How Memphis football's Caden Prieskorn went from walk-on QB to scoring machine at tight end

Caden Prieskorn didn’t know what to expect at his first football practice at Memphis in 2019. He played quarterback his entire life but now he lined up as a walk-on tight end on the Tigers scout team.

Prieskorn didn't know proper footwork or blocking technique. He was also late joining the Tigers before their fourth game of the season, so the transition was even tougher.

“I didn’t know how to get in a stance so some of the GAs (graduate assistants) here, they had to help me aside from practice to help me get that straightened up,” Prieskorn recalled.

“It looked like he was lost trying to block people,” added Tigers coach Ryan Silverfield, who coached offensive line that season, “As a quarterback, you’re not really ever asked to block anybody and he came in here, I didn’t know if he wanted any part of it.”

Three years and over 30 pounds later, those moments feel like a past life for Prieskorn. After just seven combined catches the past two seasons, he leads the Tigers with 15 catches and four touchdowns while becoming the team’s top red-zone option.

The four scores also tie Prieskorn for the national lead among tight ends. Ahead of the Tigers’ AAC home opener against Temple on Saturday (11 a.m., ESPNU), the 6-foot-5 junior has scored in three consecutive games.

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“The development of his body, himself as a pass catcher, as a blocker is phenomenal,” Silverfield said. “He’s really the total tight end.”

It’s a path familiar to Memphis fans. A walk-on becoming a star was the ticket that players like Anthony Miller, Alan Cross and Calvin Austin III rode to the NFL. Austin Hall and Joey Magnifico went from walk-ons to key contributors to the Tigers' success from 2017-19.

But Prieskorn almost didn’t take that road because he was adamant about playing quarterback. In high school, several colleges showed interest in him at tight end but he refused to change positions. He spent a post-graduate season at Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia at quarterback hoping that dream would continue.

After an injury in his eighth game, his options were limited. He only had offers from FCS schools and didn’t know where to turn until he spoke to fellow Fork Union teammate Harold Nash.

Nash, who played with Prieskorn since their junior year in high school, planned to walk on at Memphis as a defensive back and recommended Prieskorn join him. He and his father passed along his highlight tape, phone number and social media information to Justin Crouse, the Tigers' former director of player personnel.

“We thought we might as well try to get him over there because Caden really didn’t have any opportunities coming out of there either. I might as well help my friend out,” said Nash.

Prieskorn didn’t know anything about the Tigers except for former players Paxton Lynch and Darrell Henderson. But he accepted that tight end was his best path to keep playing and as a former basketball player, he thought the footwork would help ease the transition.

That changed when he got to practice. Prieskorn spent one day trying to block teammate Bryce Huff, now a linebacker with the New York Jets, and Huff outmatched him with ease.

“I was 220 pounds and he was already developed. It was a big difference. The game just felt so much faster than 3-4 years ago,” Prieskorn said.

Things slowed down in 2020 and 2021 as Prieskorn learned from fellow tight end Sean Dykes. Dykes helped teach him the offense and refined his technique but noticed Prieskorn was a fast learner besides his great size and hands.

“The first thing that stood out to me was his ball skills. You could obviously tell he was going to come with some athleticism having played basketball,” Dykes said.

Prieskorn went from fourth-string tight end to start the 2020 season to catching his first three passes in the season finale against Houston. He was placed on scholarship before the 2021 season but stayed behind Dykes, who had an All-AAC first-team campaign.

Now, it’s Prieskorn’s turn. Nash remains happy for the friend who took his advice to come to Memphis and Dykes is proud to see his former protégé become the Tigers’ next tight end weapon.

“It brings a lot of joy to me on Saturdays because I remember when nobody knew him in 2019,” Dykes said. “He for sure capitalized on opportunities and took any tips or advice I gave him and ran with it.”

Prieskorn can also joke about those old practices now. His blocking is much better, as he showed while clearing away an Arkansas State defender for a Seth Henigan touchdown run.

Four years ago, it was Prieskorn dodging and running by defenders as a quarterback. He might miss those days but he’s glad he's changed his mind about being a tight end, especially being so far removed from his rough introduction.

“I definitely look back and laugh at it. A 220-pound QB that doesn’t even know how to get in a stance and was on scout team for a few years, the improvement since then, it’s pretty crazy,” Prieskorn said.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Memphis football's Caden Prieskorn went from walk-on QB to star TE