught five passes for 84 yards, including a 24-yard score with a free run to the end zone.
Offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski has manipulated defenses to allow his receivers to get wide-open, oftentimes being Groen. The tight end wouldn’t reveal Zebrowski’s secrets, but he’s thankful to reap the rewards.
“Z’s always drawing up those little plays where, you know, don’t want to give anything away, but he’s confusing the defense,” Groen said. “It’s worked out nicely for me, so I’m very thankful for that.”
Zebrowski’s offense has a history of successful tight end production
A lot of the plays where Groen gets open are on play-action looks. Zebrowski’s offenses have been based in play-action, and defenses keying in on a successful run game allow pass catchers to run free.
“We ran the ball exceptionally well at Whitewater and once you can do that, play action just comes,” Zebrowski said. “If you have the ability to run the ball… when people know you can, and you bring in heavy personnel formations, that’s a lot of times when those things bust open.”
Kansas has gotten successful tight end production since Lance Leipold arrived with Andy Kotelnicki and now Zebrowski’s offenses. Mason Fairchild tallied 894 yards and nine touchdowns over from 2022-23, and he also was a benefactor of wide-open catches off play-action plays.
The previous history of tight end production was something that brought Groen to Kansas. The Jayhawks have been successful with multiple different types of tight ends.
“That was obviously one of the reasons that I came here is the production that they’ve had and all the multiple different ways and multiple different people and body types they’ve used in that position,” Groen said. “So it’s an awesome system for this position.”
Groen adjusting to playing a bigger role at tight end
Groen joined Kansas late in the recruiting cycle, committing to Kansas on May 12. Lance Leipold admitted they didn’t know what they would get with Groen coming off injury, but he’s putting himself in a position to start.
“When we had to go back to the portal after a defection in the summer, we were hoping for the best, didn’t know with him coming off injury what we’d really get,” Leipold said. “Really was hoping for depth, and right now he’s putting himself in position to be a starter. He’s extremely smart, he’s picked things up.”
Groen’s role will only continue to grow after DeShawn Hanika went down with an injury against Cincinnati on Saturday. The tight end position has featured four players getting significant reps this season, and Groen said the only change will be physically adjusting to more playing time.
“We’ve been rotating through and doing all that stuff all year,” Groen said. “So I was just, you know, if anything, gotta get my lungs a little bit better. But that was really the only change was being a little bit more tired.”
The five receptions against Cincinnati were a season-high and Groen’s most since his season opener against Sam Houston State at Rice in 2024. Groen has earned his trust with Jalon Daniels, and it’s paid off with touchdown catches in back-to-back games.
“That’s one of the things that’s really more on me because I gotta earn my trust with him,” Groen said. “And I think that’s something that, you know, we worked on throughout the fall. And definitely over the last couple weeks, I’ve built more trust with him, and he’s more ready to rip the ball to me.”
