INDIANAPOLIS – College tight ends have noticed and are loving a growing trend in the NFL of heavy tight end personnel groups with teams utilizing 12 personnel (two tight ends, one running back) and 13 personnel (three tight ends, one running back) more than ever before.

“You love to see that,” Ohio State tight end Max Klare said at the NFL Scouting Combine Thursday. “The more tight ends out there the better. I played Z in 13 (personnel) this year, H in 12 (personnel) and Y in 11 (personnel). Even took a snap at running back. I’ve seen it all and been lined up all over the field and I think it’s something that will benefit me in the future.”

Teams are increasingly looking for versatility out of the position because of the pressure and mismatches those different tight end packages can put on a defense.

Detroit’s offense ranked ninth in the league in the use of 12 personnel on 270 snaps last season.

There were three teams in the league last season that ran over 100 snaps of 13 personnel – LA Rams (194), Buffalo (117) and Arizona (107). New Lions offensive coordinator Drew Petzing held the same role in Arizona last season.

Petzing reiterated this week at the Combine that Detroit’s style will remain fluid depending on their roster, but he did emphasize wanting to be versatile. Arizona’s use of heavy personnel grouping last year was more a factor of the roster and injuries than a core philosophy, but it’s certainly in Petzing’s repertoire as he knows better than most the advantages and disadvantages in running it.

“We want our best 11 on the field. That can look a million different ways. And, as you just talked about, that can change as the season goes, that can change as the offseason goes,” Petzing said.

Sam LaPorta is one of the more versatile and productive tight ends in the league. He is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He’s also coming off a back injury that required surgery and forced him to miss the final eight games of the season, but he is expected to be back for the start of training camp.

No. 2 tight end Brock Wright is also entering the final year of his contract. He’s proven to be a versatile player at the position over his five seasons in the NFL. Detroit also has tight ends Thomas Gordon and Zach Horton currently on the roster.

Adding a tight end to the mix could certainly be in the cards this offseason as teams are increasingly looking for versatility at the position to give them the option to play multiple personnel groupings.

“I think it’s awesome. The more tight ends in the game, the more snaps for everyone,” said Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, who is widely considered the top tight end in this year’s draft class. “I just think you’re able to do so much with the different kinds of tight ends and different types of personnels in the game whether it’s explosive passes or creating mismatches in the run game.”

If Detroit looks to add to the tight end room either in free agency or the draft, expect them to be on the lookout for versatile players who can do a little bit of everything and give them options for personnel packages.