Tight End U: ESPN releases updated Top-10 for best TE producing schools

One of the biggest debates in college football is about which college has produced the best players at a particular position all-time. So, ESPN decided to rank the 10 best schools for production at each position, including the tight end position.

ESPN does have a logic behind these rankings, too. ESPN Stats & Information used data going back to 1998. Points were given for college production too, based on things like All-American honors. On top of that, NFL draft selections and the first five years of the player’s professional production are also taken into account. However, transfer players and other changes in the sport can complicate the issue.

So, here are the best tight-end-producing schools, according to ESPN:

1. Miami Hurricanes

In a lot of ways, Miami was an easy choice to be Tight End U. Remembering that these rankings are based on data going back to 1998, which was the first year of the BCS, and it’s easy to see how many talented tight ends that have come out of Coral Gables. That includes players like Jeremy Shockey, Greg Olsen, and Jimmy Graham.

Importantly in these rankings, Miami has only had one season since 1998 when they didn’t have a future NFL tight end starting on offense. That was in 2007. Most recently, Will Mallory joined the list of Hurricanes in the NFL, making Miami TEU.

2. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Notre Dame comes in second this year for the Tight End U rankings. The Irish are, notably, helped by the recent play of Michael Mayer, who became a second-round draft pick. Of course, he’s not the only great Notre Dame tight end in recent memory, with players like Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert gracing the field in South Bend.

One of the biggest problems with judging Notre Dame is that they’re not a part of a conference. So, tight ends at Notre Dame can’t be given things like All-Conference honors that go toward this award. Still, the Irish get their due at second on this list.

3. Iowa Hawkeyes

Iowa is a program that likes to think of itself as TEU, and for good reason, the Hawkeyes have produced plenty of excellent talent at the position. During the Kirk Ferentz era, in particular, Iowa has produced tons of tight ends in the NFL, like Dallas Clark and George Kittle.

In 2019, Iowa put its stamp on producing talented tight ends in the NFL. That season, T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant were both first round picks. Iowa hasn’t stopped there either and likely won’t stop in the near future, with the position still being important to the program.

4. Stanford Cardinal

There are times when Stanford’s success on the football field is overlooked for its academics. However, the Cardinal are no strangers to producing football talent, and in recent years that has meant producing talent at the tight end position. In fact, back in 2020, Sports Illustrated even declared Stanford Tight End U, by their own metrics.

It’s pretty obvious why Stanford deserves love for its tight ends when you dive into who the program has produced. Zach Ertz is the headliner, but players like Coby Fleener and Austin Hooper deserve credit too.

5. Florida Gators

Currently starring for the Atlanta Falcons, star Kyle Pitts had one of the all-time great seasons for a tight end in 2020. That made him a first round pick and a legend in Gainesville. However, he certainly wasn’t the only great Florida tight end since 1998.

Ben Troupe starred for the Gators at the turn of the century before going to the NFL. Then, Jordan Reed had a massive impact on the field following the team’s national championship runs. Even Aaron Hernandez, despite what happened off the field, contributes to Florida’s ranking on this list.

6. Missouri Tigers

It’s hard to ignore the amount of talented tight ends that the Missouri Tigers have produced. Since 1998, the Tigers have produced four tight ends drafted in the NFL. Most recently, that included Albert Owquegbunam in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Michael Egnew was a consensus All-American and two-time All-Big 12 selection before being drafted. In 2008, Missouri star Chase Coffman won the Mackey Award. That was one season after Martin Rucker was an All-American for the team.

7. Wisconsin Badgers

Over the years, Wisconsin has become known for its running back production. However, the Badgers deserve credit for the tight end production too. After all, there have been eight Wisconsin Badgers drafted into the NFL since 1998.

One of the bigger names to come out of Wisconsin is Owen Daniels, who has made two Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl. Lance Kendricks was also a massively important player for the Badgers, being named an All-American in 2010. Most recently, Jake Ferguson was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2022 NFL Draft.

8. Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners have become known for the spread offense in recent years. However, the Sooners have never gotten away from having a physical team that can block and run the ball. In turn, this has always made tight ends very valuable to the team.

Among the players who Oklahoma has produced are Jermaine Gresham and Mark Andrews. Andrews, in particular, had a phenomenal college career and is already having a great NFL career, with three Pro Bowls and an All-Pro selection. That came after winning the Mackey Award in college. Most recently, Brayden Willis was drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft.

9. Michigan Wolverines

For years now, Michigan has had the identity of a physical team that wants to be stronger than its opponents. A huge part of that, especially under head coach Jim Harbaugh, has been to produce talented tight ends

Since 1998, the Wolverines have produced eight NFL Draft picks. The most recent of those was Luke Schoonmaker in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He had been a Third-Team All-Big Ten selection in the 2022 season.

10. UCLA Bruins

Often overlooked for USC, UCLA has its own proud football history. Part of that modern history is the Bruins’ ability to produce extremely talented tight ends.

Since 2016, UCLA has had four tight ends drafted into the NFL. That came after a series of high picks at the start of the century, which included players like Mercedes Lewis and Mike Seidman. Most recently, Greg Dulcich was drafted by the Denver Broncos.

The debate for Tight End U is going to continue to rage on. In particular, because of the schools that missed the top 10. Perhaps the most notable among those schools is Georgia, where the current best tight end in the country, Brock Bowers, currently resides. This is a year after Darnell Washington was a third round pick. Another school rapidly rising at the position is Utah while Colorado State is tops in the Group of Five.