COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Missouri has a rich history when it comes to the tight end position.From the days of Kellen Winslow, a consensus all-American taken 13th overall in the 1979 NFL draft, to more recent draft picks like Chase Coffman and Michael Egnew, some of Missouris greatest pass-catchers have been tight ends. The latest crop wants to restore some luster to the position.We all want to be great, sophomore Kendall Blanton said. I want to be one of the best tight ends in the nation if not the best tight end in the nation. Our tight end group as a whole ... we all are pushing each other.It would appear the pushing has paid off and the position is a bright spot in a down year for Missouri (2-5, 0-3 SEC), which hosts Kentucky (4-3, 3-2) on Saturday.In 2014, Missouri tight ends caught 21 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Last season, tight ends combined for 33 catches, 279 yards and a touchdown.This season has been even better: Tight ends Sean Culkin, Jason Reese, Tyler Hanneke and Blanton have combined for 28 catches totaling 321 yards and four scores, 25 percent of the Tigers receiving touchdowns.Reese, who has eight catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns in five starts, attributed his improvement to his confidence level.If I know what the defense is doing and Im fully confident in what I know I can do, then thats just going to make my game excel, he said.Blantons confidence appears to be growing, too.In the 51-45 loss to Middle Tennessee State last Saturday, Blanton turned heads at Faurot Field with a diving, one-handed touchdown catch. His 6-foot-7, 260-pound frame was fully extended and he maintained possession as he hit the turf, giving the Tigers a 14-13 lead late in the first quarter.It was an awesome play he had, Culkin said of the 15-yard score. Its awesome to see a guy just develop. Hes got a lot of raw talent thats starting to be seen on Saturdays.Missouri coach Barry Odom joked that Blanton possesses the stature of an offensive lineman, but is pleased with his production at tight end.I think hes been a huge upside, Odom said. Hes 6-7 and hes got great skills. Hes gotten a lot better over the past couple months.Blanton has eight catches for 94 yards and two touchdowns.As you can see, hes a physical specimen, Reese said of Blanton. That guy has been great since the day he stepped on campus. Hes been focused. Hes been waiting for his chance. I knew once his chance came, he wasnt going to let that go to waste.Reese sustained a rib injury against Middle Tennessee State, and his status for the game against Kentucky remains unknown. If he is unable to play, look for Blanton and Culkin to pick up the slack.Cheap Nike Baseball Jerseys . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. Fake Nike Baseball Jerseys China . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. https://www.fakebaseballjerseys.com/ . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. Nike Baseball Jerseys China . First off, the fans ripped the Cubbies introduction of a fuzzy new kid-friendly mascot named "Clark". Fake Baseball Jerseys . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1.Cambridge beat Oxford to win the 162nd edition of the University Boat Race and end their rivals recent dominance of the contest.The victory was their first in four years, and came after a run of six wins from eight for Oxford, whose women had won the womens edition earlier on Sunday afternoon.Favourites Cambridge had won the toss, and chose to start on the Surrey station, the same south side of Londons river Thames as Oxfords women. In rough conditions on the Tideway course, the teams began competitively but with the more experienced Cambridge crew slightly edging ahead while rowing more tidily.Much of the reason they were favoured came in the fact they were 11.8kg heavier overall, 1.5cm taller per man, and had added Great Britain oarsman Lance Tredell to their team. Oxfords women win Cambridge well beaten after almost sinking Approaching the first bend they were were building a promising lead, but at a time when they would have hoped to extend that - approaching the second, by Hammersmith bridge - Oxford impressed by remaining more than in contention just behind them. Cambridge plough through choppy conditions on the Thames to win the Boat Race The second was where the water, owing to strong wind, was at its choppiest, and where Cambridges women were at risk of sinking, but Cambridge built on their advantage in the unfavourable conditions and, by the time they reached the Chiswick steps, were set up for victory.ddddddddddddThereafter, both teams - perhaps reacting to the struggles earlier witnessed in the womens race - headed for the Middlesex bank where the water was at its kindest, and as they did, Cambridge retained their lead which had built to two-and-a-half-lengths. Cambridge celebrate their first Boat Race win since 2012 Heading into the final straight having already overcome the biggest challenges, the light blues remained relaxed to end any unlikely hope Oxford had of recovering.Their convincing victory was eventually secured in a time of 18 minutes and 38 seconds, and by two-and-a-half lengths. ' ' '