*Noah Fant (87) is one of the best tight ends in the country Image: Getty Images*

Written By Rylie Kyhn

We continue taking a look at the best of the Hoosiers' 2018 opponents. Today we will look at the best tight ends IU will face in 2018.

1. Noah Fant-Iowa

The obvious choice, the number one ranked tight end in college football by Athlon Sports, Noah Fant. At 6’5’, 230 pounds he has the perfect build to dominate at tight end and that’s exactly what he did last season. He led the nations tight ends averaging 16.5 yards per catch with 11 touchdown receptions. He tallied 30 receptions for 494 yards and after his 11 touchdown season, he now holds the record for most touchdowns scored in a season at Iowa. This year, he has been named to the John Mackey Award preseason watch list and will play a huge role in the Iowa offense after becoming a weapon for the Hawkeyes last season. During offseason testing, he put up huge numbers for a tight end which included a pro agility shuttle time of 3.95 which would beat the best recorded by any tight end at the NFL combine in recent years. In 2017, he was named third team all Big Ten and with the stats put up last season and in the offseason, he will be a tough matchup for teams, especially in the red zone.

2. Sean McKeon and Zach Gentry-Michigan

Right after Noah Fant, named to second team all big-ten at tight end, Sean McKeon. McKeon, a junior, combined with fellow tight end Zach Gentry to put up big numbers for Michigan last season and played a vital role in their offensive scheme. McKeon, 6’5’’, 248 pounds, led the Michigan offense in catches with 31 and ranked number three in yardage with 301 yards. He came in right behind Zach Gentry who tallied 303 yards on 17 receptions with two touchdowns. Zach Gentry, sitting at 6’7’’, 244 pounds, is a huge target for this Michigan offense and earned himself a spot on the John Mackey 2018 Preseason Watch list. With this tight end unit as solid as it is, they will rack up a large number of statistics for the Michigan offense in the upcoming season which is why they are ranked at the second spot.

3. Jerome Washington-Rutgers

Jerome Washington Image: Getty Images — Jerome Washington *Image: Getty Images*

Jerome Washington is entering 2018 as a redshirt senior, after he began his career at a Junior College where he recorded 24 receptions for 510 yards and eight touchdowns. Washington was rated a 4 star recruit and the 16th best prospect coming out of JUCO and got the chance to take his talents to Miami. Throughout the 2015 season at Miami he saw action in nine games, mostly on special teams and then decided to transfer to Rutgers. In the summer of 2016, with two years of eligibility still remaining, he made the move to the Big Ten. He sat out the 2016 season due to NCAA transfer rules but finally saw action in the 2017 season. He played in 12 games with 11 starts and led the team with 28 receptions and 282 receiving yards and one touchdown. Sitting at 6’ 4’’, 258 pounds he has the ability to completely dominate at the tight end position and with the stats he has put up thus far, he is just waiting to have a breakout season which is why he is ranked at the third spot.

4. Matt Sokol- Michigan State

The fourth leading receiver for the Spartan offense in 2017, Matt Sokol. Sokol, a fifth-year senior, returns as the starting tight end in the upcoming season. Throughout the 2017 season, Sokol played in all 13 games and made 11 starts. He led the tight ends and tallied fourth on the team with 21 receptions for 222 yards and one touchdown. Sokol has incredible size at 6’6’’, 255 pounds and he is a huge target that the Michigan State offense will have the ability to capitalize with. He is a decent blocker with well-rounded skills and is going to be expected to put up big numbers this year. With the return of one of the Big Ten’s top quarterbacks, Brian Lewerke, and the role Sokol has played in the offense, these two will have the chance to connect again for a final season that has the ability to produce tremendous numbers which is why he is ranked at the fourth spot.

5. Cole Herdman and Brycen Hopkins-Purdue

Over the last 29 consecutive games for the Boilermakers, Cole Herdman has caught a pass in every game he has played in. He is a consistent pass catcher and he is strong with the ball. Herdman enters his final season this year with reliability being one of his most important strengths. He is a very experienced tight end and has seen a lot of field time since the 2016 season. In 2016 he played in all 12 games, making 11 starts and finishing with 35 receptions for 344 yards and three touchdowns. From there, his reliability only continued and in 2017 he made 8 starts finishing with 20 receptions for 331 yards and three touchdowns. Herdman is not the only tight end that saw a lot of field time last season, he split time with junior Brycen Hopkins. Hopkins played in all 12 games last season and had 25 receptions for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Hopkins is also a reliable pass catcher and will have the chance to contribute again this season. Because of how Herdman has performed over the last few seasons and Hopkins last season, they have proven to be strong tight ends which leads to the Purdue unit ranking at fifth. With both quarterbacks returning for Purdue’s offense, they have already made a connection with both of them which will allow for no time wasted getting to work in fall camp with getting adjusted. As long as Herdman keeps his consistency up and Hopkins continues to contribute, there is no doubt they will be some of the biggest tight end targets that the Hoosiers will have to face.

6. Jonathan Holland-Penn State

Entering the 2018 season Penn State will have to replace their number one receiver, tight end Mike Gesicki, who led the team with 57 receptions for 563 yards. Because Gesicki saw virtually all the field time at tight end, it is going to be hard to replace these numbers this season because they are going to rely on a less experienced player to step up. For Penn State, Jonathan Holland is going to be that guy. Although these stats will be hard to replace, Holland will likely play a big role in the Penn State offense. Holland, a redshirt junior, has seen a good amount of field time but has primarily come on special teams. Last season he saw some offensive time and had three receptions for 16 yards. Holland has been named to the John Mackey Preseason watchlist and although he doesn’t have a ton of statistics to show, Penn State will look to him to produce big numbers in this upcoming season especially with the return

of Heisman contender Trace McSorley behind the ball. With McSorley returning, it gives Holland an advantage having an experienced veteran quarterback to receive the ball from which is why he is ranked above some of the other tight ends although his stats are not particularly impressive.

7. Luke Farrell-Ohio State

The lone loss in Ohio State’s group of receivers from last season is tight end Marcus Baugh who brought in 28 receptions for 304 yards and five touchdowns for the Buckeyes last season. They are going to need a player to step up and fill those shoes and replace those stats and the guy they will look to is sophomore, Luke Farrell. He is one of the most experienced tight ends for the Buckeyes, coming out of high school as a four-star prospect and number 6 or 7 at tight end in the country. In 2015 he was named to second team all-USA Ohio by USA Today after a season tallying 33 receptions for 446 yards on a state-qualifying team. As a Buckeye, he caught his first passes last season with 2 receptions for 19 yards, appearing in nine games. He has been named to the John Mackey 2018 Preseason watch list and will likely get busy in the Ohio State offense. Farrell is young but with his size, 6’6’’ 250 pounds, the play he has shown so far, and an offense as strong as the Buckeyes, you can predict that he will likely rack up a large number of statistics in the upcoming season.

8. Evan Butts or Tanner Cowley-Virginia

This season, the Cavaliers are bringing in a new offensive scheme in which the tight end will likely see a more expanded role. Evan Butts has seen plenty of field time over the last three seasons playing in 2015, 2016, and 2017. He redshirted the 2014 season but every season since then he has put up numbers. In 2015, Butts made 16 receptions for 182 yards and three touchdowns then in 2016 made seven receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown. Last season was his best yet with 32 receptions for 266 yards and two touchdowns and these are the numbers the Cavaliers will look for him to put up this season. He made three starts last season and split time with Tanner Cowley. Cowley made eight starts and had two receptions for 16 yards. Both are solid tight ends with the opportunity to see a larger role in the offense this coming season.

9. Nolan Givan-Ball State

The Hoosiers will face off in an in-state match-up against the Cardinals Givan was ranked third team all-offense tight end by Athlon’s in the MAC and was named to the John Mackey Preseason watch list. In 2017, he ranked fifth on the team in receiving yards tallying 25 receptions for 159 yards and four touchdowns. He is going to be an offensive threat for the Cardinals this season and one they are going to look to use as a weapon.

10. Ko Kieft-Minnesota

With the departure of two of Minnesota’s top receivers, tight ends Nate Wozniak and Brandon Lingen, they are going to have to replace the numbers those two combined contributed last season in the Gopher offense. Because Wozniak and Lingen saw virtually all of the field time, it may be a year of growth for Minnesota at tight end this season. A young player, redshirt sophomore Ko Kieft is the guy they are looking to step up and fill those shoes. With the addition of new tight ends coach, Clay Patterson, they will likely play a larger role in the offense and passing game although the Minnesota quarterbacks are very young and inexperienced. With the youth of the quarterbacks and Kieft, it is likely going to be a year of growth and adjustments for the Gophers at these two positions which is why Kieft is ranked at a lower spot. Kieft played quarterback and linebacker in high school rather than tight end and as a freshman he played in all 12 games but mostly on special teams. He had two receptions for 17 yards but he sits at 6’4’’ 250 pounds which gives him an advantage size wise if he can develop chemistry with the young quarterbacks and become a reliable target for the Gophers.

11. Avery Edwards-Maryland

In the last two years he has only caught one pass but with the new offensive scheme the Terrapins are bringing this season, he is likely to play a more involved role. With healthy new quarterbacks, he has the ability to play a larger role in the passing game and Maryland will look to take advantage of his abilities and use him to put up numbers for the offense. Edwards was the number 21 tight end recruit in 2014 and was set to go to North Carolina but was charged with felony larceny and was dismissed. He then was picked up by the Terrapins in the summer of 2015 and saw field time during that season. The 2015 season was the biggest he has had yet numbers wise, leading all tight ends with 14 receptions for 115 yards and two touchdowns. He had a good start to his career at Maryland but the last two seasons have been less impressive than the first. Edwards has the opportunity to impress this season but could put up the same as the last two.

12. Sterling Palmer- FIU

Although he is only a freshman and has no actual field experience yet, he is the projected starter for the Panthers this season by Phil Steele. He has tremendous size at 6’6’’ but on the lighter side for a tight end sitting at 235 pounds. Because he is only a freshman and hasn’t seen actual college field time yet, he is ranked at twelfth for tight ends the Hoosiers will have to face.

The Huddle

Ranking the Tight Ends that the Hoosiers will Account For in 2018