NCAA Tight End Rankings: Evaluating the Top Prospects in College Football

The tight end position has evolved significantly in modern football, demanding versatility in blocking, pass-catching, and creating mismatches. As the 2026 NCAA college football season approaches, several tight ends have emerged as top prospects, either through established performance or high potential. This article provides an in-depth look at some of the most promising tight ends in college football, considering their skills, performance, and potential impact on their respective teams.

The Transfer Portal Landscape

The tight end market in the NCAA transfer portal has been notably active. Several high-profile players, including all-Big 12 performer Benjamin Brahmer and his teammate Gabe Burkle, have already committed to new programs. However, a wealth of talent remains available, offering teams opportunities to bolster their rosters with impactful players.

Top Tight End Prospects

1. Dorian Thomas (New Mexico)

Dorian Thomas made a significant splash in his sophomore season at New Mexico, highlighted by a standout performance against Michigan where he recorded ten receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas concluded the season with 56 receptions for 560 yards and four touchdowns, earning all-Mountain West honors.

At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Thomas possesses the size and athleticism to be a versatile threat. After redshirting his first season at the University of Arizona and playing sparingly in his second, Thomas transferred to New Mexico. With two years of eligibility remaining, he has drawn considerable interest from programs across the country, particularly from West Coast schools like Cal and UCLA.

2. Brody Foley (Tulsa)

Brody Foley stands out as one of the most reliable impact tight ends in the transfer portal. After transferring to Tulsa from Indiana, Foley had a breakout season, recording 37 receptions for 528 yards and seven touchdowns, along with two rushing touchdowns. This production marked a significant leap from his time at Indiana, where he did not record any receptions.

Foley's size (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) and demonstrated ability to find the end zone make him a coveted prospect. With one year of eligibility remaining, he has attracted interest from multiple schools, including a visit to Notre Dame.

3. Andrew Olesh (Penn State)

Andrew Olesh, a former four-star recruit, is seeking a new program after redshirting his freshman season at Penn State. Olesh was a highly-rated prospect in Penn State’s 2025 class, ranked No. 46 on the 247Sports Top 100 and as the No. 1 prospect in Pennsylvania.

Olesh's appeal lies in his potential and four years of remaining eligibility. Before committing to Penn State, he considered offers from programs such as Florida, Notre Dame, and Oregon. With several of these programs still in need of tight end support, Olesh is likely to draw significant attention in the transfer portal.

4. Luke Dehnicke (Minnesota-Duluth)

Luke Dehnicke, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end from Minnesota-Duluth, has already demonstrated his ability to produce significant numbers. As a redshirt freshman in Division 2, Dehnicke recorded 61 receptions for 1,119 yards and 14 touchdowns, ranking second in receiving yards among all Division 2 players.

Despite limited Division 1 interest out of high school, Dehnicke's physical development and on-field production have positioned him for a move to a top-tier program. Schools like Iowa State, Minnesota, and Wisconsin are reportedly interested in his services.

Read also: Crafting Your NCAA Profile

5. Theo Melin Ohrstrom (Texas A&M)

Theo Melin Ohrstrom, a former four-star recruit from Sweden, is seeking a fresh start after four years at Texas A&M. Ohrstrom possesses considerable potential as a flex tight end with NFL aspirations.

Despite not fully meeting the high expectations from his recruitment, Ohrstrom's ceiling remains high. He has garnered interest from schools like Auburn, Houston, Kansas State, and SMU.

6. Gavin Harris (New Mexico State)

Gavin Harris from New Mexico State was among the top 15 tight ends in Division 1 for receiving yards, recording 36 receptions for 514 yards. However, his history of multiple transfers raises questions about stability.

Harris has entered the transfer portal after each of his first three seasons, moving from Howard to Central Michigan before joining New Mexico State. Despite his production, his smaller size for the position (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) and transfer history are factors that programs will consider.

Other Notable Tight Ends

Jack Endries (Texas)

Jack Endries leaned on during the season, where he recorded 56 receptions for 623 yards and two touchdowns. With Gunnar Helm's departure, Endries has the potential to play a consistent role in what should be a potent Texas offense. Expect Endries to serve as a reliable safety valve for a new quarterback, such as Arch Manning.

Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)

A former four-star dual-threat QB at Texas A&M, Eli Stowers has now entirely reinvented himself as one of the top fantasy tight ends in the country. After transitioning to TE at New Mexico State in 2023, Stowers followed OC Tim Beck and QB Diego Pavia to Vanderbilt. In 2024, he turned 76 targets into 49 receptions, 638 yards and 5 TDs. At 6’3", 240 pounds with legit 4.55 speed, Stowers is a matchup nightmare who rarely stays in to block. He ran routes on 92% of his snaps and consistently created separation and yards after the catch. He’s got strong hands, athleticism, and is Pavia’s go-to guy.

Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)

There is plenty of CFF hype surrounding Kenyon Sadiq, and it’s easy to see why. The top four leaders in targets are either gone or potentially unavailable (Evan Stewart). What's left is a group of young, unproven, or returning from injury pass catchers. The door is wide open for Sadiq, and the buzz coming out of spring only added fuel to the fire. Sadiq reportedly had a standout camp, and the coaches made it clear: They want to get him the ball. Sadiq brings WR athleticism to the TE position. He’s explosive, runs precise routes and is just a matchup nightmare. Even better, the TE role is proven. Over the last two seasons, with Will Stein as the offensive coordinator, TE usage has increased. Terrance Ferguson averaged nearly six targets per game in 2024 and was consistently used in red-zone packages.

Matthew Lauter (Boise State)

Matthew Lauter had a career year in 2024, setting a new single-season record for tight end receptions at Boise State. He has a knack for clutch plays and plans to bring that back to the field this season. Lauter has some of the most reliable hands in all of college football, dropping only three balls on 60 career catches. His combination of quickness and physicality helps him get open and create separation after the catch.

Justin Joly (NC State)

Any time you can secure a team's top receiving target, you're in a strong position. If that target is the team's tight end, it's even better. Justin Joly led the Wolfpack with 661 receiving yards on 43 receptions. Joly's versatility allows him to line up anywhere, creating mismatches against opposing defensive backfields. With his good hands, he's a dependable option, especially across the middle and in the red zone.

Joe Royer (Ohio State)

When it comes to returning target volume for TEs, Joe Royer is at the top of the list. He saw 80 targets last season, turning them into 51 receptions, 531 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, a strong season for a tight end. The problem is that he has only broken 100 yards once, and his touchdown rate is low. Royer had more targets than any other TE under OC Brad Glenn, but also the least amount of touchdowns. Still, the volume was bankable. He finished as a top 20 tight end despite scoring just three times. Outside of two games last season, he was going to get you 10-13 fantasy points, offering consistency at a position known for volatility.

John Michael Gyllenborg (Wyoming)

John Michael Gyllenborg is one of the best tight ends in the Mountain West. He led all Wyoming pass-catchers in both receptions and receiving yards in 2024, serving as a dependable chain-mover with sneaky upside in the red zone. At 6'5", 247, he’s got NFL-ready size and just enough athleticism to create mismatches against linebackers. While Wyoming has historically been a run-first program, the offense is starting to open up under the new regime, and Gyllenborg is positioned to benefit. He’s not flashy, but his role is locked in, and the volume is real.

Elija Lofton (Miami)

Elija Lofton is a breakout candidate you need to know heading into 2025. He saw limited run as a true freshman, but when he was on the field, the flashes were electric, averaging over 16 yards per grab with the fluidity of a wideout and the power of a former H-back. Miami’s offense is in flux, but Lofton’s hybrid skill set gives him a legitimate path to becoming a featured weapon. He should step into the TE1 role this season, and spring reports have been glowing. He’s still developing as a route-runner, but the YAC ability and red zone upside - including potential goal-line packages - make him a mismatch nightmare. If the usage matches the talent, 40+ catches and 6+ TDs are well within reach.

Trey’Dez Green (LSU)

Trey’Dez Green looks like he was built in a lab for the modern TE role - 6'7", fluid mover, and a red-zone killer. As a true freshman in 2024, he made the most of limited targets, finding paydirt four times and flashing mismatch potential all over the field. With Mason Taylor off to the NFL, Green is poised to become a key piece of a loaded LSU offense. Expect his snap share and route rate to spike in 2025. The only concern is his target volume given LSU's depth at WR, but Green doesn’t need heavy volume to return CFF value.

RJ Maryland (SMU)

When healthy, RJ Maryland is one of the few tight ends in the country who operates as a true focal point in his offense. Before tearing his ACL late in the 2024 season, he averaged over 13 yards per catch and consistently delivered chunk plays in SMU’s uptempo scheme. He’s a reliable chain-mover with red-zone chops and vertical ability up the seam - a rare combination at the TE position. Maryland’s connection with QB Kevin Jennings remains intact, and he should reclaim a prominent role once cleared. With the Mustangs pushing tempo and returning solid weapons around him, he offers one of the most stable weekly floors among CFF tight ends. If the knee holds up, 600+ yards and 6-8 touchdowns are firmly in play.

