Despite Loss, UAB’s Kitna and Passing Attack Continue To Progress

By Steve Irvine

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - September 21, 2025

Despite first half problems and a disappointing final score, UAB’s pass receiving corps took an important step forward on Saturday in Knoxville. And that step forward came when the team’s leading receiver did not play and the second leading receiver had his smallest number of snaps on the season.

UAB quarterback Jalen Kitna completed at least one pass on Saturday to a season-high players in the 56-24 loss at Tennessee. None were completed to Corri Milliner, who was not on the trip because of conduct detrimental to the team, and Iverson Hooks had five catches for 38 yards on what Pro Football Focus recorded as a season-low 19 snaps.

Instead of relying on those two, who had caught five of the six TD passes Kitna threw in the first three games, the Blazers consistently spread the ball around to a variety of receivers. UAB had a season-high with six wide receivers catching at least one pass. The Blazers also completed at least one pass to three running backs and two tight ends. They targeted two other tight ends, including Kitna missing a wide-open Antonio Ferguson in the second half.

Overall, it was an impressive job of getting more playmakers in the mix.

“I think that for us it was we wanted to kind of get the pass rush a little frustrated by getting the ball out, getting it in the flats and stuff like that,” Kitna said.

The numbers compiled by Pro Football Focus demonstrates the approach. According to PFF, the Blazers were 33-of-39 of passes that traveled under 10 yards and 5-of-6 on passes that traveled between 10 and 20 yards. Kitna’s lone completion of a pass thrown for more than 20 yards came when he threw the ball 31 yards to wide open Kaleb Brown and Brown ran the final 30 yards to complete the touchdown.

For the day, the UAB wide receivers combined on 21 catches for 266 yards with touchdowns by Brandon Hawkins Jr. and Brown. Hawkins had his best game of the season, catching a team-best seven passes for 69 yards with a 30-yard touchdown. Hawkins is now tied with Milliner for second on the team with 17 receptions. Hooks has a team-leading 20 catches after four games.

But seeing more receivers get opportunities on Saturday is a key moving forward. Brown had just one catch for 16 yards in the first three games and contributed four catches for 79 yards against Tennessee. Xavier Daisy got the start in place of Milliner and caught three passes for 42 yards. Daisy had just one catch for 10 yards coming into the game. Transfer portal AJ Johnson had one catch for 21 yards, marking his first catch in a UAB uniform.

The more options the better for Kitna, who finished with a season-high 364 yards and surpassed the 300-yard mark for the third consecutive game. Kitna is high in the national rankings in every significant passing category. He is fourth in completions per game (27) and total passing yards (1,256), seventh in passing yards per game (314), 13th in completion percentage (72 percent) and tied for 24th in passing touchdowns (8).