Spring Football: Oklahoma State’s Tight End Renaissance Continues with Another Talented Transfer

The Cowboys punctuated the return to the tight end in 2023 with a productive transfer stepping up to the power conference ranks. Perhaps 2024 will be a similar story.

Oklahoma State has all its top playmakers back among the Big 3 skill position groups, but the Cowboys are tasked with replacing their most productive tight end since they had a future NFL big man as a red zone threat. Let’s take a look at the Cowboys’ tight end group as spring practice continues.

Don’t forget to check out our previous Spring Position previews:  QB | RB | WR

One-Year Rentals

It’s the new way of college football, and it worked out pretty well for OSU in 2023. In the first year splitting the hybrid Cowboy Back group back into tight ends and fullbacks, OSU saw its most productive year from a tight end, receiving-wise, since Blake Jarwin was making his name in Stillwater.

Josiah Johnson transferred in from UMass ahead of 2023 and proceeded to log the most yards by a Cowboy tight end (166) since Jarwin racked up 309 and two touchdowns back in 2016. And Johnson’s 22 catches were the most by one in more than a decade when Blake Jackson was OSU’s No. 2 receiver with 29 grabs, 598 yards and three TDs all the way back in 2012.

But Johnson declared for the 2024 NFL Draft after exhausting his eligibility. Enter Tyler Foster.

Foster is another one-year rental, after spending the last five seasons at Ohio, where he enjoyed pronounced success over the last two seasons, including a dramatic postseason game-winner.

Foster racked up 211 receiving yards on 20 catches this past season as Ohio went 10-3. The year before, he caught 13 passes for 185 yards including this overtime-deciding grab in the Bobcats’ bowl game.

TYLER FOSTER!!!!! OHIO WINS THE FIRST EVER BARSTOOL SPORTS ARIZONA BOWL! #BarstoolAZBowl pic.twitter.com/XE0DTwiLub

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) December 31, 2022

Who (Else) is Back

Quinton Stewart is back. He has seen action throughout the last three seasons, and his claim to fame, thus far, is a Bedlam touchdown in 2022. Junior tight end Tabry Shettron also brings back two years of experience in the system. The former three-star prosect, and brother of wide receiver Talyn, showed his receiving skills in high school. We’ll see if he can get a chance to showcase them at the next level.

Who (Else) is New

Aside from Foster, OSU welcomes Josh Ford. The true freshman hails all the way from Pioneer Stadium, about a mile south of BPS. Ford was a Top 20 player in the state, according to 247Sports and ESPN.  At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, Ford joins fellow newcomer Foster (6 foot 6, 245) as the two tallest skill players on the roster.

Number That Matters: 5

The last time multiple OSU tight ends logged at least five catches each was also in 2016 (Jarwin plus Zac Veach’s nine). It will be interesting to see if the Cowboys continue to put more trust on the tight end and take advantage of those potential mismatches.

TE Outlook

As is the case with most of its skill positions on offense, the Cowboys’ depth chart appears to be a nice smattering of incoming talent and established depth, youth and experience. We’ll see if the tight end carves out an even bigger role this fall.

Spring TE Depth Chart Prediction

TE1 Tyler Foster
TE2 Quinton Stewart
TE3 Tabry Shettron
TE4 Josh Ford