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College football's Week 6 should bring some big games for standout tight ends. As the nation's wide receivers will see more and tougher coverages, tight ends could shine.
In fact, many of the nation's top tight ends are almost criminally underused. Here are 10 standouts at the position who could shine in Week 6.
Top 10 tight ends to watch for in Week 6
10 Jake Newell, Akron
A redshirt freshman who transferred over from Arizona State, Newell has found a home in Akron.
He's something of a safety valve in the Zip passing game. Newell has a whopping 24 catches for 168 yards and a pair of touchdowns. At 6-foot-4 and 245 pounds, Newell will be a red-zone option against Bowling Green in Week 6.
#9 Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
A reliable senior tight end, Ferguson is one of a host of Oregon pass targets. But most of those targets aren't 6-foot-6 and 248 pounds.
For the season, Ferguson has 14 catches for 177 yards. That places him third on Oregon's team in each category and means he will be significant against Michigan State this weekend.
#8 Tyler Warren, Penn State
At 6-foot-6 and 252 pounds, Warren has always been a red zone threat for the Nittany Lions.
He caught seven touchdowns last year. He's PSU's leading receiver this year, with 20 grabs for 260 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He will be worth a look against UCLA in Week 6.
#7 Tanner Koziol, Ball State
Koziol is a massive target at 6-foot-7 and 250 pounds. Ball State has put the junior to good use. Koziol has led his team with 29 receptions for 289 yards and three touchdowns. Western Michigan will need worlds of help to combat Koziol's size and strength.
#6 Harold Fannin, Bowling Green
Fannin is quietly the most productive tight end in the country. He's a 6-foot-4 junior who was Bowling Green's main receiver a season ago.
He has been even better this season. With 37 catches for 537 yards and four scores in four games, Fannin is third in the nation among all players in receiving yards per game. He's electric, and if he played at an SEC school, he'd be getting Heisman hype.
#5 Byron Nesbitt, North Carolina
North Carolina's passing game has struggled without Max Johnson, but it's not Nesbitt's fault.
The sure-handed senior has 17 catches for 208 yards and three scores. He's the team leader in catches and TDs and second in yardage. Pittsburgh has to cover him carefully in Week 6.
#4 Jack Velling, Michigan State
A junior standout, Welling used his 6-foot-4 frame to make plays a year ago at Oregon State.
With the Spartans, he's working into the rotation, making 13 catches for 185 yards so far. He's second on the team in catches and third in yards, so Jonathan Smith will likely look to him against Oregon this week.
#3 Caden Preiskorn, Ole Miss
While Tre Harris is catching most of the passes in Oxford, there's got to be a bigger role for Preiskorn.
He has just 10 catches for 181 yards and a score. Prieskorn contributed a big 42 yard catch late against Kentucky, but it was the only time the Rebels looked his way. Watch for a big game from Prieskorn at South Carolina.
#2 Luke Lachey, Iowa
The 6-foot-6 Lachey would be a star in most offenses. But Iowa's passing game is very perfunctory, and Lachey doesn't put up crazy numbers because of that.
In four games, he has 12 catches for 97 yards in 2024. Those modest numbers place him second on his team in receptions and yards. If Iowa is going to step things up against No. 3 Ohio State, Lachey has to take a bigger role.
#1 Colson Loveland, Michigan
The 6-foot-5 Loveland doesn't get enough action either. Michigan is going run-heavy with Alex Orji, passing for just 118 yards in the last two games combined.
Loveland is the UM passing game. His 23 catches are 11 more than the second-leading receiver. His 228 yards more than triples the second-most on the Wolverines. His one touchdown ties for team high.
Michigan will have to get more creative in competitive games, and their battle at Washington could be one of those. Loveland can get double-digit catches and 100 yards, but only if Sherrone Moore and company decide to throw.
Which tight ends are you watching in Week 6? Share your thoughts below in the comments section:
