Freshman tight end Josh Kattus a “nasty” player

Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello has become a “big fan” of freshman tight end Josh Kattus of Cincinnati. (Vicky Graff Photo)

With all the returning tight ends at Kentucky, it has been easy to overlook freshman tight end Josh Kattus of Cincinnati.

He doesn’t have the speed or flash of Kentucky’s freshman receivers and he’s not likely to play a make-or-break role on this team.

But don’t underestimate the future value of the 6-4, 230-pound Kattus, the son of seven-year NFL veteran Eric Kattus. He was a three-star recruit and top 50 tight end nationally in the 2022 recruiting class. He made 42 catches for 553 yards and one score for Moeller High School in 2021 when the Crusaders made the state semifinals.

Kattus was an early commitment to UK and recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach Vince Marrow. He picked UK over Cincinnati, Michigan, Louisville,  Illinois and Northwestern.

Offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello said earlier he had four or five tight ends who could play in the NFL. Kattus would be one of them.

“I am a big fan of his. He has a long way to go but he has some special qualities,” Scangarello said.

“I think he has become kind of a favorite among the offense too as a young player. He’s nasty, he plays hard, plays to the whistle, he aggravates the defensive guys at times which I love.”

Scangarello just senses something special/different about Kattus.

“He has a little something to him that will make him a really good football player,” the UK offensive coordinator said.

His father played tight end at Michigan and then played six years with the Bengals and one with the Jets. Scangarello thinks that gives the UK freshman an edge over most players.