As the 2024 college football season approaches, the conversation is already starting about the 2025 NFL Draft. Tight end will be one of the more interesting positions as teams begin their evaluations, and Phil Steele released his Top 25 draft-eligible tight ends to watch this year.
Steele’s top tight end came in as a first-round projection in ESPN’s Matt Miller’s early mock draft. Fresh off a national championship, Colston Loveland looks to be one of the top players at the position after helping Michigan end its national championship drought a season ago. He shined on the big stage, and that helped him top Phil Steele’s Top 25 tight ends for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Still, there are plenty of talented tight ends preparing for the 2024 season. Here’s a full breakdown of where they stand in Steele’s rankings.
As Michigan won its first national championship since 1997, Colston Loveland was a centerpiece of the offense. He finished second on the Wolverines in receiving yards in 2023 and is back for another go-round in Ann Arbor this season.
Loveland totaled 649 yards – only behind Roman Wilson – and four touchdowns as a sophomore with J.J. McCarthy under center. He’s sure to be a key piece once again in Sherrone Moore’s first year as head coach and a new quarterback ready to take over the offense.
Last year, LSU had the nation’s highest-powered offense. But three big pieces of that unit – Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. – are off to the NFL, and that could open the door for Mason Taylor to break out.
Taylor has 762 yards and four touchdowns over his two years in Baton Rouge. As LSU loses nearly 2,750 receiving yards between Nabers and Thomas, Taylor’s role could increase as Garrett Nussmeier takes the reins at quarterback.
Notre Dame needed a replacement for Michael Mayer last season, and the Fighting Irish found one before losing him to injury. Mitchell Evans became Sam Hartman’s top target until he tore his ACL, and now that he’s healthy, could take on a similar role with Riley Leonard at quarterback in Mike Denbrock’s scheme.
Through eight games last season, Evans hauled in 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown as Notre Dame went 10-3. The junior is facing high expectations this year, and he comes in as the No. 3-ranked tight end draft prospect in Phil Steele’s Top 25 rankings.
With Bo Nix off to the NFL, Oregon’s offense is going to take on a new look with Dillon Gabriel and Dante Moore in at quarterback. They’ll have plenty of weapons even after Troy Franklin also departed, but Terrance Ferguson could lead the charge.
Ferguson is coming off the biggest year of his career in Will Stein’s high-powered offense, hauling in 414 yards and six touchdowns. He increased his production each season in Eugene and could be in line to make some noise, which is why he’s Phil Steele’s No. 4-ranked tight end in his Top 25.
During his time at North Carolina, Bryson Nesbit served as an impressive safety blanket for Drake Maye. After he went No. 2 overall in the draft, Max Johnson is now in at quarterback – and Nesbit is looking to make a case for NFL scouts as a senior.
Last year, the UNC tight end finished with 585 yards to rank third on the Tar Heels roster. Nesbit also totaled five touchdowns, proving his ability to make plays in the red zone.
Tyler Warren put together a breakout season at Penn State in 2023. He’s now back for a fifth year of college football as the Nittany Lions debut a new-look offense, with Drew Allar still under center as Andy Kotelnicki takes over the controls.
Warren had an impressive year as a senior, totaling 422 yards and seven touchdowns to help Penn State to the Peach Bowl. He could once again be a top target for Allar this year and help his NFL Draft stock in the process.
As Lane Kiffin made big moves in the transfer portal last year, Caden Prieskorn became one of the more notable additions. He ranked fourth on the Ole Miss roster with 449 receiving yards and could generate some NFL Draft buzz this year, as well.
Prieskorn started his career at Memphis, where he totaled 681 yards and seven touchdowns over three years. He ranks No. 7 in Phil Steele’s Top 25 tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft, and it’ll be interesting to see how he fits into an offense that’s adding Juice Wells from the portal.
Last year, Jonathan Smith put together an impressive season at Oregon State to complete the rebuild. He’ll now prepare to take over at Michigan State, with multiple former Beavers with him – including Jack Velling.
Velling was third on the OSU roster with 438 receiving yards last season under Smith’s leadership. He was the No. 3-ranked tight end to transfer this cycle, according to the On3 Industry Transfer Rankings, and could have big role waiting in East Lansing with Aidan Chiles also on the way to MSU.
When it comes to NFL tight ends, Iowa is one of the premier programs at the position. Luke Lachey will look to continue that line of success, coming in at No. 9 in Phil Steele’s Top 25 tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lachey saw a drop in production a year ago as Iowa struggled mightily on offense. He totaled 131 receiving yards, but is one of the more interesting players in the country as the Hawkeyes debut a new offense as Tim Lester takes over for Brian Ferentz.
For the last three years, Brock Bowers was the centerpiece of the Georgia offense as the do-it-all tight end. But Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs dove headfirst into the transfer portal to land Ben Yurosek, who could help fill that void.
Yurosek was a bright spot at Stanford last season, totaling 239 yards and a touchdown in just six games of action. He rounds out the Top 10 of Phil Steele’s Top 25 tight ends for the 2025 NFL Draft, but adds some extra juice to Mike Bobo’s offense with Carson Beck still at quarterback.
11. Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
12. Joshua Simon, South Carolina
13. Lake McRee, USC
14. Jake Briningstool, Clemson
15. Marlin Klein, Michigan
16. Oscar Delp, Georgia
17. Carsen Ryan, Utah
18. CJ Dippre, Alabama
19. Carter Runyon, Towson
20. Tre Watson, Texas A&M
21. Jake Johnson, North Carolina
22. Mason Tharp, Texas Tech
23. Donovan Green, Texas A&M
24. Kole Taylor, West Virginia
25. Gunnar Helm, Texas
The 2025 NFL Draft is a long way away, but the conversation is already starting. But first, training camp will be coming up quickly after the media days circuit begins next week with the Big 12 in Las Vegas.
