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Top 10 College Football Tight Ends for the 2025 Season: Who’s the Nation’s Best?

Colin Lynch Written by Sports EditorColin Lynch
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Top 10 College Football Tight Ends for the 2025 Season: Who’s the Nation’s Best?

From SEC standouts to rising stars in the Big Ten, these are the top 10 tight ends heading into the 2025 college football season. We rank the best based on 2024 production, NFL upside, and expected role this fall.

In today’s college football landscape, the tight end is no longer just an in-line blocker; he’s a vertical threat, a red-zone mismatch, and in many cases, a quarterback’s most trusted target.

The 2025 season is loaded with tight ends who don’t just complement their offenses; they anchor them.

From the SEC to the Big Ten, these versatile playmakers are catching passes from some of the nation’s most dynamic quarterbacks, including names featured in our Top 10 QB list, and they’re lining up alongside elite wideouts from our Top 10 WR list.

Together, these trios will define high-powered offenses and tilt matchups every Saturday. Whether it’s a breakout transfer or a returning All-Conference weapon, here are the top 10 tight ends set to shape the 2025 college football season.

Top 10 College Football Tight Ends for the 2025 Season

10. Landen King, Utah

After finding his stride in 2024 with Utah, Landen King now takes his talents to Duke for the 2025 season, bringing with him size, experience, and a high-upside skill set. The 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end posted 37 receptions for 464 yards and four touchdowns last season, thriving as both a vertical seam threat and a dependable target over the middle.

His wide receiver-like ball-tracking ability and fluid route running made him a go-to option in critical Pac-12 matchups.

Now in the ACC, King is expected to play a major role in Duke’s evolving offense, especially with a new quarterback under center. His size and red-zone presence should help ease the transition for the Blue Devils’ passing attack. Coaches also praise his growth as an in-line blocker, which adds more versatility to Duke’s personnel packages. If he picks up where he left off, King could be one of the most impactful tight ends in the ACC this fall and a fast riser on NFL draft boards.

9. Luke Hasz, Arkansas

Luke Hasz enters the 2025 season healthy and reenergized after transferring from Arkansas to Ole Miss, a move that could unlock his full potential in a more dynamic offensive system. Despite battling injuries in 2024, Hasz still managed 29 receptions for 402 yards and three touchdowns, flashing the elite talent that made him a top-tier recruit just two years ago.

At 6-foot-3, 242 pounds, he creates matchup nightmares with his combination of size, leaping ability, and strong hands.

Hasz moves with the agility of a slot receiver and should thrive in the Rebels’ fast-paced, vertical passing scheme. His ability to high-point the football and win in traffic makes him a dangerous weapon on third downs and in the red zone. With Ole Miss looking to reload and contend in the SEC, Hasz is expected to be a featured target, especially with a strong-armed quarterback ready to take the reins. If he stays healthy, he could be one of the most productive tight ends in the country.

8. Tanner Koziol, Houston

Tanner Koziol arrives in Houston with big expectations and an even bigger frame. The 6-foot-7 transfer from Ball State was one of the most productive tight ends in the nation last year, finishing with 839 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. His size and soft hands made him nearly unguardable in the MAC, and now he gets the chance to prove it on the Big 12 stage.

Koziol’s versatility as both an in-line blocker and downfield pass-catcher gives Wisconsin a new kind of weapon in its evolving offense.

He runs smooth routes for a player his size and has shown the ability to stretch the seam and work through traffic. If his production translates to the Power Five, Koziol could rise quickly up draft boards and become one of the top tight ends in the country.

7. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon

Kenyon Sadiq steps into a featured role for Oregon in 2025, poised to become the Ducks’ next breakout tight end. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound sophomore flashed serious upside in limited action last season, showcasing a rare blend of speed, toughness, and body control.

Sadiq’s athleticism pops on film, whether he’s slipping into soft zones or dragging defenders for extra yards after the catch. He’s especially effective in contested situations, with strong hands and excellent spatial awareness that allow him to win in tight windows.

While his receiving ceiling draws headlines, Sadiq has also earned praise for his blocking instincts and willingness to mix it up in the trenches, an area that has fast-tracked his trust in Oregon’s offense. With former five-star QB Dante Moore expected to air it out, Sadiq could see significant volume in 2025.

He’ll be a safety valve over the middle and a red-zone mismatch against smaller defenders. If he capitalizes on his projected targets, Sadiq could vault into the national spotlight by midseason.

6. Miles Kitselman, Tennessee

Miles Kitselman enters the 2025 season as a veteran tight end with plenty to prove and the opportunity to do so in a high-powered Tennessee offense. After beginning his career at Alabama and seeing limited snaps, Kitselman transferred to Knoxville and quickly carved out a red-zone role for the Volunteers.

In 2024, he totaled four touchdown catches while showcasing soft hands, solid blocking, and the ability to find space in tight quarters. At 6-foot-6 and 250 pounds, Kitselman is a natural mismatch for linebackers and safeties alike, particularly in play-action and goal-line situations.

His blocking has steadily improved, giving Tennessee flexibility in both 11- and 12-personnel looks.  Kitselman could become a bigger part of the passing attack in 2025. His experience and football IQ make him a reliable security blanket and a strong candidate for a breakout final campaign.

5. Trey Leckner, Washington State

Trey Leckner might not yet be a household name, but the Washington State tight end is poised to break out in a big way in 2025. A versatile athlete with the build of a traditional tight end and the fluidity of a slot receiver, Leckner brings a complete skill set to the Cougars’ offense.

His ability to catch passes on the move, block in space, and stretch the seam vertically makes him a matchup problem for most defenses. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, he has the size to dominate smaller defenders and the hands to be a trusted target in key moments.

While his 2024 stat line was modest, his role expanded significantly down the stretch, and Washington State’s staff is confident he’ll be a centerpiece of the passing game this fall.

With a retooled offensive line and new quarterback under center, Leckner’s presence as a safety valve and red-zone option becomes even more important. Expect him to climb NFL draft boards as his production catches up to his tape.

4. Max Klare, Ohio State

Klare transferred from Purdue after a 2024 campaign in which he recorded 50 catches, 685 yards, and four touchdowns. He was one of the lone bright spots for the Boilermakers and now joins a reloaded Ohio State offense that is looking for pass-catching reliability over the middle.

Klare’s polished route tree and excellent body control make him an ideal fit in Ryan Day’s scheme. He has strong hands and consistently wins in traffic, which should earn him immediate trust from whoever wins the Buckeyes’ QB job.

At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Klare can block when needed, but his strength lies in his receiving ability. Look for him to be one of the Big Ten’s most productive tight ends. His transfer could be one of the most impactful positional moves of the offseason.

3. Justin Joly, NC State

Joly returns to NC State after a breakout 2024 season that saw him post 43 receptions for 661 yards and four touchdowns. He transferred from UConn and immediately became a focal point in the Wolfpack offense. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, Joly blends smooth route running with deceptive speed and excellent hands.

His chemistry with quarterback MJ Morris grew throughout the season, and he’s expected to be one of the ACC’s most targeted tight ends in 2025. Joly is particularly effective in the seams and thrives in the intermediate game.

His ability to stay on the field in all situations makes him valuable for both fantasy and NFL draft circles. Expect another big season.

2. Jack Endries, Texas

Endries transferred from Cal to Texas and brought his reliable hands and veteran presence with him. In 2024, he caught 54 passes for 648 yards and five touchdowns, becoming a steady target in Cal’s offense. The 6-foot-4, 240-pound tight end is a fluid athlete with excellent spatial awareness and the ability to create after the catch.

Texas plans to use him in multiple sets, including out wide and in motion, maximizing his versatility. He also adds value as a blocker, helping the Longhorns’ run game.

With so many weapons on offense, Endries might not always lead in volume, but he’ll be a major factor in key moments. NFL scouts are watching him closely as a potential Day 2 selection.

1. Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt

Stowers tops our list after a dominant 2024 season, finishing with 49 receptions for 712 yards and seven touchdowns. At 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, he brings a rare combination of size, speed, and fluidity in the passing game. He’s a legitimate vertical threat, often requiring bracket coverage or a safety over the top.

A former quarterback, Stowers understands coverages and finds soft spots in the zone with ease.

He’s also physical enough to win contested catches and fights through contact for extra yards. Vanderbilt is building their offense around him, and he’ll be a centerpiece in 2025. Stowers has everything NFL teams look for and could be the first tight end taken in the 2026 Draft.

Colin Lynch Written by Sports EditorColin Lynch
Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.
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