By Luke Brumm
Let’s take a look and see my picks for the best tight ends heading into the 2024 season.
5. Bryson Nesbit – North Carolina
Bryson Nesbit is going into his last season in Chapel Hill and will look to be one of the best tight ends in the country. He accumulated 585 yards on 41 receptions last season and also added five receiving touchdowns. Nesbit had a similar season in 2023 with 507 yards and four touchdowns on 35 receptions.
I expect to see his numbers increase this season, depending on the quarterback play. Nesbit has great size at 6’5 235 lbs and I think he will be a great fit in the NFL.
4. Luke Lachey – Iowa
Iowa continues their long run of good tight ends with Luke Lachey. Lachey is 6’6 253 lbs and has had his numbers diminished due to the lack of offense, specifically passing offense. He was also limited to just two games in 2023 due to injury but still racked up 10 receptions for 131 yards. The season before, he had 28 receptions for 398 yards and four touchdowns.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see his numbers increase drastically with the new offense coming to the Hawkeyes. It has been atrocious and somewhat embarrassing the last few years, Iowa needs to turn it around and fully utilize Lachey.
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3. Oscar Delp – Georgia
Georgia is losing arguably the best tight end in college football history, so there will be a drop off in production. On the bright side, it might not be as drastic due to Oscar Delp. Delp was a four-star recruit and one of the best tight ends in his class. He hasn’t played too much due to Darnell Washington and Brock Bowers, but he was too good to keep on the sideline.
After only five receptions for 61 yards and a touchdown as a freshman, Delp produced 284 yards and 3 touchdowns with 24 receptions last season. Bowers being out multiple weeks helped propel Delp to the number one option at tight end. He will be the first option this season as well but will also have help from Stanford transfer Benjamin Yurosek and sophomore Lawson Luckie.
2. Mitchell Evans – Notre Dame
Notre Dame is one of those schools that seems to consistently produce tight ends and Mitchell Evans is next on that list. He had 422 yards and a touchdown on 29 receptions in 2023. Evans has great size at 6’5 260 lbs and it a good blocker.
Notre Dame brings in another good transfer quarterback in Riley Leonard, so the targets should be there. I challenge him to reach 50 receptions and 10 touchdowns this year.
1. Colston Loveland – Michigan
Colston Loveland is coming off a National Championship season and will be playing with a very different team this season. Michigan lost as many players as anyone in the country, but they didn’t lose Loveland, which is huge. As only a sophomore, he had 649 yards and four touchdowns on 45 receptions. Those are tremendous numbers and I think he can get even better.
With Roman Wilson gone, we could see him getting a lot more targets. QB play will need to be good and that is yet to be seen as none of their options have seen much playing time. That being said, I see Loveland succeeding this season, barring any injuries.
