By Stephen Vilardo, SuperWest Sports
Tight Ends are versatile cogs in a capable offense, called upon to make tough catches in traffic, chip away at edge rushers, and open up holes for backs.
They are often key targets in the red zone, and we have some good ones in the west.
Today, as we continue looking ahead to the 2025 college football season, we look at the region’s top TEs.
1. Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon
Terrance Ferguson may be in the NFL, but Oregon need not worry about the TE position this season.
Sadiq is a great blocker with a huge catch radius when the ball is thrown to him. He caught 24 passes last season with a pair of TD receptions.
Sadiq can come down with the ball in traffic and break away from would-be tacklers once the catch is made.
2. Trey Leckner, Washington State
Leckner will contribute in the run game as a good blocker for the Cougars, but his numbers should jump drastically this season in the passing game.
He has the speed to be a vertical threat over the middle, and his soft hands should make him a target in the scoring zone. The sophomore saw his most action in the Holiday Bowl vs Syracuse, and we got a glimpse of what his production could be this season.
He should be a weapon in the Cougs’ offense this fall.
3. Matt Lauter, Boise State
Lauter’s seven TDs last season were the fifth most in the nation among TEs and the second most of any TE returning in 2025.
A reliable target, he finished the season with 47 receptions for 619 yards, with both figures ranking second-most for the Broncos in 2024. His seven TD receptions were the most for Boise State last year.
Look for an even more productive 2025 for the pass-catching TE.
4. Chamon Metayer, Arizona State
Metayer is a productive TE who hauled in 32 passes in his first campaign with the Sun Devils after transferring from Cincinnati.
Over the course of his career with the Bearcats and ASU, he has caught 56 passes for almost 600 yards, with 10 of them being TDs.
Metayer should play an even larger role in the ASU attack in 2025.
5. Riley Williams, Oregon State
A Portland native, Williams returns to his home-state Beavers after playing the last two seasons for Miami.
Williams is the prototypical TE at 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, and he can be a load to bring down in the open field.
He has the athleticism to stretch the field a bit and should open up the middle for the Beavs in 2025.
6. Lake McRee, USC
McRee was poised for a big season in 2024 prior to a leg injury suffered in the Michigan game.
He returned from that injury and saw action in 10 games during his junior season, but his production was not the same as at the start of the year.
McRee is back for a fifth season with the Trojans and should be an integral part of the offense.
7. Quentin Moore, Washington
Moore missed all but one game last season due to an injury, but will be back and should be a weapon for the Husky offense in 2025.
He is a solid blocker and will help in the run game.
In the passing game, Moore will be a reliable target underneath and in scoring opportunities.
8. John Michael Gyllenborg, Wyoming
Last season Gyllenborg averaged 3.3 receptions per game and has caught 53 passes over the last two seasons for 785 yards.
He is an incredibly good pass-catching TE who can get open and make plays.
For his career, he has averaged 14.8 yards per reception.
9. Hudson Habermehl, UCLA
Habermehl is long at 6-foot-6 and is a weapon in the red zone.
A total of 20.8% of his career receptions have been touchdowns.
Look for the Bruins to utilize him even more this season when the offense gets inside the 20.
10. Carsen Ryan, BYU
Ryan is a big TE at 6-4, 250 who has bounced around from UCLA to Utah and now BYU for his senior season.
A good blocker who can make plays downfield.
Ryan has double-digit receptions in each of the last two seasons and could play a significant role in the red zone for the Cougars this season.
11. Sam Olson, Arizona
Olson will be a good target underneath for Noah Fifita.
With soft hands and a large catch radius, he’s an excellent receiving TE who can stretch the seam when needed.
Last season, he averaged 15.1 yards per reception.
12. Var’Keyes Gumms, UNLV
Gumms comes to the Rebels as one of the top TEs in the portal after playing for Arkansas the last two seasons.
He saw limited action with the Razorbacks but put up good numbers as a freshman with North Texas.
Gumms is a solid blocker with good hands.
writes about various topics for SuperWest sports, including stats and records, college sports, and motorsports. He also founded and runs the Sports and Entertainment Research Center (SERC).
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