Football Split End Receiver
What is a Split End in Football?
In football, a split end, or “X receiver,” is a term used to describe a type of receiver that is positioned on the line of scrimmage and is furthest away from the center.
Position on the Field
The split end generally lines up on the opposite side of the tight end and has a significant gap between the rest of the offensive line. The distance or “split” from the rest of the offense is where the name split end is drawn from. This position is used to meet the requirement that says there needs to be at least seven players on the line of scrimmage before the snap.
Split End Roles and Responsibilities
As wide receivers, split ends tend to receive the most passes and are typically the quickest, most athletic, and alert players on the field. Split ends are used to run passing routes and spread the area that the defense needs to cover to open up the center of the field for runs. A unique feature of split ends is that they always start directly on the line of scrimmage instead of a few steps back, like other receivers. As a result, split ends must be physical and fast in order to break coverage from the cornerback.
FAQ
Why is the split end also called the X receiver?
A split end is called the X receiver because the types of wide receivers are sometimes described using the letters X, Y, and Z. X receivers are split ends, who play on the line and farthest from the tight end. The Y receiver, or slot receiver, is the main receiving back, and the Z receiver is the flanker, who plays on the end of the formation along the sideline.