Jack Endries is out to make noise. PFF ranks him the No. 2 returning TE for 2025
Jack Endries is out to make noise. After a breakout 2024 campaign that put him on the national radar, the versatile and explosive tight end is entering the 2025 season with one goal in mind: dominance. Pro Football Focus has already tabbed him as the No. 2 returning tight end in the country, a distinction that not only recognizes his past production but also points toward the immense expectations surrounding his future. For Endries, the accolade is appreciated—but far from the destination. He’s hungry, focused, and determined to prove he belongs at the very top of the conversation.
Endries has never been one to seek the spotlight. That makes his rise to stardom all the more impressive. Soft-spoken off the field but relentless between the lines, he has built his reputation the hard way—through grit, preparation, and performance. His 2024 season was nothing short of spectacular. With 54 receptions, 716 yards, and 8 touchdowns, Endries became a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, routinely exposing linebackers in coverage and overpowering defensive backs in the red zone. Whether lining up in-line, in the slot, or even split wide, he showcased the kind of versatility that modern offenses crave from the tight end position.
What separates Endries from many of his peers is his ability to impact the game in all three phases of a tight end’s responsibilities. As a pass catcher, he has strong, reliable hands and a large catch radius that makes him a go-to target in critical situations. He runs crisp routes and understands leverage, often using subtle shoulder dips and quick breaks to create separation. As a blocker, he’s physical and technically sound, capable of holding his own against edge rushers and sealing lanes in the run game. And as a leader, he brings maturity and intensity to the locker room that resonates with teammates and coaches alike.
Coaches rave about his work ethic and attention to detail. He’s the kind of player who stays after practice to run extra routes, who spends hours in the film room dissecting coverages, and who holds himself and others to a high standard. That kind of commitment is rare, and it’s a major reason why Endries has vaulted into the upper echelon of college football tight ends.
His football IQ is another standout trait. Endries sees the game like a quarterback, recognizing pre-snap tendencies and adjusting routes on the fly. That rapport with his quarterback became one of the defining features of the offense in 2024. On third downs and in the red zone, Endries was often the first read—and for good reason. He consistently found soft spots in zone coverage and won contested catches in man situations. Time and again, he delivered in high-pressure moments.
Still, for all his 2024 success, Endries enters 2025 with a chip on his shoulder. He knows the tight end position is stacked with talent across the country, and he’s not content with being second-best. PFF’s ranking is motivation, not validation. Endries has set his sights on being the No. 1 tight end in America by season’s end, and he’s attacking the offseason with that mindset.
Physically, he’s in the best shape of his life. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 250 pounds, Endries has worked to add lean muscle without sacrificing speed or flexibility. His 40-yard dash time has reportedly improved, and his short-area quickness—a key trait for creating separation against tight coverage—has become a focal point of his training. He’s also refining his blocking technique, determined to be a complete player who can stay on the field in any situation.
The offense is expected to feature him even more in 2025. With a revamped scheme that emphasizes tempo, spacing, and misdirection, Endries will be moved around the formation to exploit mismatches. Expect to see him motioned into favorable alignments, isolated on safeties, or used in layered route concepts that put stress on opposing defenses. His ability to function as both a safety blanket and a vertical threat makes him invaluable, and offensive coordinators know it.
Opposing coaches are well aware of what Endries brings to the table. Game plans will be crafted with the intent to limit his touches, whether by bracketing him with extra coverage or jamming him at the line of scrimmage. But that’s easier said than done. Endries has developed counters to physical press techniques, and his frame allows him to box out defenders like a power forward in the paint. Double teams don’t faze him. He thrives on contact and embraces the challenge of beating the best.
His rise is also a reflection of how the tight end position has evolved in recent years. Once seen primarily as blockers or safety valves, modern tight ends like Endries are expected to be focal points of the offense. The NFL trend of hybrid tight ends—guys who can stretch the field and act as de facto wideouts—has filtered down to the college game
