Former Stanford tight Charlie Hopkins has transferred to Virginia, and he seems enthusiastic that his move to the Cavaliers will afford him increased opportunity in the passing game.

“I thought I got typecast into only being a blocking tight end [at Stanford],” Hopkins told the Roanoke Times. “I had played tight end in high school, but we ran a triple option, and I was more or less an extra tackle. ... I’ve worked extremely hard on my route-running and pass-catching and I think that’s going to show this season.”

Hopkins' comments provide a chance to expand our Monday discussion on the return of the Cardinal's tight ends, who look to return in force this year. I've theorized that the absence of receiving production from the position in 2013 and in parts of 2014 contributed greatly to offensive instability -- particularly in the red zone. Stanford's coaches and tight ends have both repeated that there's now an emphasis on the position's versatility, a focus that seemed absent in Hopkins' comments, which imply that blocking was his dominant assignment in 2013 (the season in which Cardinal tight ends combined for only 10 catches and no touchdowns).

It should come as no surprise that Stanford is stressing flexibility now: The tight end's primary strength, after all, lies in his ability to confuse defenses by being adaptable. Otherwise, he's effectively only a smaller offensive tackle or a slower receiver.