2025 IUFB Preseason Position Previews: Tight Ends

Indiana's Holden Staes (19) makes a catch during spring football practice on Thursday, April 10, 2025. Tight Ends Position Overview The Indiana tight end room has changed significantly over the years. Under Tom Allen, players like Peyton Hendershot commanded the ball and shined as a focal point of the offense. Under Curt Cignetti, while he is certainly not opposed to that kind of player, his offense runs more through the wide receivers. Thus, as a tight end in Cignetti’s system, you have an important role to play. You must be an extremely strong blocker, possess an intelligent mind to be the swing man between the line and the receivers, and be immensely adept at finding open space in the red zone. The perfect example of this player is 2024 starting tight end (and former JMU starting tight end) Zach Horton. Horton was one of the hardest workers on the team, efficiently blocked pass rushers, and got open when the right times arose. Over the previous two seasons in Cignetti’s system as a full time starter (one at JMU and one at IU), Horton averaged 24 receptions for 232 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season where he played 13 games in both years. Not extravagant numbers, per se, but enough to make it to the NFL with the Detroit Lions and enough to be one of the most important players in a top ranked Indiana offense in 2024. While the tight end in Cignetti’s system may not be the focal point like it was under Tom Allen, it remains one of the most valuable positions in this offense. Think of it as the position through which all other positions hum, the bass of the band, the clock that keeps on ticking. That is the 2025 tight end under Curt Cignetti. Immensely valuable, extremely smart, and a secret weapon no one thinks about until it’s too late. Let’s examine how the depth chart looks entering the 2025 season. The Starter Holden Staes (Sr.) Staes is an athletic freak and arrives in Bloomington from the University of Tennessee with a very strong recruiting pedigree (top 300 recruit per 247 Sports Composite Rankings and the 11th best TE recruit of his class). He bounced around a bit in his career, beginning at Notre Dame for two seasons and then transferring to Tennessee for one season before coming to Indiana. He was very well sought after though in the recruiting ranks, receiving offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, LSU, you name it. Similar to Zach Horton from last year, Staes’ stats historically don’t jump off a page. As we all know and learned, however, that page does not tell the full story. I’m excited to see Staes be the engine that this offense runs through. His athleticism, size (6’4” / 248 lbs), and experience in high level games will prove to be a difference maker for this offense. Rotational Pieces Riley Nowakowski (RS Sr.+) Nowakowski, like Staes, is another transfer coming to Bloomington in 2025. He also arrives from a Power 4 school, coming from the University of Wisconsin. Interestingly enough, per iuhoosiers.com, Nowakowski has played tight end, fullback, and linebacker throughout his collegiate career. Even more interesting, Nowakowski overlapped at Wisconsin with current offensive line coach and run game coordinator Bob Bostad. Bostad is one of the best in the business and no doubt had a hand in bringing Nowakowski over from Wisconsin. Similarly to other tight ends on the Hoosiers, his receiving stats don’t scream off a page, but if Bostad likes him, watch out. Nowakowski will be a force for opposing defenses. Indiana's James Bomba (48) runs after the catch during the Indiana versus Western Illinois football game at Memorial Stadium on Friday, Sept. 6, 2024. James Bomba (RS Sr.) Unlike Staes and Nowakowski, James Bomba is very much not a transfer. Bomba lives and breathes Indiana University. He went to Bloomington South for high school, was born and raised in Bloomington, Indiana, and has been with the football program through its highs and lows over the past several seasons. Bomba is tall (6’6”) and athletic, and provides a different dimension for the Hoosiers in the pass and blocking game. He will always be among the hardest workers on and off the field (he earned a scholarship after joining the program initially as a walk-on) and can serve as a leader for this tight end group, knowing full well what it means to be a Hoosier. Additional Depth Andrew Barker (Fr.) and Blake Thiry (Fr.) The tight end room has seen promising young talent transfer out of Bloomington over the past couple of months, but maybe that’s due to the promising young talent that has arrived in Bloomington over the past couple of months. Andrew Barker (Kokomo, Ind.) and Blake Thiry (Prairie Du Chien, Wis.) are both 6 foot 4 inch true freshmen who are among the first tight end recruits nabbed by Cignetti and co. Both players played offense and defense in high school and both players were team captains in high school. Thiry specifically was tabbed by 247 Sports’ Greg Biggins as a “stock up guy” who “will also long snap at the college level”. With Barker and Thiry, it is clear that Cignetti and his staff prioritized athleticism, versatility, and leadership. For 2025, these two will likely be looking to soak in all the experience and teachings they can get - especially with the senior leadership around them in the tight end room - but be on the lookout in future years. We could see something special out of them. Surprises One of the two biggest surprises in my opinion will be Holden Staes and his incredible athleticism fitting in perfectly with Shanahan’s offense. Like I mentioned above, Staes’ stats have not jumped off the page in recent years - partly due to the role he played - but I believe this year could be different. We could see 400+ yards and 5+ touchdowns (which would be career highs) if things click, which I believe they will. Staes’ potential is through the roof. The second surprise in my opinion will be just how important Riley Nowakowski becomes for this Hoosiers team. His overlapping with coach Bob Bostad at Wisconsin really sticks out to me. The fact that coach Bostad likely sought out Nowakowski in the transfer portal tells me that there is a plan in place exactly for him. I believe he will be a focal point of the blocking game and become an immeasurably valuable piece in Indiana winning big games in 2025. Confidence Level The Hoosiers lost an incredible leader and contributor in Zach Horton to the NFL, but reloaded with strength, talent, athleticism, and high level experience. The fact that Indiana’s top three options at tight end are all seniors or older brings immense confidence. They know what it means to be at a big time program, to win big time games, and to practice with big time intensity. I have full confidence they will be strong contributors and fit in perfectly with this coaching staff, becoming the engine that this offense runs through as we discussed at the beginning. They will also mentor Indiana’s younger tight ends and help them be the best they can be. The present and future is bright for this Indiana tight end room and I can’t wait to see them in action. Preseason Position Previews Cornerbacks Wide Receivers Continue to follow along with Hoosier Huddle’s coverage as we quickly approach opening kickoff! Subscribe to get access Read more of this content when you subscribe today. Log in

2025 IUFB Preseason Position Previews: Tight Ends

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2025 IUFB Preseason Position Previews: Tight Ends

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