KNOXVILLE - For the past five months, Jason Croom would have his eye on one position in every football game - college or NFL - he watched in person or on television.
This week, the Tennessee fifth-year senior finally began playing that position.
"It's always been put in my ear that I could be a tight end," Croom said Tuesday after the Volunteers finished their second spring practice. "I just thought I'd go ahead and try it out. I weighed as much as a tight end as at receiver, so I thought I would give it a try this spring, and so far it's going well."
The move from wide receiver to tight end was always just a conversation away throughout Croom's career with the Vols because, well, there probably aren't very many 245-pound wide receivers at any level of football. Croom actually played tight end for one week prior to undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in 2012 (which led to a redshirt year), but he spent the past three seasons at wide receiver.
Jason Croom bobbles the ball as he and D'Andre Payne go up for the catch.In 2013 and 2014, the former four-star recruit caught 39 passes for 574 yards and six touchdowns. It appeared Croom was turning a corner when he caught touchdown passes in consecutive games against South Carolina, Kentucky and Missouri late during his sophomore season in 2014.
Instead, Croom was bitten by the injury bug again - he got hurt the week before the Vanderbilt game, then dislocated his kneecap during bowl practices. The second injury ultimately forced him to miss all of last season, so he's happy to be playing again no matter where he lines up.
"I'm grateful to be back," he said. "It's difficult being out. This is something I love to do. It was taken away from me temporarily."
The decision to switch positions actually was made last October, right around the time of Tennessee's win against Georgia. Croom called it a "mutual decision," one he first brought up to the coaching staff.
"It's been something he's put a lot of time and effort into, ending off last season and throughout the offseason," quarterback Josh Dobbs said after Monday's practice. "Getting him back out there - he hasn't been out here since two years ago, really - it was great to see him back out here competing. He did a great job making the adjustment."
The Vols are in need of help at tight end after the exit of 2015 senior Alex Ellis, who formed a one-two punch with Ethan Wolf that gobbled up all of the position's snaps last season. Croom appears very poised to fill the void and perhaps accentuate the role.
"(It's) his work ethic, and the little things you don't see outside the facility or outside of practice," cornerback Cameron Sutton said. "He's always around Coach (Larry) Scott. He's always in the film room. Just his will to learn and get better at a new position, the opportunities he'll get this year to make plays, he'll definitely be ready."
Running routes and catching passes won't require an adjustment for Croom, but he'll have to become a reliable blocker as the second tight end in Tennessee's offense.
"It's just being more physical," he said. "Now I have to worry about my technique, as in my foot and steps. Technique matters a lot down on the line."
Croom has already developed into one of Tennessee's leaders. He was voted in as a member of the Vols' player staff, a sign of respect and trust from his teammates. It's not something that might be obviously expected for Croom, who's not one of the team's most boisterous players.
Not to mention he hasn't played a snap in nearly two years.
"It starts in the offseason with the workouts, just pushing himself to the limit, which brings other guys around him on the same page," said Sutton, another member of the player staff. " His work ethic and what he's been doing on and off the field definitely pushed him over the top."
When Alabama tight end O.J. Howard exploded during the Crimson Tide's national championship win against Clemson in January, Croom tweeted, "Can't wait." He laughed when asked about that Tuesday.
One tight end he acknowledged he has watched consistently is Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs, who played for Vols coach Butch Jones when he was at Cincinnati.
"I'm always watching other tight ends, just seeing like if that was me, what would I have done?" Croom said.
"I just envision myself making big plays at tight end."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.