For decades, Oklahoma’s offense has thrived on versatility, balance, and the ability to create mismatches at every level of the defense. From Jermaine Gresham to Mark Andrews, from Jeremiah Hall to Brayden Willis, the tight end position has often been a hidden engine in Norman’s offensive machine. But heading into the 2025 season, that engine is sputtering — and the Sooners are running out of time to get it humming again.
It’s not hyperbole to say that tight end has been one of Oklahoma’s weakest position groups over the last two seasons. Since Willis’s graduation in 2022, the Sooners have struggled to find a player who can consistently change games at the position. That’s not to say there hasn’t been effort — or even flashes of production — but consistency, reliability, and high-end playmaking have been missing.
Last year’s situation was particularly frustrating for Sooner Nation. With the wide receiver room decimated by injuries, tight ends Bauer Sharp and Jake Roberts were thrust into bigger roles. On paper, it should have been an opportunity to showcase their value. In reality, it was a mixed bag at best. Sharp led the team in receptions and receiving yards — 42 catches for 324 yards — but the production came with underwhelming efficiency (just 7.7 yards per catch) and shaky blocking. Roberts added 12 catches for 112 yards, but neither player struck fear into SEC defenses. Worse yet, the run blocking from the position group was inconsistent, contributing to an offense that sputtered to its worst statistical season since 1998.
Joe Jon Finley, a former Sooner tight end himself, has taken his share of criticism for the decline. He’s had success coaching the position before, but his tenure as co-offensive coordinator in 2024 seemed to stretch him thin. This year, he’s back to focusing solely on tight ends while new offensive coordinator Ben Arbuckle takes over the play calling. For Finley, the reset could be an opportunity — but it’s also a pivotal moment in his coaching tenure at Oklahoma.
Arbuckle’s arrival changes the calculus. At Washington State last season, his tight ends weren’t the centerpiece of the offense, but they were integrated into both the passing and running games. The Cougars used multiple players at the position, and while the raw stats weren’t eye-popping — 21 catches for 304 yards and seven touchdowns among them — their contributions in blocking schemes and red zone packages were significant. Arbuckle doesn’t need an All-American tight end to succeed, but he does need competence, versatility, and the ability to create matchup problems when opportunities arise.
The question is whether Oklahoma has the personnel to provide that in 2025.
The Transfers: High on Effort, Low on Proven Power
The Sooners dipped heavily into the transfer portal this offseason, adding Will Huggins (Pittsburg State), Carson Kent (Kennesaw State), and John Locke Jr. (Louisiana Tech). Each brings a unique skill set, but none arrive with SEC-level production.
Huggins is the most intriguing — a massive 6-foot-6, 262-pound target who dominated at the Division II level with 395 yards on 22 catches last season. His size and willingness to block make him an appealing option, but the leap from D-II to the SEC is a big one. Kent is a reliable route runner who earned All-Conference USA honors, and while his production (18 catches, 217 yards, three touchdowns) came against lesser competition, his work ethic has drawn praise since the spring. Locke’s résumé is the thinnest — just three career catches — but his athletic background and versatility could help him carve out a niche role.
The Conversions and Comebacks
Perhaps the most unconventional move of the offseason was shifting linebacker Jaren Kanak to tight end. Kanak was once a prized defensive recruit, but his impact on that side of the ball waned in recent years. Now, the staff hopes his speed and explosiveness can translate back to offense — where he starred as a high school running back. It’s a gamble, but if it pays off, it could give the Sooners an athletic chess piece in certain packages.
Then there are the perennial “what if” stories in Kaden Helms and Kade McIntyre. Both have battled injuries throughout their OU careers, but both also have the athleticism to contribute if healthy. Helms, in particular, could be a sneaky asset in the passing game if he can stay on the field.
The Future: Trynae Washington’s Upside
True freshman Trynae Washington might be the most exciting long-term prospect in the room. A former wide receiver who converted to tight end for his senior year of high school, Washington has the size, hands, and movement skills to become a dynamic pass catcher. The question is whether he can develop into a serviceable blocker quickly enough to see meaningful snaps this fall.
The Stakes in 2025
If Oklahoma were still in the Big 12, the tight end situation might be more of a footnote. But in the SEC, every weakness gets magnified. Physicality at the point of attack isn’t optional — it’s a requirement. For Arbuckle’s offense to function at peak efficiency, his tight ends will need to be reliable blockers in the run game, credible threats in the passing game, and disciplined in situational football.
The Sooners aren’t going to build their identity around this position. But history shows that when Oklahoma has a versatile, dependable tight end or H-back, the offense tends to hum. In 2025, that hum might sound more like a cautious buzz — at least until someone in the room proves otherwise.
This is a crossroads year for Finley’s group. If the newcomers adjust quickly, if the injury-prone veterans finally stay healthy, and if the position change experiments pay off, Oklahoma could quietly turn a glaring weakness into a steady strength. If not? The Sooners risk another season where the tight end position is more of a liability than an asset — something that could be costly in a league where the margins are razor thin.
For now, Sooner fans should temper expectations but hold onto a sliver of optimism. The tools are there. The question is whether 2025 will be the year those tools finally get put to work.
Matt Hofeld is a college football analyst and contributor covering the SEC. Follow him for more Oklahoma and conference-wide analysis throughout the 2025 season.
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