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Top 10 Best Tight Ends in College Football 2024-2025 Rankings | NFL Draft 2025 Tight Ends Rankings

Ranking the best tight ends in College Football for the 2024-2025 NCAA season as Harold Fannin Jr. of the Bowling Green Falcons leads the way

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By Sunday Umoh | January 22, 2025

The evolution of the offensive side of the game of football continues to make new strides from one season to the next as football players continue to get bigger, stronger, and faster. This is the case with the tight end position as once a position known for their importance to the blocking side of the offense has now seen their roles grow into playmakers in their respective teams passing games. Two talented tight ends that land atop the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends 2024-2025 Rankings list are Tyler Warren for the Penn State Nittany Lions and Harold Fannin Jr of the Bowling Green Falcons. 

As you look at both Warren and Fannin Jr each are a mismatch waiting to happen for opposing linebackers and safeties looking to cover them in passing situations while also have the size and power to block in running situations. Fannin Jr caps off a marvelous season leading college football in both receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555).

Warren was not much farther back finishing tied for second in receptions (104) and sixth overall in receiving yards (1,233). Joining those two talented tight ends among the best in college football are Oronde Gadsden II of the Syracuse Orange, Gunnar Helm of the Texas Longhorns, and Colston Loveland of the Michigan Wolverines.

Here is a look at the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends 2024-2025 Rankings:

Honorable Mention

Jake Briningstool

School: Clemson Tigers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Just missing the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends 2024 Rankings list is the Clemson Tigers senior tight end Jake Briningstool. Briningstool who elected to return for his senior season this season in hopes of leading the Clemson Tigers to the College Football Playoff and a National Championship put together a strong final season.

The senior tight end pulled in 49 receptions for a career high 530 receiving yards and a career high seven touchdowns while becoming the Tigers all-time reception leader at the tight end position.

He also delivered by helping to lead the Tigers to the playoffs including catching two key touchdowns in the 34-31 win over the SMU Tigers in the ACC Championship Game to send the Tigers to the playoffs.

Despite falling to the Texas Longhorns in the first round of the playoffs, Briningstool played well pulling in four catches for 69 yards while showcasing his athleticism and ability to make big plays with the football in his hand.

Caden Prieskorn

School: Ole Miss Rebels

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Another talented tight end just missing the Top 10 of the best tight ends in college football from the 2024-2025 NCAA football season is Caden Prieskorn of the Ole Miss Rebels.

Like other tight ends at the collegiate level the overall performance and success does not show up on the stat sheet from week to week that Prieskorn brough to the field each game.

A strong blocker both in run and passing situations, Prieskorn did not benefit from an offense that featured a ton of weapons in the passing attack as well as second top tier tight end in Dae’Quan Wright who is expected to be a game changer for the Rebels next season.

All and all Prieskorn finished off his college career with four straight seasons with at least 27 catches and at least 400 yards while adding three touchdowns in each. This includes his senior season posting 401 receiving yards to go along with three touchdown receptions.

Top 10 Best Tight Ends in College Football 2024-2025 Rankings

10. Max Klare

School: Purdue Boilermakers

NFL Draft Status: Returning to School (Transfer to Ohio State Buckeyes)

Just making the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends 2024 Rankings list at number 10 is Max Klare formerly of the Purdue Boilermakers. Klare, who should continue to emerge as one of the top overall tight ends during next season, announced his decision to transfer to the Ohio State Buckeyes for his junior season.

The talented sophomore tight end showcased smooth route running all season as well as strength and length within the team’s blocking schemes. In the end Klare capped off his second season finishing with 51 catches for 685 yards to go along with four touchdown receptions while also topping the 80-yard mark in three different games.

The former Boilermakers tight end is just one of two top ends among this list that will return to school for the 2025-2026 NCAA Football schedule.

9. Holden Willis

School: Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

One tight end name that might go under the radar is the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders senior tight end Holden Willis.

While standing at six-foot four-inches, Willis is undersized at just around 210 pounds among many of the game’s top tight ends, but it has not let it slow him down as he uses great speed and hands as well as length to separate in coverage.

Willis who will also be one of the many names in the 2025 NFL Draft finished his final season posting a career high 871 receiving yards on 53 catches as well as five touchdown receptions. The Blue Raiders tight end finished the season ranked fourth in receiving yards to finish his career with 12 total touchdowns.

8. Terrance Ferguson

School: Oregon Ducks

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

When it comes to the high-powered offenses in college football the Oregon Ducks have had a proven track record of putting up a ton of yards and points. That was the case for the 2024-2025 NCAA Football season as the Ducks finished off the season averaging 437.4 yards of offense per game including 278.7 passing yards per game while also averaging 34.9 points per game.

One of those key weapons within the Ducks offense was Terrance Ferguson who used his size and athleticism to deliver a ton of value from the tight end position. Ferguson, who elected to return for his senior season, posted a career high 43 catches for 591 yards to go along with three touchdown receptions.

As a key weapon in both the blocking game and passing game, Ferguson was a key part of the Ducks impressive 12-1 season that came to end with a loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes during the 2025 College Football Playoffs.

