Photo by Keyli Chisesi | Go Big Blue Country
C.J. Conrad is On Track for Full Recovery to Football this Fall
Kentucky will have a new quarterback taking snaps this fall, but a familiar target will be lining up at tight end.
Senior tight end C.J. Conrad is poised to close his Kentucky career in a big way and he has all the tools to provide Gunnar Hoak or Terry Wilson a reliable option in the passing game.
The LaGrange, Ohio native is working his way back from a left foot injury he suffered vs. Georgia last season. It was a Lisfranc injury in the mid-foot that ended the UK tight ends junior season and required him to have surgery. His father, Mike Conrad, spoke with Go Big Blue Country earlier this week.
“He’s doing great,” Mike Conrad said. “He’s been home here for a couple of weeks and seems to be going full go with all of his workouts right now.”
Conrad didn’t participate in spring practice for the Wildcats as he continued to rehab for the upcoming season. Even though he’s working out at a normal pace, he’s still not one hundred percent, but he’s close.
“Of course, he hasn’t gone through a practice or anything, but he’s working out full go, he’s running routes, and doing everything business as usual at this point. I don’t know if you would call him 100 percent, probably not, but he certainly is in a great spot right now. He’s on track easily for one hundred percent recovery.”
The 6-foot-5, 252-pound tight end finished tied for third on the team last season with 256 yards on 16 catches, an average of 18 yards per catch. Additionally, he led Kentucky with four touchdown receptions. In his career, he has 50 receptions for 697 yards and nine touchdowns.
Conrad didn’t waste time announcing his decision to return to Kentucky for his senior season. The day after a tough loss to Northwestern in the Music City Bowl, he revealed the news to Kentucky fans on social media.
Related: CJ Conrad Tweets Positive Message after Injury to Justin Rigg
“Proud to say I’m coming back for my senior year with my brothers,” Conrad posted to his twitter account. “Thank you BBN for your constant support and can’t wait to help this program in any way I can.
His father admits that he doesn’t know what the decision would have been if Conrad wouldn’t have suffered the season ending injury, but everyone is happy with how everything is playing out.
“I don’t know what would have happened and you know sometimes things happen for reasons. Maybe it made things a little bit less complicated and all I know is he’s very happy to be back for his senior year and very excited to finish off what he started four years.”
Conrad and his family had discussions and gathered information about his draft stock for the 2018 NFL Draft, but with the help of Mark Stoops and Vince Marrow, they ultimately decided a final year at Kentucky was best. The coaching staff was supportive and helpful throughout the process.
The decision to stay may pay off in a big way. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. listed Conrad as the top tight end prospect for the 2019 NFL Draft in his annual “way-too-early 2019 position rankings,” he released earlier this month.
Being ranked No. 1 at his position is big news but just hearing his named called would be big for both Conrad and the Kentucky football program. The Wildcats haven’t had a player drafted since the Rams selected Josh Forrest in the 2016 draft. Conrad would be the first Kentucky tight end drafted since Jacob Tamme in the 2008 draft.
“It was incredible to see that just as a football junkie. I’ve followed Mel Kiper and the NFL Draft for many years. It was quite flattering to hear him mentioned in that tone.”
When healthy, not only can Conrad be a consistent threat in the passing game, but he is also an excellent blocker. He’s a significant reason why Benny Snell and the running game have had so much success the last two seasons. Snell has eclipsed 1,000 yards each of the last two seasons.
“We certainly feel when you look at the complete package that he’s one of the best complete package tight ends that there are in the country when it comes to doing everything.”
Despite consecutive bowl appearances, most believe Kentucky could take a step back this season, especially with an inexperienced quarterback leading the way. In early season polls and projections, Kentucky is near the bottom of the SEC, but that is being used as motivation in the locker room.
“We’re loaded with juniors and seniors rather than freshman and sophomores. Guys have collectively all came back this year for a special year. Those guys are really focused on having this be a great year and inside that room they just kind of use that as a little fuel.”
Kentucky opens the season at home vs. Central Michigan on Saturday, September 1st.
