Gunnar Helm has helped Texas remain a destination for tight ends

On Tuesday, Texas tight end Gunnar Helm was named a semifinalist for the John Mackey Award by the Friends of John Mackey. The Mackey is given annually to the best tight end in the country. Helm has staked a claim to that honor this season thanks to leading the Longhorns in receptions (31) and receiving yards (419) while adding two touchdowns and serving as an essential part of the Longhorn offense. His yardage total among tight ends is second in the SEC behind only Eli Stowers‘ 516 for Vanderbilt.

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Helm’s efforts have continued those started by fellow 2021 classmate Ja’Tavion Sanders. The current Carolina Panther was named a semifinalist for the award in 2022 and 2023, meaning tight end at Texas under assistant coach Jeff Banks is becoming known nationally as a factory for quality play at the position.

“I’ve had the pleasure of playing with a lot of really good tight ends, a lot of NFL tight ends,” Helm said Monday. “Taking things from Ja’Tavion’s game, taking things from Jared Wiley‘s game, taking things from Cade Brewer‘s game I think has made me into the player I am today. Obviously, from trusting (Steve Sarkisian) and Coach Banks and (Kyle) Flood when they were telling me when it was tough to believe and just to trust the process.”

Sarkisian calls tight end the second most critical position on his offense behind quarterback, and that axiom is reflected in how often Helm is on the field.

Helm has 487 snaps this season where he was part of the 11 in the lineup, a figure good for first among offensive skill players on the Longhorns. The Englewood (Colo.) Cherry Creek product isn’t just a checkdown target or a blocking piece. He’s utilized all over the field, with highlight scoring plays against Michigan and Oklahoma standing out. Plus, who could forget his hurdle over a UTSA defender?

GUNNAR HELM HURDLE🔥🔥🔥

The best TE in the country🤔👀

🎥: ESPN pic.twitter.com/HZPjYbihuW

— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) September 14, 2024

Helm’s successes are a continuation of his many plays spent working with Sanders last year. Those two function as members of the Longhorns’ class of 2021, and the reasons for the rejuvenation of the position.

Sanders holds a number of UT tight end records including most receptions in a season (54 in 2022) and a career (99) and most receiving yards in a season (682 in 2023). Sanders is second in career receiving yards among tight ends (1220) only behind David Thomas (1367).

Helm is working his way up the ranks and could threaten a couple of Sanders’ single-season records including receptions and yards. In addition, Helm is already ninth in UT history in career receptions by a tight end with 50, tenth in yards with 655, and he could eclipse Sanders in career touchdown receptions should he haul in four more over the course of the remainder of the season.

That three-year development is a testament to Helm and Sanders, and to efforts from Sarkisian and Banks to make that position a weapon within their offense.

And as Texas’ recruiting efforts have shown, high schoolers are taking notice with several notable examples coming to mind.

The Longhorns’ 2023 class added California three-star Spencer Shannon and Louisiana three-star Will Randle. At that juncture, Banks and Sarkisian had only a season’s worth of burnt orange data with Helm and Sanders to show recruits, though it was quality data in Sanders’ five-touchdown season.

While on the trail for the 2024 class, Banks utilized that information plus Sanders’ standout 2023 season when they sought Jordan Washington from the high school ranks and Amari Niblack from the portal. Those two appear primed to take on major roles and succeed Helm and Sanders as banner-carriers at TE in the future.

“I try to tell J-Wash every now and then about don’t worry about making these freshman mistakes,” Helm said Monday. “Everyone was in your shoes. He knows he’s got to develop. He’s doing a great job. He’s going to be an absolute force here someday and I’m excited to see it.”

And in 2025? Texas hit a home run at the position with Nick Townsend, the No. 100 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking, and Emaree Winston, a four-star prospect from Georgia.

Helm isn’t recruiting on the trail for Texas, at least not directly. But his play is contributing to Texas’ winning ways and 7-1 record. Plus, he’s provided key data that has grabbed the attention of high school prospects and is part of the latest efforts made toward keeping Texas a tight end destination.

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And who knows? Helm might have some hardware at the end of the year to prove it.