2021 TCU Football Preview: Tight Ends

Former TCU tight ends Pro Wells and Artayvious Lynn combined for nearly 100 percent of the offensive receptions at the position this past season. With both players now in NFL camps, TCU will look to one returning player, one transfer and one new recruit to fortify the position as the Horned Frogs gear up for the 2021 campaign.

Wells and Lynn combined for 283 receiving yards and four touchdowns during the 2020 season. With Wells primarily serving as a pass catcher and Lynn spending more time blocking, both players saw the field quite frequently, although Lynn did miss a chunk of time to an injury. Nevertheless, both players had been with the program for at least three years, meaning the Horned Frogs will feature some new faces this fall.

One returning player to watch for will be redshirt senior Carter Ware, who hauled in three receptions for 40 yards and his first career touchdown in 2020. Ware appeared in 24 games across the 2018 and 2019 seasons before earning six starts this past fall. While Ware spent a lot of time lining up as a fullback, he could see more reps on the line and in the passing game with Wells and Lynn no longer with the program.

TCU made a very recent splash in the transfer portal, signing former Mississippi State tight end Geor’Quarius Spivey. The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder appeared in 11 games for the Bulldogs in 2020, catching 11 passes for 121 yards over the team’s final six games. Spivey shined against Ole Miss, recording five receptions for 97 yards. A redshirt junior, Spivey could earn immediate playing time with a quick transition into the TCU offense.

Perhaps the most intriguing tight end the Horned Frogs will feature this coming season is freshman D’Andre Rogers, a four-star prospect who signed with TCU as the No. 8 tight end in the nation. Rogers had originally committed to California, but never played a down for the Golden Bears before eventually choosing the Horned Frogs over Alabama, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Texas and USC. TCU will also deploy freshman Jasper Lott, a three-star signee who chose the Horned Frogs over LSU, Auburn and Oklahoma State.

Tight ends have normally taken a secondary role in the TCU offense, but the Horned Frogs will have the experience and talent to replace their top two athletes from the position. With Ware and Spivey both near the end of their collegiate careers, Rogers could potentially be the future at the tight end position and it will be interesting to see how the depth chart shakes out.