10 college football teams with dominant tight end units heading into 2024 season ft. North Carolina
Top college tight ends used to be glorified blockers. But with the widespread use of pass-heavy offenses, today's tight ends get to be massive receivers.
It certainly helps red-zone offenses to have capable tight end targets near the goal line. Many of the nation's best teams have standout tight ends. In fact, here are 10 of the best .
Ten college football teams with dominant tight end units heading into 2024 season
#10 TCU Horned Frogs
Super senior Drake Dabney comes to TCU from Baylor. With the Bears last seaosn, Dabney grabbed 33 passes for 552 yards and five scores. The six-foot-five red zone target will improve TCU greatly in 2024.
#9 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Irish return senior Mitchell Evans is a six-foot-five playmaker, albeit an oft-injured one. Last year, in eight games, Evans caught 29 passes for 422 yards. He give Notre Dame a top level tight end group.
#8 Michigan State Spartans
State snagged a massive weapon with Jack Velling from Oregon State. All Velling did a season ago was haul in 29 passes for 438 yards and an impressive eight touchdowns.
The six-foot-four Velling has two years of eligibility left and could end up being one of the top tight ends in the nation.
#7 Ole Miss Rebels
Former Memphis transfer Caden Prieskorn had a slow start to his 2023 season but improved lately.
Over the last two years, Prisekorn has caught 78 passes for 1,051 yards and 11 touchdowns. He should be good for a big season, and Viriginia Tech's Dae'quan Wright will also lend a hand. Ole Miss has a great tight end group.
#6 Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Tech isn't all about one player but had an oustanding tight end duo leading the position group.
Six-foot-nine monster tight end Mason Tharp caught five scores last year. Meanwhile, Jalin Conyers caught 68 passes over the past two years at Arizona State. Both outstanding tight ends will shine for the Red Raiders.
#5 Syracuse Orangemen
The Orangemen have a wonderfully unusual tight end duo. Returnee Oronde Gadsden II was unstoppable in 2022 (61 receiptions and six scores) but missed most of 2023 due to injuries.
Tight end/wildcat QB Dan Villari caught 20 passes for three scores but also ran the ball often from the wildcat formation. Both will contribute for the Orangemen.
#4 Utah Utes
The Utes are banking on sixth year standout Brent Kuithe to finally be healthy.
If he is, he's as good as anyone in the nation. Behind him, they added quality transfers Landen King from Auburn and Carsen Ryan from UCLA. But Kuithe is the guy who determines if this is a solid tight end group or a great one.
#3 Michigan Wolverines
Michigan returns Colston Loveland, who caught 45 passes for 649 yards and four scores a year ago. Loveland has some quality depth behind him, but he's not only the top tight end at UM; he might be the best tight end in the nation.
#2 Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia lost Brock Bowers, but don't shed many tears for the Bulldogs. Oscar Delp was solid behind Bowers a year ago, catching 24 passes for 284 yards and three scores.
UGA brought in Stanford transfer Ben Yuroseck, who has fought injuries, but is a top talent himself. Georgia will be just fine at the tight end spot.
#1 North Carolina Tar Heels
Six-foot-six Byron Nesbit was a standout pass target a year ago, grabbing 41 passes for 585 yards and five scores.
Carolina also went out and added Jake Johnson from Texas A&M. Johnson caught 24 passes for 235 yards and four scores last season. The Heels will definitely be a challenge to defend next season, and a great tight end group plays a bit role in that.
Which team's tight end standouts do you like best? Let's hear your thoughts below in our comments section: