Best Tight Ends In College Football History

The tight end is arguably the most dynamic position in the sport of football. We’ve seen countless great college tight ends, who excelled at both blocking and catching game-winning TDs.

Here is our list of the best tight ends in college football history. Check out the list below and see how these tight ends made their names as all-time greats.

10 Tyler Eifert: Notre Dame, 2009-2012 

• Total Yards: 1,840 Yards
• Receptions: 140 
• Touchdowns: 11
• 2012 Mackey Award Winner

Tyler Eifert is undoubtedly one of the best tight ends in college football history. The Notre Dame great was the anchor of the team, who helped them reach the 2012 BCS National Championship.

Eifert was dependable and consistent throughout his three years in college. He compiled 1,840 receptions yards with 140 receptions during his fantastic college career.

Tyler’s efforts were awarded his junior year as he was the recipient of the 2012 Mackey Award. Since his college career ended, Eifert has been the starting tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals.

9 John Mackey: Syracuse, 1960-1962 

• Total Yards: 481 Yards
• Touchdowns: 6
• Pioneer
• Best Tight End Award Named After Him

If you’re named after the tight end-of-the-year award, you must go on the list of all-time great TEs. John Mackey revolutionized the tight-end position and allowed it to evolve into what it has become. 

Mackey could do it all from blocking, catching passes, and running the ball. In 2001, the Mackey Award was established the college hall of farmers contributions to the game of football.

8 Vernon Davis: Maryland, 2003-2005

• Total Yards: 1,371 Yards
• Touchdowns: 9
• Receptions: 83
• 16.5 Yards Per Catch

Vernon Davis is one of the most special players on the list of best tight ends in college football history. During Vernon’s playing days, he was an elite athlete with a linebacker’s build and running back’s speed.

While playing at Maryland, all eyes were on Davis as he could change the game at a moment’s notice. He recorded 1,371 reception yards on 83 receptions and averaged 16.5 yards per catch.

Vernon’s big-time numbers allowed him to be drafted by the 49ers where he was a force for over a decade.

7 Kyle Pitts: Florida, 2018-2020

• Total Yards: 1,492 Yards
• Touchdowns: 18
• Receptions: 100
• 2020 Mackey Award Winner

Florida alumni Kyle Pitts comes in next on our list of the best tight ends in college football history. From 2018-2020, Pitts was an x-factor on the Florida Gator offense.

Kyle recorded 100 receptions, which earned him a school record 1,492 yards. These incredible numbers allowed Pitts to win the Mackey Award his junior year before going to the NFL. Since 2021, Pitts has been the starting tight end for the Atlanta Falcons.

6 Kellen Winslow: Missouri, 1976-1978

• Total Yards: 1,089 Yards
• Touchdowns: 10
• Receptions: 71
• 1978 Gator Bowl MVP

Kellen Winslow is another pioneer, who must be mentioned among the best tight ends in college football history. The Missouri legend was ahead of his time and was a complete athlete.

In his three-year college career, Winslow helped redefine the tight end position. He put up 1,089 yards and scored ten touchdowns as the starting TE in Missouri.

After leading Missouri to win the 1978 Gator Bowl, Winslow went on to become an NFL Hall of Famer.

5 Tony Gonzalez: California, 1994-1996

• Total Yards: 1,302
• Touchdowns: 8
• Receptions: 89
• Multiple 100-yard Reception Games

No list of the best tight ends in college football history would be complete without the legend Tony Gonzalez. Tony was a two-sport athlete at California and redefined the tight end position. 

His tall and muscular build allowed him to dominate in college. Gonzalez recorded multiple. 100-yard reception games en route to gaining over 1,300 passing yards on 89 receptions.

Then after college, Gonzalez went on to be one of the NFL’s all-time great players and Hall of Famer.

4 Rob Gronkowski: Arizona, 2007-2008

• Total Yards: 1,197 Yards
• Touchdowns: 16
• Receptions: 75
• 18.8 Yards Per Catch

Of all of the best tight ends in college football history, Rob Gronkowski was arguably the most dominant. In just two active seasons, Gronk put up bigger numbers than many college hall-of-famers. 

Gronkowski was a force to be reckoned with at Arizona, where he recorded 1,197 yards on 75 receptions. Rob also averaged a whopping 18.8 yards per catch during his two college seasons. 

The legendary tight end then eclipsed his college career by becoming one of the greatest NFL tight ends ever.

3 Keith Jackson: Oklahoma, 1984-1987

• Total Yards: 1,470 Yards
• Touchdowns: 14
• Receptions: 62
• Redefined The TE Position

Keith Jackson was arguably the greatest college football tight end during the 1980s. He was an x-factor on offense for those legendary Oklahoma Sooner teams of the 1980s.

As Oklahoma’s starting tight end for three years, Jackson helped redefine the position. Jackson recorded 1,470 yards on 62 receptions and scored 14 TDs. The OU legend went on to become both a college hall of famer and a Super Bowl champion.

2 Ozzie Newsome: Alabama, 1974-1977

• Total Yards: 2,070 Yards
• Touchdowns: 16
• Receptions: 102
• College Football Hall of Famer

Coaching legend Bear Bryant called Ozzie Newsome one of the greatest players that he ever coached. The Alabama great was one of the first great college tight ends who helped evolve the position.

Not only was Newsome an outstanding blocker, but he also had one of the best hands as a receiver. Ozzie was the first tight end to record over 2,070 yards and over 100 receptions during his college career. 

He was an outstanding athlete and deserving of being inducted into the college and NFL Hall of Fame.

1 Brock Bowers: Georgia, 2021-2023

• Total Yards: 2,538
• Touchdowns: 26
• Receptions: 175
• 2x Mackey Award Winner

For the last few years, Brock Bowers made history by becoming one of the best tight ends in college football history. Brock was part of the greatest era in Georgia Bulldog history and made a lot of history himself. 

Not only did Bowers help Georgia win a championship, but he broke numerous college records. He became the first college tight end to win two Mackey Awards after stellar sophomore and junior seasons.

Brock ended his college career with 2,538 reception yards, 175 receptions, and 26 touchdowns.