College football’s 15 best tight ends of 2026
Iowa tight end DJ Vonnahme catches a 35-yard touchdown pass against Nebraska Friday November 28, 2025 at Memorial Stadium. (Lynn Harrington/stayaliveinpower5)
Tight ends are not the flashiest players on the team, nor do they receive enough recognition for what their contributions.
However, tight ends accomplish everything the blue-collar way, and come up big in the clutch. There’s nothing like having a big target, that protects against the blitz, and can be a huge safety net for quarterbacks on key possessions.
These 15 studs made a name for themselves by successfully accomplishing those tactics last season, and now they’re back for more.
15. Jacob Harris, Wisconsin: The former two-star prospect started three games at Bowling Green last season, where he played behind All-MAC performer Jyrin Johnson. However, Harris led the Falcons in touchdown catches, and finished fourth on the team in receptions, and receiving yards. Harris hauled in two passes, including a 12-yard touchdown in the victory over Liberty. The Ohio native caught three balls for a season-high, 46 yards and a touchdown at Louisville. Harris hauled in an eight-yard touchdown pass in the win over Toledo. The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder caught a 13-yard touchdown pass at Kent State. Harris even posted a 21-yard touchdown catch against Kent State.
14. Juice Vereen, Colorado State: The North Carolina native finished second on Connecticut in touchdown catches last season. Vereen ranked fourth on the Huskies in receptions, and receiving yards. Vereen was streaky, and posted a touchdown catch for four consecutive games. He generated four catches for a season-high, 82 yards and a touchdown at Boston College. Vereen hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass at Rice. The following week he generated a six-yard touchdown catch in the victory over UAB. The former three-star prospect recorded a season-high, five catches for 51 yards and a score against Duke. Not to mention Vereen even caught a 24-yard pass at Delaware.
13. Patrick Overmyer, Houston: The former three-star prospect started eight games at UTSA last season. Overmyer finished second on the Road Runners in touchdown catches. He ranked fifth on the team in receptions, and receiving yards. Overmyer hauled in a seven-yard touchdown pass, and generated a rushing score at Temple. The Texas native caught four passes for 68 yards against Tulane. Overmyer posted a 45-yard touchdown catch at South Florida. Overmyer had six catches for 73 yards and two touchdowns against Army, which were all season-highs. The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder left a lasting impression with two receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown in the bowl win over Florida International.
12. Kaelan Chudzinski, Boston College: The Massachusetts native only started two games for the Eagles in 2025, but made an immediate impact as a true freshman. Chudzinski finished second on Boston College in touchdown receptions. He ranked fourth on the team in receiving yards, and fifth in receptions. Chudzinski posted three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown at Pittsburgh. The former three-star prospect hauled in a nine-yard touchdown pass against Connecticut. Chudzinski had four catches for a season-high, 80 yards and a score at Louisville. The 6-foot-3, 236-pounder generated a 41-yard catch at Syracuse. Chudzinski caught four passes, including a three-yard touchdown against Georgia Tech.
11. Dorian Thomas, California: The former three-star prospect caught 56 balls at New Mexico last year. Thomas led the Lobos in with four touchdown catches. Not to mention he ranked second on the team in receptions, and receiving yards. He even capped off season with first-team, All-Mountain West honors. After all, Thomas hauled in a season-high, 10 catches for 71 yards and two touchdowns in the opener at Michigan. Thomas had five receptions apiece against Colorado State, and Nevada. The Washington native caught six passes for 79 yards and a score in the victory over New Mexico State. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder posted four catches for 61 yards and a touchdown at Boise State.
10. Peter Clarke, Temple: The London native was the Owls’ safety blanket last season, and generated a stellar campaign. Clarke tied for first on Temple in touchdown receptions. He ranked third on the team in receiving yards, and fourth in receptions. Not to mention Clarke averaged 16.1 yards per catch. The former three-star prospect even capped off the year with second-team, All-AAC honors. Clarke got off to a fast start with four catches for a season-high, 85 yards and two touchdowns in the opening win at Massachusetts. The 6-foot-6, 265-pounder also caught four balls for 82 yards and a score in the victory over UTSA. Clarke also caught a touchdown against Charlotte, Tulane and Tulsa.
9. Brad Foley, Louisville: The former four-star prospect caught at least one pass in every game he played in, and scored eight total touchdowns at Tulsa in 2025. Foley led the Golden Hurricane in receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. He ranked second on the team in catches. Foley got off to a hot start with a 22-yard touchdown reception in the opening win over Abilene Christian. The following week he hauled in a 18-yard touchdown pass at New Mexico State. Foley had a 72-yard touchdown catch against Tulane. The 6-foot-6, 260-pounder generated six catches for a season-high, 126 yards and a score at East Carolina. Foley caught two touchdowns against Temple, and another against Oregon State.
