The college football season is approaching. There is always debate over ranking the best players in the sport. Here are the top 25 college football tight ends heading into the 2025 season.
Note: There is some projection in these rankings for the upcoming season. These are not NFL Draft rankings, but rather focus on the best players in college football.
25-21
25. Marlin Klein, Michigan Wolverines
Klein may have only had 108 yards last season, but now steps into a role in Michigan’s offense that will see him be more important.
24. Lake McRee, USC Trojans
McRee only has one touchdown over the last two seasons, but he has cleared 500 receiving yards over that time period. The wide receivers get a lot of credit, but McRee is a valuable part of the passing offense.
23. John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming Cowboys
With nearly 800 receiving yards over the last two seasons at Wyoming, Gyllenborg is one of the best group of five tight ends in the country.
22. Seydou Traore, Mississippi State Bulldogs
Traore was highly productive at Arkansas State in 2022, then sat out a season and had solid stats for Mississippi State last season. While the Bulldogs aren’t projected to do great this season, Traore can be a bright spot.
21. Chamon Metayer, Arizona State Sun Devils
Metayer had a solid season at Cincinnati in 2023 and continued that momentum at Arizona State last season. After totaling 306 yards last season, Metayer will hope to get Arizona State back to the CFP this season.
20-16
20. Garrett Oakley, Kansas State Wildcats
Oakley improved from 154 receiving yards in 2023 to 236 last season. With quarterback Avery Johnson progressing, Oakley can help and grow with him.
19. Khalil Dinkins, Penn State Nittany Lions
Tyler Warren going to the NFL leaves a huge void and Dinkins can step right in. He had 122 receiving yards last season and more production is on the way.
18. Benjamin Brahmer, Iowa State Cyclones
After having 352 receiving yards as a freshman, Brahmer only played eight games as a sophomore. He logged 179 receiving yards last season and if he is healthy the whole time, he can improve that.
17. Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss Rebels
Wright had a great first season at Ole Miss after transferring from Virginia Tech with 394 yards. He will now pair with Hasz to create one of the best tight end rooms in the country.
16. Matt Lauter, Boise State Broncos
Lauter was an underrated part of Boise State’s offense last season with over 600 receiving yards. He can help the team transition to dealing with being without running back Ashton Jeanty.
15-11
15. Michael Trigg, Baylor Bears
Trigg has bounced around from USC to Ole Miss and to Baylor. He was his most productive last season for the Bears, as he had 30 catches for 395 yards and three touchdowns.
14. Oscar Delp, Georgia Bulldogs
Delp was expected to take a huge step forward last season after Brock Bowers left for the NFL, but he actually took a step back. He still had 248 receiving yards, but has a lot to prove this season.
13. Terrance Carter, Texas Tech Red Raiders
Carter was highly efficient at Louisiana last season, finishing the year with 48 catches for 689 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He is one of many transfers joining Texas Tech this season that has them hoping for contention in the Big 12.
12. Miles Kitselman, Tennessee Volunteers
He started his career at Alabama, but really proved himself last season at Tennessee. Kitselman blocked well, but also had 301 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
11. Luke Hasz, Ole Miss Rebels
Hasz had two good seasons at Arkansas, with him having 324 receiving yards last year. He will be a part of a talented offense at Ole Miss this season.
10-6
10. Jack Velling, Michigan State Spartans
While he had 411 receiving yards in his first season at Michigan State after transferring from Oregon State, his touchdown production dipped from eight to one. He should find the end zone more in 2025 and be one of the better tight ends in the country.
9. RJ Maryland, SMU Mustangs
In 2023, Maryland had 518 receiving yards and he was on pace for a lot more in 2024 before missing the rest of the season with an injury. If he is healthy, he should be a key for SMU’s offense in 2025.
8. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon Ducks
Sadiq was the second tight end for Oregon and still put up 308 receiving yards in 2024. Now that he is the starting tight end, his production could double.
7. Lawson Luckie, Georgia Bulldogs
Luckie was the better of the two Georgia tight ends last season, as he finished the year with 348 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He will battle for targets with Delp and wide receivers, but has natural talent to stand out.
6. Tanner Koziol, Houston Cougars
Koziol was one of the more productive tight ends in college football last season with 839 receiving yards at Ball State. After a brief stint at Wisconsin this spring, he moved on to Houston where he can be a lift for their offense.
5-1
5. Justin Joly, NC State Wolfpack
Joly was great at UConn, then proved his ability at NC State last year with 661 receicing yards.
4. Jack Endries, Texas Longhorns
Enries had 407 receiving yards as a freshman at Cal and upped it to 623 as a sophomore. He now joins Arch Manning at Texas, where he can be a reliable target.
3. Joe Royer, Cincinnati Bearcats
Royer started his career at Ohio State, but transferred to Cincinnati last season and stood out. He caught 50 passes for 521 yards and three touchdowns with the opportunity to build on it this year.
2. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt Commodores
Stowers is a former quarterback who converted to tight end through stops at Texas A&M, New Mexico State and now Vanderbilt. He has good chemistry with Diego Pavia, after having 638 receiving yards last season.
1. Max Klare, Ohio State Buckeyes
Klare played for Purdue for three seasons with last season being one where he really produced. He caught 61 passes for 685 yards and four touchdowns. While his stats may take a dip playing at Ohio State, he will make their offense more potent.
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