7. Mason Taylor

School: LSU Tigers

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

One popular trend among the top tight ends from the 2024-2025 NCAA Football season is to bypass another season of college football to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. That is also the case with the versatile and athletic LSU Tigers tight end Mason Taylor who will forgo his senior season.

Taylor, who posted at least 36 catches in each of his three seasons with the Tigers, capped off his junior season setting career highs in receiving yards (546) and receptions (55) while also adding two touchdown receptions.

Despite the production in the red zone during his time Taylor brings great size and talent to the position while being limited due to the long list of top tier talent at the receiver position over his Tigers playing career. 

6. Gunnar Helm

School: Texas Longhorns

NFL Draft Status: 2025 NFL Draft

Gunnar Helm who took over the primary tight end responsibilities for the Longhorns during the season did not disappoint while posting 60 catches for 786 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

While his overall blocking needs work, his speed and athleticism in the passing game elevates his overall potential and the value he added to a Longhorns team that finished the season averaging 278.8 total passing yards per game, 437.5 total yards, and 33 points per game.

The six-foot five-inch Helm ranked among the best all round tight ends in college football while not only having the tools as pass catcher but also as one of the top blockers among the position.

5. Tanner Koziol

School: Ball State Cardinals

NFL Draft Status: Returning to School (Transfer to Wisconsin Badgers)

Rounding out the Top 5 on the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends 2024 Rankings list is talented tight end Tanner Koziol formerly of the Ball State Cardinals. Koziol, who is returning for another season, has elected to transfer to the Wisconsin Badgers for what is expected to be his final collegiate season.

The junior tight end capped off a season finishing fifth overall among all college football tight ends with 839 yards and also added 94 total catches along with a career high eight touchdowns. After posting just 69 total receptions and 668 receiving yards to start his first two seasons, Koziol was given the opportunity to shine, and he did not disappoint.

While Koziol would have been a top target within the 2025 NFL Draft, his move to the Badgers with new offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes calling plays will allow him to continue to develop with high expectations for the 2026 NFL Draft.

4. Oronde Gadsden II

School: Syracuse Orange

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

When healthy, playing in the right offensive system, and on the field for the Syracuse Orange Oronde Gadsden II showcased his big play potential and his overall skills of the position.

After posting 969 yards on 61 catches with six touchdowns during the 2022 NCAA Football season, Gadsden II playing time was limited last season to just two total games in the team’s offensive game plan.

Fast forward to the 2024-2025 NCAA season with a new offensive coordinator in Robert Anae calling plays and the six-foot five-inch tight end posted his second 900-yard season with the Orange (934) while pulling in 73 total catches and seven total touchdown receptions. Gadsden II used his size, speed, and route running skills to form mismatches against opposing defenders including linebackers and safeties.

3. Colston Loveland

School: Michigan Wolverines 

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

It is hard to see how good Colston Loveland of the Michigan Wolverines was and the impact he had all season for the team based on numbers on paper who was a finalist for the John Mackey Award.

Much of this comes with the offensive scheme relying on the running game heavier over the course of the entire 2024-2025 NCAA Football season limiting the number of receptions and opportunities for Loveland.

Loveland, like many of the other top talents on the Wolverines, elected to skip the team’s Reliaquest Bowl game while declaring for the NFL. Overall Loveland averaged 10.4 yards per catch over 56 total catches while adding 582 yards and five touchdown passes.

In addition to that production Loveland resulted in nearly 35% of all the Wolverines passing numbers while leading the team in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns.

2. Tyler Warren

School: Penn State Nittany Lions

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

Coming in at a close second or you can even say tied at number one is Tyler Warren of the Penn State Nittany Lions. Warren, who is expected to be the first tight end selected during the 2025 NFL Draft has all the tools to excel at the next level.

The six-foot six-inch tight end from Mechanicsville Virginia capped off a strong four-year career by posting career highs in nearly every statistic including receptions with 104, receiving yards with 1,233, and receiving touchdowns with eight while also ranking second in each statistic among the tight end position.

While Warren slides in at number two on the list, his production coming against top tier programs while playing in the Big Ten gives him a slight advantage come the Draft with some of the experts and analysts. Warren’s strong play landed him the 2024 John Mackey Award handed out to the best tight end in college football.

1. Harold Fannin Jr.

School: Bowling Green Falcons

NFL Draft Status: NFL Draft

When it comes to the top tight ends landing on the Top 10 College Football Tight Ends 2024 Rankings list it is a toss up of the best two in college football between Tyler Warren of the Penn State Nittany Lions and Harold Fannin Jr of the Bowling Green Falcons.

Ultimately it is hard to look past the production Fannin Jr brought to the Falcons offense finishing the season with a stat line that included 117 receiving yards, 10 receiving touchdowns, and 1,555 receiving yards.

Over the course of the season the six-foot four-inch tight end posted eight games with at least 100 yards and five games with at least double-digit receptions landing him as a finalist for the John Mackey Award.

In addition to solid size, speed and athleticism the Falcons third year star who is expected to be a hot name during the 2025 NFL Draft was tremendous in both run and pass blocking situations.

Over that stretch, Bowers put up three straight games with at least 120 receiving yards with one touchdown before going down against the Vanderbilt Commodores back in mid-October.

How would you rank the Best Tight Ends in College Football for the 2024-2025 season? Rank below to be added in the NCAA Power Rankings.

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