Our preseason SEC tight end rankings are here, and if you’re looking for unanimous agreement… well, you won’t find it. While we were never 100% aligned on any one school, we came close a few times—and even managed to create a rare consensus tie at No. 8 between Missouri and Texas A&M. The process behind our rankings is simple: each of us—Caleb, Craig, and Matt—submitted our personal 1–16 list. The top-ranked team on any ballot earns 16 points, second place gets 15, third place gets 14, and so on, with the final spot receiving just a single point. We add those up to create our final composite standings. This year’s results show just how differently we see the position across the league.
Some teams generated near-universal praise from our panel—like Vanderbilt, Texas, and Georgia—though the exact order may spark some spirited debate. Others caused wide splits in opinion, including Alabama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina, where our individual ballots landed miles apart. Our tie at No. 8 is another reflection of the parity in the middle tier, where certain rosters have clear strengths but also glaring questions. Whether you agree with our picks or think we’ve completely missed the mark, the breakdowns that follow will walk you through each team’s tight end situation heading into 2025. Scroll down to see the complete rankings from No. 1 to No. 16, plus our detailed analysis for every squad.
Heartland Sports Consensus SEC Tight End Rankings
| RANKING | POINTS |
|---|---|
| 1. Vanderbilt | 45 |
| 2. Texas | 42 |
| 3. Georgia | 41 |
| 4. Tennessee | 38 |
| 5. LSU | 36 |
| 6. Ole Miss | 31 |
| 7. Alabama | 27 |
| 8. Missouri | 24 |
| 8. Texas A&M | 24 |
| 10. Florida | 23 |
| 11. South Carolina | 21 |
| 12. Arkansas | 17 |
| 13. Auburn | 15 |
| 14. Mississippi State | 11 |
| 15. Oklahoma | 7 |
| 16. Kentucky | 6 |
Individual Rankings
Caleb
1. Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt has one of the best if not the best tight ends in Eli Stowers. Stowers has the speed to beat you down the field and wins a lot of his 50/50 balls.
2. Texas | Texas went into the portal and grabbed one the best transfers in Jack Endries. Jack Endries enters next season as one of the premier receiving tight ends in the nation. In each of his first two seasons at Cal, the six-foot-four pass catcher has been a reliable safety valve for the tight end and continues to prove his value at the position.
3. Tennessee | Miles Kitselman looks to lead the way for the vols. The 6’5 senior appeared in 13 games for Tennessee in 2024. He recorded 22 receptions for 301 yards and four touchdowns and looks to have a breakout season in 2025.
4. Georgia
5. Ole Miss
6. South Carolina
7. Missouri
8. LSU
9. Arkansas
10. Florida
11. Texas A&M
12. Alabama
13. Mississippi State
14. Auburn
15. Oklahoma | Oklahoma had a terrible tight end room last year, and they didn’t go make a big splash in the transfer portal. Karson Kent transfers in from Kent State. He made some plays for Kent State a year ago but can he make big plays in the SEC?
16.Kentucky | Kentucky much like Oklahoma didn’t have a great tight end room last season, and didn’t make a splash in the portal either. The depth in this room lacks experience.
Craig
1. Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt probably doesn’t have the deepest tight end room in the conference, but they do have the best tight end in Eli Stowers. He brought in 638 yards through the air last season and also put up 5 touchdowns. Stowers is primed for an even better season heading into his senior year.
2. Texas | The Longhorns were searching for a replacement at the tight end position and found one of the best in Cal transfer Jack Endries. He had 56 receptions for 623 yards in 2024. Texas will have some depth as well with Spencer Shannon and Jordan Washington being reliable backups.
3. Georgia | The Bulldogs make my top three due to the depth they have at the tight end position. Oscar Delp will lead the way, but they also have weapons in Lawson Luckie and Jaden Reddell.
4. Tennessee
5. LSU
6. Ole Miss
7. Missouri
8. South Carolina
9. Texas A&M
10. Florida
11. Alabama
12. Auburn
13. Arkansas
14. Kentucky
15. Oklahoma | The biggest question mark for me about the Sooners offense is the tight end position. Oklahoma lacks a true star at tight end. Kaden Helms will likely lead the way, but Jaren Kanak made the move to tight end and could see some snaps as well.
16. Mississippi State | Mississippi State has some experience at the position, but also lacks a true star like the Sooners. Their best bet is Seydou Traore who had only 361 yards in 2024.
Matt
1. Alabama | Despite losing veterans Robbie Ouzts and CJ Dippre to the NFL, Alabama enters 2025 with what may be the deepest and most versatile tight end group in the SEC. Josh Cuevas, a proven pass-catcher who followed Kalen DeBoer from Washington, brings the most experience and production, while Danny Lewis Jr. offers size, blocking ability, and special teams value. Transfer addition Brody Dalton adds red-zone punch after a breakout year at Troy, and redshirt freshman Jay Lindsey is set to grow into a bigger role after a healthy offseason. The Crimson Tide also bolstered the room with four transfer portal additions and four-star freshman Kaleb Edwards, giving them a mix of proven production, upside, and depth unmatched in the conference. With so many capable contributors who can impact the game as receivers, blockers, or both, Alabama’s tight end unit is positioned to be the most complete in the SEC.
2. LSU | The Tigers’ tight end group enters the 2025 season with a balanced mix of proven talent and intriguing upside. Fifth-year senior Bauer Sharp is expected to emerge as the primary target in the passing game, filling the void left by Mason Taylor. Sophomore Trey’Dez Green brings a high ceiling as a versatile threat who can impact both the run and pass games, and transfer Donovan Green from Texas A&M adds valuable depth and experience.
3. Georgia | The Bulldogs’ tight end group enters the 2025 season as one of the SEC’s best, returning over 75% of its 2024 production despite losing NFL draft pick Benjamin Yurosek. The duo of Lawson Luckie and Oscar Delp gives the Bulldogs two interchangeable, starting-caliber tight ends with NFL potential, each capable of anchoring the position. Last year, Georgia’s tight ends combined for 62 receptions, 799 yards, and seven touchdowns—surpassing Brock Bowers’ 2023 totals—while balancing blocking duties with downfield playmaking. Luckie’s breakout 2024 campaign (348 yards, three scores) paired with Delp’s consistent presence and physicality, praised by Kirby Smart for his blocking and leadership, make the position a reliable offensive weapon. With proven depth, production, and versatility, Georgia’s tight end room is a top-three unit in the SEC and a cornerstone of the Bulldogs’ offensive identity.
4. Vanderbilt
5. Texas
6. Tennessee
7. Texas A&M
8. Florida
9. Ole Miss
10. Auburn
11. Mississippi State
12. Arkansas
13. Missouri
14. Oklahoma
15. Kentucky | The Wildcats’ tight end group has experience and some promising young talent, but it lacks the proven production that pushes other SEC units higher in the rankings. While veteran Josh Kattus is a reliable blocker and Willie Rodriguez could emerge as a red-zone threat, neither has established themselves as a consistent receiving weapon at the conference level. Much of the depth, including blocking specialists like Henry Boyer and Elijah Brown, offers limited versatility in stretching the field. With no proven difference-maker and most of the potential still in the “wait-and-see” stage, the Wildcats’ tight ends remain a work in progress, placing them near the bottom of the SEC heading into 2025.
16. South Carolina | USC’s tight end room enters 2025 without a proven playmaker, leaving the position one of the weakest in the SEC. While Michael Smith could see an expanded role and there’s competition for snaps, the Gamecocks lack a clear go-to option who can consistently impact the passing game. The group’s inexperience and absence of a difference-maker limit its offensive upside, keeping South Carolina anchored at the bottom of the conference tight end rankings.
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