College football’s 15 best tight ends of 2025

They are the unsung heroes when it comes to catching passes.

However, tight ends have some of the most important responsibilities on offense. They have to effectively block, and are often dialed up to move the chains on key third downs.

These 15 tight ends were relied upon to be the ultimate safety nets last year, and delivered. Now they’re looking to ride that wave of momentum into the 2025 season.

15. Luke Hasz, Ole Miss: The Oklahoma native led Arkansas in touchdown catches last year. Hasz caught at least one pass in 11 of the 12 regular season games, including every clash in SEC play. He got off to a hot start, with three catches for 42 yards in the opening win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Hasz hauled in two passes for a score at Oklahoma State. The former four-star prospect posted four receptions for 59 yards and a season-high, two touchdowns in the victory at Mississippi State. Hasz even recorded a season-high, five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown against Ole Miss. His experience, and production in the SEC should make it a smooth transition into Lane Kiffin’s offense.

14. Jameson Geers, Minnesota: The former three-star prospect tied for second on the Golden Gophers in touchdown receptions last season. Geers caught at least one pass in 12 of the 13 games. His six-foot-five, 255-pound frame allows him to snag balls at the highest point. Geers hauled in three passes, including a three-yard touchdown against Iowa. He posted two receptions, including a one-yard touchdown in the victory at Illinois. Geers generated eight catches for 73 yards at Rutgers, which were season-highs. The Illinois native had a 21-yard touchdown reception against Penn State. Not to mention Geers recorded a 15-yard touchdown catch in the road win over Wisconsin.

13. Alex Bauman, Miami: The Hurricanes need a replacement for All-ACC tight end Elijah Arroyo, and Coach Mario Cristobal appears to have his guy. After all, Bauman earned third-team, All-AAC honors for his heroics at Tulane last season. He got off to a hot start with two catches, including a 12-yard touchdown in the opener against Southeastern Louisiana. Bauman hauled in a season-high, two touchdown passes the following week against Kansas State. The New Jersey native had a 14-yard touchdown reception in the win at North Texas. Bauman caught two passes, including a six-yard touchdown in the victory over Temple. Not to mention he had a receiving score against Navy and Army.

12. Blake Bosma, Western Michigan: After flirting with the transfer portal this past December, Bosma is staying with the Broncos. Although he had no stars behind his name out of high school, Bosma led Western Michigan in touchdown receptions, and finished second in catches last season. The six-foot-three, 225-pounder even earned third-team, All-MAC honors. Bosma caught six balls for 59 yards and a score against Kent State. The Michigan native had a season-high, seven receptions for 54 yards, and touchdown in the win over Ball State. His 85 receiving yards, and three touchdown catches in the victory at Buffalo were also season-highs. Bosma caught a touchdown at Marshall too.

11. Garrett Oakley, Kansas State: The Nebraska native caught five of Avery Johnson’s 25 touchdown passes in 2024. Oakley also ended his campaign with second-team, All-Big 12 honors for his heroics on the gridiron. He recorded three catches apiece against BYU, Houston and Arizona State. Oakley hauled in a 19-yard touchdown pass against Oklahoma State. The six-foot-five, 235-pounder had a season-high, four catches for 78 yards and a score at Iowa State. Oakley posted a two-yard touchdown catch in the win over Kansas. The former three-star prospect also had a receiving score at West Virginia. Oakley left a lasting impression with a touchdown catch in the bowl victory over Rutgers.

10. Chamon Metayer, Arizona State: The former four-star prospect finished second on the Big 12 Champs in touchdown catches, and third in receptions last season. Metayer was a safety net for quarterback Sam Leavitt, and earned second-team, All-Big 12 honors. He got off to a solid start, with two catches for 32 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Wyoming. Metayer caught five balls apiece in road games at Texas State, and Oklahoma State. The Miami native hauled in a 20-yard touchdown pass in the win over Kansas. Metayer generated two catches for 19 yards and a score at Kansas State. Not to mention Metayer caught a 22-yard touchdown pass in the victory at Arizona.

9. Dorian Fleming, Maryland: The Virginia native finished second on Georgia State in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches in 2024. Fleming caught at least two passes in every game, and ended his campaign with second-team, All-Sun Belt honors. He started off on fire, with four catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in the opener at Georgia Tech. Fleming caught six balls against Vanderbilt. The former three-star prospect had 66 receiving yards on a season-high, seven receptions at Marshall. His 88 receiving yards, and three touchdown catches in the win at Texas State were also season-highs. Fleming even posted a receiving score against Georgia Southern, and Coastal Carolina.

8. Jack Endries, Texas: The former three-star prospect led the Golden Bears in receptions, receiving yards and earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors last year. Endries caught three balls for 78 yards and a touchdown against Miami. He hauled in eight passes for a season-high, 119 yards and a score at Pittsburgh. Endries had a season-high, nine catches for 102 yards against NC State. The Californian generated six receptions for 55 yards in the victory over Oregon State. Endries left a lasting impression with seven catches for 61 yards in the bowl game against UNLV. With Endries now at Texas, Coach Steve Sarkisian should have his ideal replacement for all of Gunnar Helm’s production.

7. Terrance Carter, Texas Tech: The Texas native finished second on Louisiana in receptions and receiving yards last season. Carter also earned first-team, All-Sun Belt honors. He started fast out of the gates, with three receptions for 35 yards and a touchdown in the opener against Grambling State. Carter posted four catches for 79 yards, and a score against Tulane. The former three-star prospect caught seven balls for 64 yards in the win at Southern Miss. Carter generated four receptions for 107 yards, and a touchdown in the victory over Appalachian State. The six-foot-five, 245-pounder recorded seven catches for a season-high, 149 yards and a touchdown at Coastal Carolina.

