85 Days To K-State Football Kick-Off: Zach Trujillo Player Preview

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For our next installment of the 100 day countdown to kickoff against North Dakota State University, 85 is the number of days left as well as the jersey number worn by Zach Trujillo, tight end Travis Tannahill’s back up last year. Trujillo will be competing to fill Tannahill’s shoes and, given Tannahill’s production on the field last year before being picked up to play with the Cleveland Brown’s this spring, those are some big shoes to fill.

Tannahill was beast of a safety valve for Collin Klein last year, and held on to almost any ball he got his hands on regardless of how hard he was hit by opposing linebackers while going over the middle. He finished the season fourth on the team in receiving, gaining 284 yards on 23 catches with one touchdown. Backing him up was Trujillo, who hauled in two catches for 72 yards. If K-State is to continue its success this year with Zach stepping into the starting role, he’ll be expected to put up similar numbers this year as well.

Of Trujillo’s 72 yards, his long was a 58-yarder with a classic story behind it – and it didn’t come from a long bomb. During the game against Miami last year, Trujillo ended up on the field instead of fullback Braden Wilson. The personnel mix-up was handled perfectly by the veteran Tannahill, who was also in the huddle. Tannahill lined up at fullback while putting Trujillo in at tight end. “Well the play actually should have gone to me,” Tannahill remarked. “The running backs, fullbacks and tight ends all meet as a group together so I knew what to do.” Trujillo then took the catch-and-run 58 yards before being brought down.

Trujillo has spent more years with the team than his junior status would indicate. After greyshirting his first year and redshirting his second on campus, this fall will be his fifth on campus. Standing at 6’5″ and 256 lbs, he has the prototypical size to offer an enticing target on the field. He part of two-tight end sets and saw playing time in all 13 games last year on both offense and special teams. He played in 12 games in 2012 and received the start against #3 Oklahoma State that year.

Trujillo will be pushed this year as Andre McDonald seeks to return after being held out of last season due to complications with the law. McDonald has about 20 pounds on Trujillo, and brings a distinctly different skill set – while Trujillo is more effective at getting separation in the passing game and getting into the next level to block, McDonald is physical brute who can take on any defender and is difficult to bring down. As such, the two should complement each other based on different packages. Whoever wins the starting quarterback role could have a say in this, as Trujillo would be better suited to play on the same field as David Sams, while McDonald would be there for Jake Waters.

Regardless of who ends up first on the depth chart, expect Zach to see significant playing time this year. The player from Edmond, OK will be part of two tight end sets, is more than qualified to play special teams, and should haul in at least eight passes by the end of the season. While last year was the Tannahill show at tight end for K-State, Trujillo should combine with McDonald to keep defenses off-balance all year.

To work backward in the countdown, visit 86 days, where we preview Tramaine Thompson’s expected yardage totals for 2013.