Gunnar Helm at the NFL combine to prove he's a complete tight end

Texas tight end Gunnar Helm is at the NFL Combine to show he can do it all.

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Speaking with Mike Florio and Chris Simms on Pro Football Talk, Helm was very, very detailed in discussing his career arc and what he wants to show NFL teams during his time in Indianapolis.

“I think having a role as a blocking tight end my sophomore, junior, and little bit of my freshman year set me up well in the run game,” Helm said. I met with my coach, (Jeff) Banks, in the offseason and I said I want to play in the National Football League. I want to help this team win a national championship and win an SEC championship. What do I have to do?

“You’ve got to be more explosive. Got to help us in the vertical passing game. Got to fill this void that (Ja’Tavion Sanders) just left us, very good tight end that I sat behind for a couple of years. Went to (Torre) Becton. Need to be more explosive and need to be faster. Here’s how we’re going to do it. Here’s the plan. Did extra things with him. Stayed after and threw with Quinn (Ewers) in the vertical game. Mastered the Y route tree.

“In all those efforts to be a better receiver in the vertical passing game, I think my blocking took a back seat. Probably wish I hit the sled a couple more times and trusted my footwork, but still got the job done quite a bit this season. Not nearly what I wanted.”

Simms and Florio praised Helm for his brutal honesty. They also asked what his toughest matchup was. There was a who’s who of defensive linemen for Helm to identify, including Mykel Williams, Jalon Walker, Mason Graham, Nic Scourton, Will Anderson, and Dallas Turner.

In fact, Helm even got lined up against the 6-foot-3.5, 296 pounder during Texas’ matchup with Michigan early in the 2024 season. Helm explained that there was a type of protection that had him blocking whoever was on his outside. It just so happened to be the unanimous All-American. Helm felt he did his job, however.

“Pushed him by,” Helm said. “Quinn stepped up in the pocket. We got a first down.”

With Colorado roots, Helm was asked how he ended up at Texas. He mentioned that he looked at schools like Georgia and Wisconsin but fell in love with Austin on the plane ride in for his visit.

“I can tell you honestly I knew I was going to commit to the University of Texas as soon as I was flying in,” Helm said. “I looked out the window, I saw the summertime in Austin, all the boats on the lake, the vibes around summertime, the city, and how you get a little bit of everything. You’ve got the college campus to the north and the city five minutes south. Got everything. Great feel. Great alumni network. Great football tradition and winning tradition. Academic prestige. It all just kind of came together for me and I thought it was a perfect fit.”

When asked about the resurgence Texas has seen under Steve Sarkisian, Helm went in-depth on how the Longhorns that were once a “broken team and a pretty broken culture” took a place near the top of the sport.

“Coach Sark came to Texas with a vision,” Helm said. “He came from a great culture and obviously a great program at the University of Alabama. He wanted that same thing for Texas. I think that the young guys, guys in my class, it was our first year and we were trying to learn the ropes.

“We quickly had to mature enough to be able to run a football team because lots of guys were leaving and lots of guys were departing for new teams because they didn’t want to be a part of our culture and they didn’t want to be part of this new plan that Coach Sark, Coach Banks, and (Kyle) Flood came in with with this whole new vision. Having to lead a team from a young age, I think it taught me a lot. It definitely made me mature quite a bit.”

Helm caught 60 passes for 786 yards and seven touchdowns in 2024. During his Texas career, he logged 79 receptions for 1022 yards and nine touchdowns. His most complete performance in his own opinion?

“I’m thinking of balanced, balanced tight end work,” Helm said. Good run game and good pass game. First game that comes to mind is a game like Clemson against an NFL style defense.”

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Florio joked that Helm would make a good NFL head coach if playing never worked out for him. That may be part of Helm’s story, but he hopes it follows a successful playing career in the league.