Spring Outlook: The Tight Ends

AMES, Iowa - Spring Football begins on Tuesday (Feb. 28). Here is a look at the competition at tight end.

Tight Ends

Synopsis
Upgrading the tight end position will be a priority for Campbell in 2017. After All-Big 12 performer E.J. Bibbs graduated in 2014, the Cyclones have sparingly used the tight end the past two seasons.

To prove this point, ISU has had just 12 receptions by a tight end in the last two years.

Despite the minimal production, Campbell is excited about making it more of a point of emphasis in the offense.

Iowa State returns only one player with experience in Sam Harms (6-3, 235, Sr., Spirit Lake, Iowa), but the emergence of two rookies coming off of redshirts in Chase Allen (6-6, 230, Fr.#, Nixa, Mo.) and Dylan Soehner (6-7, 283, Fr.#, Prairie Grove, Ark.) will be something to watch for in the spring.

Harms, walk-on junior college transfer from Iowa Western CC, started seven games in 2016 and was used primarily as a blocker. He caught two passes for seven yards.

Allen was rated as a top-25 tight end nationally after an outstanding prep career where he earned first-team all-state honors. It appeared Allen was going to contribute as a true freshman, but an accident during fall camp which required a number of stitches set him back and the staff decided to redshirt him.

Soehner also had an outstanding prep career and is eager to display his talents after sitting out as a redshirt.

Campbell likes to use tight ends in an off-set, fullback look he labels the F position. Sam Seonbuchner (6-2, 240, Jr.#, Oconomowoc, Wis.), was tremendous in that role last year, paving holes on short-yardage situations with his fierce blocks.

Cole Anderson (6-4, 250, Jr.#, League City, Texas) also returns after earning a letter and appearing in all 12 games in 2016.

Campbell On The Tight Ends
"I think a huge challenge right now for our tight ends is to replace a guy that took the majority of the reps in Justin Chandler. But I think all of us feel like we have the guys that can enhance our offense at the tight end position. Sam Harms is a guy that is bigger, stronger and more seasoned than he was a year ago. He has a full year under his belt after coming out of junior college. Sam's a hard worker and we know what he brings to the table in a lot of positive ways. Chase Allen and Dylan Soehner are both guys that bring totally different dynamics. Chase is a guy that has great athleticism and is a true pass-catching target for us offensively, as well as having the physical tools to set blocks for us in terms of scheme. Dylan is coming off of an injury and is almost back to 100 percent. He was someone who was gaining confidence leaving fall camp last year and then had to get surgery. Dylan is big, strong and physical at the point of attack, but also athletic enough to make a dent in the passing game. Sam Seonbuchner really came on and had a great finish to the season. We moved Sam to tight end early in the season and then all of a sudden, he flourished by the end of the season. I'm excited about what we have returning at tight end."

Players Mentioned

Chase Allen

Cole Anderson

Justin Chandler

Sam Harms

Sam Seonbuchner

Dylan Soehner

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics