Top 25 College Football Tight Ends

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 2026 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. Olsen Platt-Henry, Clemson Tigers

Platt-Henry was a four-star recruit who has been with Clemson for three seasons. He had 16 catches for 126 yards last season and now will get to play a bigger role in the offense. 

24. Jelani Thurman, North Carolina Tar Heels

Thurman was a good recruit who played three seasons at Ohio State. He registered 13 catches for 144 yards and one touchdown over three seasons with the Buckeyes, but now gets the chance to show what he can do for North Carolina. 

23. Cole Rusk, Arizona Wildcats

Rusk has bounced around during his college career, playing well with Illinois last season. He’ll be looking to build on a season where he had 19 catches for 217 yards and one touchdown. 

22. Walker Lyons, BYU Cougars

While he wasn’t the starter last season, Lyons hauled in 20 passes for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Now, he’ll be one of the more experienced pass catchers on BYU’s roster after transferring to play for the Cougars.

21. Elija Lofton, Miami Hurricanes

Lofton caught 23 passes for 218 yards and three touchdowns last season, as he helped Miami make the national championship. Now, he’ll be catching passes from Darian Mensah with a chance to improve. 

20-16

20. Michael Masunas, Texas Longhorns

Masunas spent the first three years of his college career at Michigan State, where he had 232 receiving yards and three touchdowns. He will now join a talented group of Texas skill-position players as they look to compete for a title. 

19. Dorian Fleming, Maryland Terrapins

In 2024, Fleming had 558 receiving yards at Georgia State. The move to Big 10 competition at Maryland didn’t phase him too much, as he had 351 receiving yards in 2025. He can help quarterback Malik Washington to continue to develop. 

18. Brett Norfleet, Missouri Tigers

Over three seasons with Missouri, Norfleet has 686 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. The Tigers will be relying on him more heavily this season. 

17. Juice Vereen, Colorado State Rams

Vereen started his career at NC State, then made the move to UConn where he had 310 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season. He is now following his head coach at UConn, Jim Mora, to Colorado State where he can build on last season. 

16. Patrick Overmeyer, Houston Cougars

Overmeyer caught 27 passes for 344 yards and five touchdowns last season for UTSA. He now has to make the adjustment to playing in the Big 12 with Houston. 

15-11

15. Luke Reynolds, Virginia Tech Hokies

Reynolds showed growth from 2024 to 2025, going from 111 receiving yards to 257. He played solidly despite a tough Penn State season and now Reynolds will suit up for his old head coach, James Franklin, at Virginia Tech. 

14. Jaden Platt, Arkansas Razorbacks

After not producing much at Texas A&M, Platt had a good season at Arkansas last season. He caught 21 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns. 

13. Decker DeGraaf, Washington Huskies

In two seasons at Washington, DeGraaf has 593 receiving yards and five touchdowns catches. If he can improve again in year three, DeGraaf can move himself up this list. 

12. Dorian Thomas, Cal Golden Bears

Thomas went from Arizona to New Mexico over the last two seasons. With the Lobos last season, Thomas was utilized heavily with 56 catches for 560 yards and four touchdowns. Now, he will be catching passes from a promising young quarterback in Jaron Keawe-Sagapolutele. 

11. Brody Foley, Louisville Cardinals

Foley started his career at Indiana, but really popped off at Tulsa last season with 528 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll now get another chance at the power conference level at Louisville. 

10-6

10. Jeremiah Hasley, Duke Blue Devils

Although he was recruited as a linebacker, Hasley has found success at tight end for Duke. He had 40 catches for 454 yards and six touchdowns last season and now has a new quarterback in Walker Eget to play with. 

9. Lawson Luckie, Georgia Bulldogs

Luckie has been a part of a great Georgia tight end room over the years. Although the production was down last season with just 158 receiving yards, he now will be one of the go-to players in the offense. 

8. Garrett Oakley, Kansas State Wildcats

Oakley has improved every season of his college career at Kansas State. He now returns to the Wildcats after catching 38 passes for 389 yards and six touchdowns. 

7. Dylan Wade, UCF Knights

Wade transferred from Maryland to UCF last season and improved his production. He had 523 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2025 with a chance to build on it this season. 

6. Peter Clarke, Temple Owls

Clarke played at the NFL Academy in London before joining the Owls. He didn’t produce much in his first two seasons, but in 2025, he caught 30 passes for 483 yards and six touchdowns. Clarke shows some potential as a blocker as well, which has him generating a bit of NFL Draft buzz. 

5-1

 5. Benjamin Brahmer, Penn State Nittany Lions

Brahmer has been heavily utilized in his college career. In three seasons at Iowa State, he has 977 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. After following Matt Campbell and teammates to Penn State, he can continue to put up great stats. 

4. DJ Vonnahme, Iowa Hawkeyes

Vonnahme could be the next great Iowa tight end after impressing last season. He caught 29 passes for 434 yards and three touchdowns last season, which is a good year to build on. 

3. Terrance Carter, Texas Tech Red Raiders

After transferring from Louisiana to Texas Tech, Carter showed he belonged with his production. He had 624 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season as he helped the Red Raiders make the CFP. 

2. Jamari Johnson, Oregon Ducks

Oregon’s top tight end last season was Kenyon Sadiq, but Johnson looks ready to take over that role this year. He had 32 catches for 510 yards and three touchdowns, but now we’ll get even more targets. 

1. Trey’Dez Green, LSU Tigers

Green is a matchup nightmare for defenders. He had 33 catches for 433 yards and seven touchdowns last season, even with the team struggling. Now with Lane Kiffin coming in, Green’s talents could be properly used. 

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