Top Performers in Receiving Yards (2025)

The following table lists the top tight ends in receiving yards for the 2025 season:

Rank	Name	Yards	Team
1	Eli Stowers	769	VAN
2	Tanner Koziol	727	HOU
3	Michael Trigg	694	BAY
4	Dae'Quan Wright	635	MISS
5	Terrance Carter Jr.	624	TTU
6	Carsen Ryan	620	BYU
7	Dallen Bentley	620	UTAH
8	Kenyon Sadiq	560	ORE
9	Dorian Thomas	560	UNM
10	Sam Roush	545	STAN
11	Jaren Kanak	533	OKLA
12	Brody Foley	528	TLSA
13	Dylan Wade	523	UCF
14	Rohan Jones	519	ARK
15	Gavin Harris	514	NMSU
16	Jamari Johnson	510	ORE
17	Jeremiah Franklin	506	BC
18	Justin Joly	489	NCST
19	Peter Clarke	483	TEM
20	Eli Raridon	482	ND
21	Jyrin Johnson	466	BGSU
22	Jeremiah Hasley	454	DUKE
23	Lake McRee	450	USC
24	Boden Groen	450	KU
25	Max Klare	448	OSU

Detailed Rankings and Analysis

1. Kenyon Sadiq (Oregon)

Kenyon Sadiq is an athletic specimen with verifiable NFL athleticism. He displayed balance, contact absorption, and violence after the catch. Sadiq projects as a movement-based tight end whose NFL value hinges on his ability as a screen, block-and-release, and underneath mismatch.

2. Eli Stowers (Vanderbilt)

Eli Stowers, a former quarterback, has become a dynamic receiving tight end. Stowers excels as a zone-beater with a natural feel for spacing and rare body control. He brings suddenness and toughness after the catch.

3. Michael Trigg (Baylor)

Michael Trigg is a vertically dangerous tight end. Trigg’s ability to win against both man and zone coverage underscores a true mismatch profile.

4. Max Klare (Ohio State)

An athletic, natural receiver Max Klare’s ability best captures his ceiling as a featured pass-game weapon capable of winning at all three levels. He’s fluid for his size, finding soft spots in zone, adjusting seamlessly to off-target throws while securing the ball before turning upfield in one smooth motion.

5. Dallen Bentley (Utah)

A polished, chain-moving tight end. Bentley wins with the smoothest hands in the class and an intuitive feel for zone coverage, subtly relocating when linebackers slide and routinely bailing out off-target throws with late, confident extensions outside his frame.

6. Justin Joly (NC State)

Justin Joly is a throwback, power-slot tight end whose value is rooted in physicality, reliability, and winning in traffic rather than pure vertical stress. One of the most productive P4 TEs of the last three years, Joly has been remarkably consistent as a route runner while carving up zone coverage.

7. Tanner Koziol (Houston)

A massive, chain-moving target who served as Houston’s primary offensive catalyst. His calling card is reliability in traffic, converting an elite percentage of his contested targets, posted an excellent drop grade, and routinely absorbed shots over the middle without flinching.

8. Jack Endries (Texas)

Built his profile on elite efficiency. He’s a quarterback-friendly target with strong hands and composure in traffic, converting a high percentage of contested catches over the last two seasons while rarely putting the ball on the ground.

9. Dae’Quan Wright (Ole Miss)

Brings a modern, YAC-driven profile to the position, flashing explosive playmaking once the ball is secured. Wright is at his best against zone coverage, where his spatial awareness and burst show up, turning routine throws into chunk gains with an elite yards after catch.

10. Eli Raridon (Notre Dame)

Eli Raridon is a long-limbed seam stretcher who quietly delivered explosive efficiency. He can stress coverage vertically while still contributing after the catch.

Conference Standings (2025)

The following provides a snapshot of conference standings, offering context to the teams and environments these tight ends play in:

Atlantic Coast: Duke led with a record of 9-5.
Southeastern: Georgia topped the conference with a record of 12-2.
Big 10: Indiana was the leader with a perfect record of 15-0.
Mountain West: UNLV led with a record of 10-4.
American Athletic: North Texas was on top with a record of 12-2.
Independent: Notre Dame had a record of 10-2.
Big 12: Texas Tech and BYU were tied at the top with records of 12-2.
Pac-12: Washington State led with a record of 7-6.
Mid-American: Western Michigan led with a record of 10-4.
Sun Belt: JMU was the leader with a record of 12-2.
Conference USA: Kennesaw State led with a record of 10-4.

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