Football: Tight ends are still important

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The growth of the spread offense has led to a disappearance of tight ends, but it’s still a position of need for many teams that rely on tight ends to catch and block.

Tight ends need to be versatile and good athletes. Christo Kourtzidis of Orange Lutheran fits into that category. He’s 6-4, 230 pounds and committed to Florida State.

Jeremiah Valoaga of Oxnard Channel Islands is 6-6, 225 pounds and a three-sport standout.

Josh Cook of Santa Ana Mater Dei is a basketball player who can block and catch.

Johnny Stuart of Westlake Village Westlake is known for sacking quarterbacks on defense and catching passes on offense.

Ainslie Johnson of Anaheim Servite made some huge catches as a junior when his team won the Pac-5 championship.

-- Eric Sondheimer