Cade Stover At Home As Tight End For the Buckeyes

Every day until fall camp begins for Ohio State, we will profile a different Buckeye football player. Today that player is redshirt sophomore tight end Cade Stover. Yesterday it was cornerback Lejond Cavazos. You can find all of the daily Scoop Profiles right here.

Cade Stover

How’d He Get Here

Cade Stover got to Ohio State in a tractor — or at least committed to Ohio State in one. Stover was a two-time First-Team All-State selection as a safety for Lexington High School. As a senior he was named the Division III Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a two-time Second-Team All-State selection in basketball, scoring 18 points a game as a forward. Stover was a 4-star prospect, ranked the No. 7 outside linebacker in the 2019 class and the No. 114 player overall. He took official visits to Ohio State and Oklahoma, but also held offers from Michigan, Texas, and plenty of others. Stover started out his Buckeye career at linebacker as a true freshman but late in the season moved to defensive end. The move to the defensive line was always seen as a possibility given his size. Not too many months after that, however, he was moved to tight end prior to the 2020 season. Likely in order to be ready for this year, which could have featured a depleted and unproven group of tight ends. He played in eight of nine games last season as a redshirt freshman but did not catch a pass.

Current Situation

The Buckeyes return starting tight end Jeremy Ruckert, but Cade Stover was working with the twos for much of spring ball. If he can win the No. 2 spot at the position, that means he could be on the field quite a bit in OSU’s favored packages with two tight ends. He will have some young guys to hold off in Joe Royer, Gee Scott, and Sam Hart, but the Buckeyes have shown that they are more than willing to play three or four tight ends without breaking a sweat.

What to Like

Cade Stover brings the physicality to the position, which is necessary. He hasn’t had to grow into a tight end like Jeremy Ruckert and Joe Royer have. There are other things he’s had to get used to which Ruckert and Royer didn’t, but Stover is a fast learner. One of the reasons he is a fast learner is because he’s a very talented natural athlete. He played safety in high school, was a productive running back, could score on the basketball court, and learn to do anything else that might be needed that night. Stover has the right attitude to move positions and then continue to give his all to his new home.

What’s the Ceiling This Year?

With Jeremy Ruckert established as the Buckeyes’ starter at tight end, a realistic ceiling for Cade Stover is as a productive second tight end for Ohio State. He can help out as a run blocker on the line or flexed out or on the line running routes while Ruckert is flexed out. There are a lot of different ways Stover can be used in this offense and he showed some nifty hands in the spring game. Even though he comes from the defensive side of the ball in college, Stover has spent his entire career playing offense and is comfortable with the football in his hands. There is no reason he can’t put up the same kind of numbers Ruckert and Luke Farrell have posted throughout their respective careers.

And Beyond?

The competition to be the second tight end this year will feature varying types of players for the Buckeyes, which could mean that they’ll all get playing time as the coaches find the best way to utilize the respective skill sets. They can all rotate around Jeremy Ruckert this year, but next year they’ll have to be able to work together. Cade Stover can line up wherever needed, which makes him valuable now and in the future. Measuring his contributions in catches may not be the most accurate gauge. Look at Luke Farrell, for instance. He caught 34 passes in his career but was much more than just a receiver. He was drafted in the fifth round this spring because he was a complete tight end. Stover has that same potential, but with more athleticism. And keep in mind, every tight end Ohio State has signed since 1996 who didn’t transfer, medically retire, or move positions has cashed NFL paychecks. There’s no reason to think Stover won’t continue that trend.

