The spring schedule has been announced and fall practice is underway for the Coyotes, who have 11 more practices from now until the end of October. In that span, we will catch up with position coaches to learn more about their units. We continue the series with tight ends coach Tyler Paopao, who is preparing for his third season at USD.
 
Returning Starters
Brett Samson, Sr., Oconomowoc, Wis.
Austin Goehring, Jr., Kiel, Wis.
 
Returners
Ryan Mazurek, So., Eden Prairie, Minn.
 
Newcomers
JJ Galbreath, Fr., Arvada, Colo. (Ralston Valley HS)
Nathan Goehring, Fr., Kiel, Wis. (Kiel HS)
Jacob Remmert, Fr., Cedar Falls, Iowa (Cedar Falls HS)
Zach Witte, Fr., Sioux Falls, S.D. (Christian HS)
 
Brothers on the same team? Sure. Brothers in the same position group competing for the same snaps? That's a first for Paopao who is a big brother in his own right.
 
The Goehring's, Austin and Nathan, are two of the seven tight ends USD features on its roster. Austin and Brett Samson have been staples at the position the last several seasons and are the only upperclassmen. Considering the majority of the position group are true freshmen, it's been an intriguing dynamic.
 
"The tight ends have always been a tight-knit group since I've been here and before that," said Paopao. "They have different personalities, but they've meshed well. I have everything from class clown joker guys to straight-face serious, to poker face to get embarrassed when something silly gets said, from 4.0 guys to not 4.0 guys.
 
"That said, it's obvious these guys got stronger and worked on the little things in the summer when the clock was stopped and nobody was watching. For the new guys, it's been baptism by fire. They've been thrown right into the mix and a lot of times that's the best way to learn things – go out, make some mistakes, learn from them and improve."
 
The result is a fascinating dynamic where the guys go hard at each other in competition, but are also each other's biggest fans. That's par for the course for a unit that has averaged nearly 50 catches, 500 yards and eight touchdowns per season since Paopao's arrival.
 
"Tight ends are one of the few positions left in today's game that are just pure football players," said Paopao. "They are not just receivers or linemen, but do a little bit of everything. In our offense, they're all over the field and I think they enjoy that role.
 
"It's a team-oriented group. They don't tolerate a lack of effort from any position on our team. They are guys that want to step into bigger leadership roles and they're working to understand what they need to do to be viewed as leaders on this team. I like where they're headed."
 
The goals for this fall are stated and simple: get better every day, be ready to answer the bell if their number is called, and take great reps whether the ball is coming their way or not. Paopao said there's not a glaring area his group needs to be better at, so he's taken a more holistic approach to coaching them up. He would love to reach the point where he could plug any one of them into the position and not lose production.
 
As for the two brothers? Let's just say they get a little more physical with each other in practice than perhaps they are with the other guys.
 
"Don't get me wrong, Austin is a player who is helpful to all of the young guys, including his brother," said Paopao. "But if you were to ask him about the competition between the two, he'd say 'what competition? What fight for the same snaps? There is none.' Honestly, there's very different skill sets between the two, so it's been interesting for sure."