How TE Trae Kenion continues to elevate his game at South Carolina
The old cliche, “it’s a dirty job, but someone has to do it,” best describes what tight end Trae Kenion’s role has been at South Carolina.
Used primarily as a blocker last season, Kenion etched out a role that’s not always flashy but it’s one that is needed. It’s also a role that now heading into his redshirted junior season will give him an opportunity to expand it in 2022.
“It really all comes down to off the field. You’re only on the field for so long so being in meeting rooms and doing all of that extra work, I feel like that’s what gets you on the field and gets you making plays,” said Kenion, in a recent Garnet Trust interview. “I feel like I did that last year with the help of Nick Muse. Muse was somebody I was in the hotels with every time we left. Going through plays with him and what we were gonna do tomorrow, I felt like that elevated me a lot.”
Along with Oklahoma transfer Austin Stogner, Kenion will be one of USC’s top blocking tight ends. While it’s an area he’s excelled at, he’s also been working on improving as a receiving threat. Last season, Kenion hauled in four receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.
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“I can learn from watching anybody on our offensive side. It really helps when you have other guys that are great that you look up to and you can trust. I just feel like Jaheim (Bell), Dakereon (Joyner) — just watching all of them just helps my game.”
So what has Kenion been able to learn from Bell?
“Jaheim is a freak of nation. He’s a freak. He can do whatever he wants. Whatever position, he could go to defense if he wanted to. He can do whatever he wants and he will do whatever he wants. He will force his will on you and he will win. He’ll make it far and he’ll make a lot of money doing it. I give him props all the time because you don’t see that in everybody. Everybody doesn’t have that gift. He has it.”
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