8. Brett Norfleet, Missouri: The former four-star prospect started 10 games for the Tigers in 2025, and led the team in touchdown catches. Norfleet ranked second on Missouri in receptions. He even got off to a hot start, and caught 23 balls for 212 yards and five touchdowns through the first six games. Norfleet didn’t waste no time either, and caught a touchdown in the opener against Central Arkansas. His seven catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Kansas were all season-highs. The Missouri native had six catches for 52 yards and a score in the victory over Massachusetts. Not to mention Norflett hauled in three passes for 38 yards and a touchdown against Alabama.
7. DJ Vonnahme, Iowa: The Iowa native turned it up a notch over the second half of last season, and led the Hawkeyes in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns catches. Vonnahme took care of business in the classroom, and earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. He performed at an All-Big Ten level down the stretch, and caught 19 balls for 370 yards, and three touchdowns over Iowa’s final five games. Vonnahme had two catches for 43 yards and a touchdown against Oregon. The 6-foot-4, 240-pounder hauled in three passes for 91 yards and a score in the victory at Nebraska. Vonnahme left a lasting impression with a season-high, seven catches for 146 yards and a touchdown in the bowl win over Vanderbilt.
6. Jeremiah Halsey, Duke: The Pennsylvania native caught 40 balls for the Blue Devils last season, and tied for second on the team in touchdown receptions. Halsey ranked fourth on the ACC Champs in catches, and receiving yards. He finished strong down the stretch, and posted five touchdown catches over the final four games. Not to mention he caught three balls for 83 yards at Clemson. Halsey generated a season-high, seven catches for 85 yards and a score in the victory at North Carolina. On top of that, Halsey used his 6-foot-3 frame to snag two touchdowns in the ACC Championship Game. Halsey left a lasting impression with six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown in bowl win over Arizona State.
5. JJ Buchanan, Michigan: The former four-star prospect started seven games at Utah in 2025. Buchanan displayed great hands, and finished second on the Utes in touchdown catches. He ranked third on the team in receptions, and receiving yards. Buchanan hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass at Wyoming. The Nevada native also caught a touchdown in wins over Colorado, West Virginia and Kansas. The 6-foot-3, 225-pounder had 74 receiving yards against Kansas State. Buchanan left a lasting impression with a season-high, four catches for 76 yards and a touchdown in the bowl victory over Nebraska. Although Buchanan followed Kyle Whittingham to Michigan, he’ll likely play more at wideout this fall.
4. Dylan Wade, UCF: The hometown kid was very reliable, and led the Knights in touchdown receptions last season. Wade even ranked second on the team in catches, and receiving yards. He finished strong down the stretch, and caught 25 balls for 335 yards and four touchdowns over the final five games. Wade started out on fire with a touchdown catch in the opening win over Jacksonville State. The former three-star prospect recorded five receptions apiece against North Carolina, Cincinnati and Baylor. Wade had six catches for 45 yards and a score at Texas Tech. His 145 receiving yards, and two touchdowns in the victory over Oklahoma State were season-highs. Wade also caught a touchdown at BYU.
3. Benjamin Brahmer, Penn State: The Nebraska native led Iowa State in receptions, and touchdown catches last season. Brahmer even ranked third on the Cyclones in receiving yards. He caught at least one pass in every game, and earned second-team, All-Big 12 honors. Not to mention Brahmer caught a touchdown in three of the last four conference games. The former three-star prospect posted a season-high, seven catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns in the win over South Dakota. Brahmer hauled in four balls, including a two-yard touchdown in the victory over Iowa. The 6-foot-7, 252-pounder caught a 23-yard touchdown at TCU. Brahmer also had a receiving score against Arizona State, and Kansas.
2. Terrance Carter, Texas Tech: The former three-star prospect caught 55 balls for the Big 12 champs last season. Carter finished second on the Red Raiders in receptions, third in touchdowns catches, and fourth in receiving yards. He got off to a hot start, and recorded five touchdown receptions through the first six games. Carter caught two touchdowns in the opener against Arkansas Pine-Bluff. The Texas native generated a season-high, 102 receiving yards and a score in the victory over Oregon State. Carter also posted a receiving score in wins over Kansas State, Utah and Kansas. Not to mention he caught nine passes in the Playoffs against Oregon. Carter even earned second-team, All-Big 12 honors.
1. Trey’Dez Green, LSU: The former four-star prospect is coming off a stellar campaign, and led the Bayou Bengals in touchdown catches. Although Green missed three games, he ranked third on the team in receptions, and receiving yards. He started off on fire with a touchdown catch in the opening win at Clemson. Green hauled in a season-high, eight passes for 119 yards and a score against South Carolina. The following week he had 74 receiving yards and a score at Vanderbilt. Green also caught a touchdown against Texas A&M, and Western Kentucky. His two touchdown catches in bowl game against Houston were a season-high. Green even earned second-team, All-SEC honors for his heroics.
