Eric Morris Unveils Oklahoma State’s Plan at Tight End for 2026 Season

STILLWATER — On Tuesday, Eric Morris revealed that his offense will have at least one big change this season.

He plans to use more of a committee approach at tight end.

“Last year, our tight end (Tre Williams), I think he played 70% of our snaps last year,” Morris said. “The same exact tight end, and so I don’t think you’re gonna see that with us this year. … If someone comes out and establishes themselves and they show us that they can do it on a consistent basis, we’re gonna tend to play that guy more. Coaches love people that they can trust.”

It sounds like the guy who will get the first chance to solidify his status with the start on Saturday will be Carson Kolb, who was only put on scholarship this summer.

“He was like far-and-away the most catches in spring ball,” quarterback Drew Mestemaker said. “And we were like, ‘Dang, this guy’s getting a lot better.’ Then summer, he just kept getting better every day. Gets his opportunity and makes the most of it. It’s been impressive to see, for sure.”

Officially, Kolb is listed as one of two possible starting tight ends for Saturday’s trip to Tulsa alongside Virginia Military Institute transfer Morgan McPhaul, who arrived on campus this summer. McPhaul started 12 games last season and played 443 snaps.

According to Pro Football Focus data, he caught 15 of 22 targets for 179 yards and a lone touchdown while running 150 routes. He primarily served as a run-blocker (209 snaps), but his best grades came as a pass-blocker (average of 68.9).

Both he and Kolb are unlikely starters, but they likely benefit from injuries suffered by presumptive starter Donovan Green and former UNT tight end Oscar Hammond.

It’s unknown if either of those guys will take the field this Saturday, but Morris has expressed increasing confidence in Kolb in recent weeks. It’s possible Kolb, once viewed as primarily a special teams contributor, will remain a factor on offense throughout the season.

“I’ve seen a lot of growth in that room,” linebacker Ethan Wesloski said. “And I’m excited. I haven’t been with a coach Morris offense that uses a lot of tight ends, so normally a lot of fast, skinny guys. So it’s exciting because I think they can allow a lot of depth for us and create more issues on the offense.”

Last season, UNT’s top tight end ran 296 routes and saw 39 targets. Of those, 12 came on passes at least 10 yards downfield. UNT’s No. 2 tight end only saw the field for 127 snaps, and he finished with only 44 routes run and five targets.

If Morris really does stick with the committee approach, then two or three guys could pass those numbers in September alone.

“Carson’s a guy that came here, he was last on the depth chart, and all of a sudden now, we’re sitting here for the first game and he’s first on that depth chart,” Morris said. “I think that’s something that we’ve done over the history of coaching wherever we’ve been is finding players that fit us the best and go out there and give us the best chance to win.

“Morgan’s a guy that has his strengths. Donovan Green is a guy that I think could be a really effective guy, and he’s made some great catches throughout the course of this deal. They all have a little bit different skill set, and so I think it will be a little bit harder for us. Last year it was easier because our guy, we didn’t have those discussions. But we’ve had those discussions now of who kinda gives us the best chance to win.”

Both Morris and Mestemaker have recently described Kolb as a “meathead.” The two clearly meant that as a compliment, and on Tuesday, the quarterback explained why.

“I mean, every shirt he has is a cutoff shirt, it’s a crop top,” Mestemaker said. “He’s the one lifting weights with the smelling salts and all that. So he’s the loudest guy at all times for sure.”

Based on the scholarship announcement video posted this summer and remarks from his teammates on Tuesday, it sounds like Kolb is already a favorite amongst the players.

“I’ve seen Carson work harder than anybody in this room,” Wesloski said. “He is showing up every day with intent to get better. He’s focused on a couple things every day, and he’s gotten better at those things.

“I’ve seen him grow not only as a football player, as a person as well. He’s one of my better friends on this team, and for him, I just couldn’t be more proud of the way he has worked and being able to get to where he gets because he’s deserved everything he’s gotten.”