Join the Conversation

2 Comments

[I]Every day until fall camp begins for Ohio State, we will profile a different Buckeye football player. Today that player is redshirt sophomore tight end Cade Stover. Yesterday it was [URL=’https://buckeyescoop.com/lejond-cavazos-potential-ohio-state-buckeyes/’]cornerback Lejond Cavazos[/URL]. You can find all of the [URL=’https://buckeyescoop.com/tag/scoop-profiles’]daily Scoop Profiles right here[/URL].[/I]

[HEADING=1]How’d He Get Here[/HEADING]
Cade Stover got to Ohio State in a tractor — [URL=’https://twitter.com/cstov8/status/990684876478304258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E990684876478304258%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheozone.net%2F2018%2F04%2Fcade-stover-commits-ohio-state%2F’]or at least committed to Ohio State in one[/URL]. Stover was a two-time First-Team All-State selection as a safety for Lexington High School. As a senior he was named the Division III Defensive Player of the Year. He was also a two-time Second-Team All-State selection in basketball, scoring 18 points a game as a forward. Stover was a 4-star prospect, ranked the No. 7 outside linebacker in the 2019 class and the No. 114 player overall. He took official visits to Ohio State and Oklahoma, but also held offers from Michigan, Texas, and plenty of others. Stover started out his Buckeye career at linebacker as a true freshman but late in the season moved to defensive end. The move to the defensive line was always seen as a possibility given his size. Not too many months after that, however, he was moved to tight end prior to the 2020 season. Likely in order to be ready for this year, which could have featured a depleted and unproven group of tight ends. He played in eight of nine games last season as a redshirt freshman but did not catch a pass.

[HEADING=1]Current Situation[/HEADING]
The Buckeyes return starting tight end Jeremy Ruckert, but [URL=’https://buckeyescoop.com/spring-gleaning-buckeyes-building-depth-at-tight-end-behind-jeremy-ruckert/’]Cade Stover was working with the twos for much of spring ball[/URL]. If he can win the No. 2 spot at the position, that means he could be on the field quite a bit in OSU’s favored packages with two tight ends. He will have [URL=’https://buckeyescoop.com/ohio-state-tight-ends-talk-spring-ball-finding-roles-in-2021/’]some young guys to hold off[/URL] in Joe Royer, Gee Scott, and Sam Hart, but the Buckeyes have shown that they are more than willing to play three or four tight ends without breaking a sweat.

[HEADING=1]What to Like[/HEADING]
Cade Stover brings the physicality to the position, which is necessary. He hasn’t had to grow into a tight end like Jeremy Ruckert and Joe Royer have. There are other things he’s had to get used to which Ruckert and Royer didn’t, but Stover is a fast learner. One of the reasons he is a fast learner is because he’s a very talented natural athlete. He played safety in high school, was a productive running back, could score on the basketball court, and learn to do anything else that might be needed that night. Stover has the right attitude to move positions and then continue to give his all to his new home.

[HEADING=1]What’s the Ceiling This Year?[/HEADING]
With Jeremy Ruckert established as the Buckeyes’ starter at tight end, a realistic ceiling for Cade Stover is as a productive second tight end for Ohio State. He can help out as a run blocker on the line or flexed out or on the line running routes while Ruckert is flexed out. There are a lot of different ways Stover can be used in this offense and he showed some nifty hands in the spring game. Even though he comes from the defensive side of the ball in college, Stover has spent his entire career playing offense and is comfortable with the football in his hands. There is no reason he can’t put up the same kind of numbers Ruckert and Luke Farrell have posted throughout their respective careers.

[HEADING=1]And Beyond?[/HEADING]
The competition to be the second tight end this year [URL=’https://buckeyescoop.com/spring-breakdown-talented-jeremy-ruckert-leading-young-ohio-state-tight-end-group/’]will feature varying types of players for the Buckeyes[/URL], which could mean that they’ll all get playing time as the coaches find the best way to utilize the respective skill sets. They can all rotate around Jeremy Ruckert this year, but next year they’ll have to be able to work together. Cade Stover can line up wherever needed, which makes him valuable now and in the future. Measuring his contributions in catches may not be the most accurate gauge. Look at Luke Farrell, for instance. He caught 34 passes in his career but was much more than just a receiver. He was drafted in the fifth round this spring because he was a complete tight end. Stover has that same potential, but with more athleticism. And keep in mind, every tight end Ohio State has signed since 1996 who didn’t transfer, medically retire, or move positions has cashed NFL paychecks. There’s no reason to think Stover won’t continue that trend.