6. Justin Joly, NC State: The 20-year old led the Wolfpack in receiving yards last year. Joly started out on fire with a season-high, five catches for 75 yards in the opener against Western Carolina. He caught five balls for 72 yards at Clemson. Joly hauled in four passes for 73 yards, and a score against Wake Forest. The following week he had a 14-yard touchdown reception against Syracuse. Joly generated four catches for a season-high, 95 yards in the victory at California. The New York native posted four catches for 66 yards, and a score in the win over Stanford. Joly also had four receptions against Duke, and left a lasting impression after he scored in the bowl game against East Carolina.

5. Matt Lauder, Boise State: The San Diego native led the Broncos in touchdown catches last season, and earned first-team, All-Mountain West honors. Lauder was consistent for Boise State all the way through the Playoffs. He hauled in a season-high, seven passes for 91 yards and a touchdown against Portland State. Lauder posted four catches for a season-high, 96 yards and two touchdowns against Washington State. The former three-star prospect recorded four catches for 38 yards and a score at UNLV. Not to mention he generated a receiving score against Nevada, and San Jose State. Lauder left a lasting impression with four receptions for 96 yards, and a touchdown against Penn State.

4. Tanner Koziol, Wisconsin: The former two-star prospect is coming off a stellar campaign at Ball State. Koziol caught a jaw-dropping, 94 balls in 2024, which was the fourth-most in a single-season for the Cardinals. He also ranked fourth nationally in receptions per game, and earned second-team, All-MAC honors. Koziol posted a touchdown catch against Missouri State, James Madison, Ohio and Vanderbilt. The Illinois native had nine receptions for a season-high, 112 yards and a score at Central Michigan. His 11 catches at Buffalo were a season-high. Koziol recorded 102 receiving yards against Western Michigan, and scored twice in the win over Northern Illinois. The kid is a weapon.

3. Joe Royer, Cincinnati: The former Ohio State Buckeye finished second on the Bearcats in receptions, and receiving yards in 2024. Royer was very consistent, and caught at least one pass in every game. Despite Cincinnati’s 5-7 season, he capped off his campaign with first-team, All-Big 12 honors. Royer caught five passes for 89 yards in the opening win over Towson. The following week against Pittsburgh, he hauled in three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown. The next game against Miami (Ohio), Royer posted a three-yard touchdown reception. The hometown kid also had a receiving score at Colorado. Royer generated a season-high, eight catches for 84 yards in the victory at UCF.

2. Max Klare, Ohio State: The Cincinnati native led Purdue in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches last year. Klare was the lone bright spot for the Boilermakers’ offense, and earned third-team, All-Big Ten honors. He started out on fire, with five catches for 71 yards, and a touchdown in the opening win over Indiana State. Klare hauled in two passes, including a 32-yard touchdown at Oregon State. The former three-star prospect posted six catches for a season-high, 133 yards at Illinois. Klare also had six receptions against Northwestern. His performance against Penn State was stellar, with seven catches for 91 yards and a score. Klare even recorded a receiving score at Michigan State.

1. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt: The former four-star prospect led the Commodores in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches last season. Stowers even capped off his campaign with first-team, All-SEC honors. He recorded nine catches for 110 yards, and a touchdown at Georgia State. Stowers caught six balls for 113 yards in the victory over Alabama. The Texas native had a season-high, eight receptions for 130 yards and a score against Ball State. Stowers caught seven balls at Missouri. The six-foot-four, 235-pounder generated a receiving score against Texas and Auburn. Stowers left a lasting impression with four catches for 55 yards, and a touchdown in the bowl win over Georgia Tech.

Honorable Mention

Toby Payne, Marshall: The West Virginia native led the Thundering Herd in touchdown catches last season. Payne caught a season-high, two touchdowns at Georgia Southern. He also hauled in a touchdown pass in wins over Western Michigan, Southern Miss, Coastal Carolina and James Madison.

Oscar Delp, Georgia: The 21-year old tied for second on the SEC Champs in touchdown catches last season. Delp turned it up a notch down the stretch, and generated 12 of his 21 receptions over the final five games. He even caught a touchdown in each of the last three contests of the regular season.

Louis Hansen, Connecticut: The Massachusetts native finished second on the Huskies in touchdowns receptions last season. Hansen caught four balls for a season-high, 73 yards and a touchdown at Massachusetts. Hansen also had receiving scores against Syracuse, Wake Forest and Georgia State.

Bauer Sharp, LSU: The Alabama native led Oklahoma in receptions, receiving yards, and tied for first on the team in touchdown catches in 2024. Sharp caught four balls for 47 yards and a score in the opening win over Temple. His eight catches for 53 yards at Ole Miss were both season-highs.

Dylan Wade, UCF: He finished third on Maryland in receiving yards, and tied for third in touchdown catches last season. Wade caught at least one pass in 11 of the 12 games. His seven catches for 92 yards against Rutgers were season-highs. Wade also had receiving scores against Michigan State and Indiana.

Houston Thomas, UTSA: The Texas native started nine games in 2024, and finished second on the team in receiving yards. Thomas posted six catches for a season-high, 132 yards at Tulsa. He recorded two receiving scores in the win over Memphis, and had a touchdown against Rice and Florida Atlantic.