The Rise of Kalvin Cline to being the Potential Starting Tight End

Dec 31, 2013; El Paso, TX, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Kalvin Cline (93) makes a catch and gets away from UCLA Bruins safety Randall Goforth (3) during the first quarter in the 2013 Sun Bowl at Sun Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

When Kalvin Cline was entering his senior year of high school, many were expecting him to play at a small Division I program for college basketball. However, Kalvin Cline would send a message that he might not be headed for a collegiate career on the hardwood when he played his first and only season of high school football at Pine Crest High School in Boca Raton, Florida. Now, Kalvin Cline is probably very happy that he made the decision to play high school football his senior because of where it has taken him.

Kalvin Cline would be an all-district player in Florida but it wasn’t for his play at tight end but actually for his quality play at defensive end. Despite this solid one season of high school football, Cline was still not a heavily recruited football player but it started to become more likely that he would end up on the gridiron. Cline would not end up signing a National Letter of Intent but he would end up leaving the hardwood to come play on the gridiron for Frank Beamer and the Virginia Tech Hokies.

This decision has to be on that Kalvin Cline is very happy about now.

Kalvin Cline was seen as a likely redshirt for the 2013 season though that started to change when projected starting tight end Ryan Malleck torn the labrum in his left shoulder, ending his 2013 season before it started. Cline was still planned to be redshirted despite the injury to Ryan Mallack but the Hokies’ plans would end changing quite quickly the week after the loss to Alabama.

Nov 16, 2013; Blacksburg, VA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies tight end Kalvin Cline (93) with the ball in the first quarter at Lane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Hokies made the decision to play Kalvin Cline in their home opener against Western Carolina and while the Hokies blew out Western Carolina as expected, Cline played a lot better-than expected. Kalvin Cline would have 4 catches for 46 receiving yards in a performance that would show the huge potential he had. This would just be the beginning of Kalvin Cline’s surge to becoming the Hokies’ top tight end in 2013.

Each week after that, Kalvin Cline started to gain more playing time before he finally made his first start against Georgia Tech. Cline would have a real big game two games later against Pittsburgh with a very solid 4 catches for 65 receiving yards and a touchdown in what would be a 10-point victory. Kalvin Cline continued to develop his raw talents under TE Coach Bryan Stinespring and showed that he was a big part of a bright future at tight end for the Hokies.

In the Sun Bowl against UCLA, Kalvin Cline played quite well before he got injured in that game and proved himself to be a very solid, all-around tight end. Kalvin Cline has the speed to stretch the field and knows how to use his size and athleticism to go up and get the football. Throughout the season, Cline showed off the tremendous athleticism that made him a solid high school basketball player.

This spring, Kalvin Cline was limited by the knee injury he picked up in the Sun Bowl but he will be healthy to compete in the summer for the starting tight end job with Ryan Malleck. Both of these two players have a lot of talent and it would be smart for the Hokies to use both of these guys at the same time. However, Kalvin Cline has huge upside and has the potential to be a big time star for the Hokies. Kalvin Cline is the guy I expect to win the starting job though Virginia Tech fans have to be excited about the load of talent at tight end.

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