Position Preview: The Tight Ends

AMES, Iowa- Today's position preview features the tight ends.

Synopsis
An argument could be made that Iowa State returns the best tight end unit in the nation in 2020.

The Cyclone tight ends caught 75 passes for 971 yards and 10 TDs in 2019, and all three contributors, who all earned All-Big 12 recognition, are back for more in 2020.

The group is without a doubt led by Charlie Kolar (6-6, 252, Jr.#, Norman, Okla.), who posted one of the greatest individual seasons by a tight end in Cyclone history in 2019.

Kolar was a second team All-American by the FWAA, a first team All-Big 12 pick, a first team Academic All-American by CoSIDA and a finalist for the John Mackey Award a year ago.

Kolar achieved these incredible accolades by leading all Big 12 tight ends in receptions (51), receiving yards (697) and receiving TDs (7) in 2019. His receiving yardage total broke the school record for tight ends and his reception and TD numbers ranked second in school history among tight ends.

Kolar's big frame, outstanding hands and precise route-running allowed him to grade out overall at 85.5 percent by Pro Football Focus, the third-highest total among tight ends in 2019.

Kolar, who was ISU's go-to target on third and fourth down, had five games with 70+ receiving yards and will enter the 2020 season as one of the best tight ends nationally.

There is more than just Kolar in the tight end room, however. Another big piece returns in Chase Allen (6-7, 245, Sr.#, Nixa, Mo.), who was a second team All-Big 12 pick for the second time in his career (2017, 2019).

Allen, who has started 15 games in his career, had 17 catches for 167 yards and two TDs last year. Another large target for Purdy, Allen has the ability to make big plays just like Kolar.

The Cyclones also return Dylan Soehner (6-7, 270, Sr.#, Prairie Grove, Ark.), who was an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection in 2019 after catching seven passes for 107 yards and a TD.

Soehner, an outstanding blocker and stalwart in ISU's power formations, rounds out ISU's outstanding tight end trio. Campbell hasn't been afraid to showcase the talents of the unit with three-tight end formations occasionally.

Two other Cyclone tight ends who redshirted last season will look to the spring to showcase their abilities in Easton Dean (6-6, 230, Fr.#, Oswego, Kan.) and Skylar Loving-Black (6-3, 215, Fr.#, San Jose, Calif.).

Dean came in as a QB, but the staff saw potential for him as a tight end and made the position switch prior to fall camp.

Loving-Black was a top-50 tight end nationally in the class of 2019.

Walk-on Jared Rus (6-2, 232, So.#, Eldridge, Iowa) has moved his way up the two-deep as a candidate at the F position.

Campbell On The Tight Ends
"I think this offseason will be really big for Charlie Kolar and Chase Allen. Both are really good football players and now can they become great. I think you get to this point in your career and you can fundamentally take yourself where you want to be. The next step is to make yourself one of the elite players at your position in terms of where you are in the nation, and both have the capability to do that. You talk about Dylan Soehner and we need to get him back to full strength. I think he is trending in a great direction right now and he can do so many things, including playing at a high-end level at that F spot for us. So I think we will get a really big offseason from all three of those veterans. You flip to the other end of the spectrum of that tight end room and there are some really talented younger players. Their growth is critical to the success of our team with guys like Easton Dean and Skylar Loving-Black. Jared Rus is another name that continues to flash in our program. I am fascinated to watch their growth because they are very talented and I think it's a really critical spring for that group to take another real big step."

Players Mentioned

Chase Allen

Easton Dean

Charlie Kolar

Skylar Loving-Black

Jared Rus

Dylan Soehner

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Iowa State University Athletics