Caden Preiskorn is a 'do-it-all' tight end that adds another weapon to the Ole Miss offense
The Ole Miss quarterback room is considered by some as the best room in the country from a depth and talent aspect, but the program might can make that claim with another position group.
Another successful offseason in the transfer portal by head coach Lane Kiffin brought in Caden Preiskorn who made the move from Memphis to Oxford this winter. Bringing him in bolstered what was already considered a potentially strong position group led by junior Michael Trigg.
Now, the Tigers second best receiver in 2022 is making his presence felt on the practice field as Ole Miss enters its third week of spring drills.
Both Preiskorn and Trigg has been on the field together multiple times throughout spring practice, which is something Ole Miss will be looking to enact come the fall.
“I love it so far. I feel like coming here, there’s been people that challenge me and so many great players around that I have to do well,” Preiskorn said following Tuesday’s practice. “I feel like it it’s been great (playing with Trigg). I feel like we compliment each other so well.”
Last season Preiskorn finished with 48 catches for 602 yards and seven touchdowns, which tied for the most touchdown receptions on the team.
Choosing to come to Ole Miss was not a hard sell for Preiskorn who found the Kiffin and co-offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, Jr. offensive scheme attractive.
“In the past Kiffin’s had really good tight ends at his previous places and I feel like this one they needed a guy that can do both, blocking and catch. I feel like me coming in and help push the room, just come in and compete.”
Ole Miss has not had a dominant tight end in recent years but Preiskorn is coming in looking to be that guy.
Last season Trigg 17 catches for 156 yards and three touchdowns, making him the fifth best receiver on the team. Casey Kelly – who plans to enter the transfer portal when it opens next month — finished with three catches for 17 yards and a touchdown as the 10th best Ole Miss receiver in 2022.
Preiskorn’s presence immediately boosts the Ole Miss tight end group and is already looking like the potential starter come September. He also provides another reliable target for the quarterbacks.
“He was a massive get for us,” Jaxson Dart said last week. “I think he’s going to help tremendously in the run game and the pass game. I think it’s going to be super exciting when we’re going to be able to play a lot in 12 personnel sets with him and Trigg. Kind of use Trigg the way he’s more natural to, but (Preiskorn) was a tremendous pickup for us.”
In the first scrimmage of spring last Saturday Preiskorn was not very involved but did have one catch for nine yards.
From Kiffin’s viewpoint Preiskorn has the ability to be the swiss-army knife tight end that can excel well in multiple skillsets instead of one.
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound tight end is one that has “NFL measurables,” according to Kiffin.
“I think he’s a really kind of do-it-all, consistent tight end when you watched him last year,” Kiffin said on Tuesday. “Seems like over time here we’ve kind of had more specialty tight ends. He’s a bigger frame than probably anybody we’ve had, so that makes a difference in blocking at point of attack. We were excited to get him, to add him to our group. A very proven tight end that’s NFL measurables and not necessarily a receiver or a shorter blocker.”
Watch Preiskorn’s full post-practice interview below. Video courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Productions.
