PISCATAWAY -- If you're looking for one word to describe the spread offense that Jerry Kill plans to install at Rutgers, it would be "multiple.''

The Scarlet Knights' new offensive play-caller points to the New England Patriots' multiple scheme, marveling at how they employ, he said, "10, 11, 12 different personnel formations.''

One wrinkle Rutgers fans can expect this season is the use of a tight end in the pass game, evidenced by Kill's recent history at Minnesota.

"I think you need a tight end in your offense, there's no question about that,'' Kill said. "Every spread team does. But I think we've got to be multiple when it comes to formations. You never want to (do) the same thing. You want to keep people off balance.''

In his final full season at Minnesota in 2014, Kill's roster had 11 tight ends, including Maxx Williams, an All-Big Ten first-team selection who led the Gophers with 36 receptions for 569 yards and eight touchdowns.

After the graduation of last year's co-starters' Nick Arcidiacono and Matt Flanagan, Rutgers' roster currently includes two healthy tight ends -- third-year sophomore Nakia Griffin-Stewart and third-year sophomore Jerome Washington (who is now eligible after sitting out following a transfer from Miami).

George Behr is listed on the roster, but the fourth-year junior, who has yet to see the field in his first three seasons, remains injured and is not expected to be in the mix.

The lack of tight ends has prompted Rutgers coach Chris Ash to move Myles Nash, a fifth-year senior who played in all 12 games at defensive end last season. A 6-foot-5, 254-pounder from Timber Creek, Nash briefly played tight end late in the 2015 season and is being given another look at the offensive position this offseason.

While Nash will get acclimated to the tight end spot, Washington and Griffin-Stewart will presumably compete for the starting nod in spring camp. Big things are expected of Washington, a 6-4, 240-pounder who saw action in nine games for the Hurricanes in 2015.

A 6-5, 243-pounder from Tenafly, Griffin-Stewart played in one game as a redshirt freshman last season, seeing action on punt coverage in the Michigan State loss last November.

A year ago, the tight end was rarely utilized in Drew Mehringer's spread attack. Arcidiacono (10 receptions, 62 yards, 1 TD) and Flanagan (6 rec., 29 yds., 0 TD) combined for 10 percent of Rutgers' receptions and 5 percent of the team's receiving yards.

At Minnesota, Kill utilized the tight ends throughout his 4 1/2 seasons.

In 2011, Collin McGarry was the Gophers' second-leading receiver with 16 receptions for 120 yards and two touchdowns while Eric Lair (11 rec., 168 yds., 1 TD) was the team's fifth-leading pass catcher.

In 2012, John Rabe (14 rec., 143 yds., 4 TD) and Drew Goodger (13 rec., 115 yds., 3 TD) ranked among the Gophers' top six receivers.

And in 2013 and '14, Maxx Williams morphed into one of the nation's premier tight ends before taking his talents to the NFL, where he currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens.

A Mackey Award finalist in 2014, Williams totaled 61 receptions for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns in 25 games under Kill's watch.

Keith Sargeant may be reached at ksargeant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KSargeantNJ. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.