2026 Rankings Update 4.0: Tight End

With another high school football season behind us in the state of Kentucky, it is time for another round of rankings updates! After wrapping up the class of 2025, we have now moved to the class of 2026. With the newest rankings update for 2026 class being officially posted, I'll be taking the next couple weeks to break them down by position. After already covering the quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers, here are our top tight ends in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky!    [player_tooltip player_id='971545' first='Eli' last='Pietrowski'] continued to establish himself as one of the top overall players in the state in his class this season. He played a key role in the Corbin passing game as a junior, catching 18 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games. Eli lines up mainly on the outside where he is able to use his speed to blow by opposing defensive backs in the deep passing game. He also has a high catch radius which he uses to go up and catch the ball at its highest point, regardless of what type of coverage is around him. Eli also made an impact on defense, accounting for 37 tackles, three tackles for loss, and four sacks. Pietrowski currently holds multiple Power 4/Division I offers and I expect more to come his way as he is a high-caliber tight end prospect.     [player_tooltip player_id='856164' first='Ayden' last='Sadler'] made an immediate impact in the Bowling Green offense after transferring from Green Hill (TN) this season. He finished his junior year with seven receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown in 10 games. Sadler is a skilled route runner, using smooth breaks in his routes to create separation with ease. He also has very reliable hands, showing the ability to make catches away from his body. Ayden currently holds an offer from Eastern Kentucky and I expect more to come his way going into his senior year.     [player_tooltip player_id='971548' first='Jaxson' last='Byrd'] is a player who has been on our radar for a while now and continued to stand out as a junior. He had a very strong season, leading his team in receiving with 29 catches for 503 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games. Byrd showed a ton of versatility, showing the ability to line up as a true tight end or split out wide at receiver. He has the speed to pose as a very reliable threat in the deep passing game. Byrd is also impressive after the catch, using his speed and elusiveness in the open field to turn short passes into big gains. Jaxson doesn't currently hold any offers but he is a player who definitely deserves some attention from college coaches heading into his final season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1176973' first='Keegan' last='Farrell'] is another tight end who has been on our radar for a while now and continued to impress this season. Farrell played a key role in the Newport passing game as a junior, catching 30 passes for 344 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games. He is a very reliable jump ball/contested catch target, using his athleticism to go up and catch passes at their highest point along with the strong hands to bring in catches through contact. Farrell is also a skilled route runner, using smooth breaks in his routes to create separation. He also played a key role on defense, finishing the year with 46 tackles, three tackles for loss, two sacks, and an interception. Keegan doesn't currently hold any offers but he should definitely be a player to keep an eye on going into his senior year.     To wrap up our top five tight ends in the class of 2026 in the state of Kentucky, I have [player_tooltip player_id='1175827' first='Jayden' last='Travis']. Travis had a strong junior year, leading his team in receiving with 25 catches for 330 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games. Jayden has the speed to pose as a vertical threat and also has the smooth breaks in his routes to create separation from opposing defenders. He is also an impressive blocker in the run game, showing the ability to pick up blocks in the open field and physical punch to knock defenders off balance with ease. Jayden doesn't currently hold any offers but will be a player who college coaches should keep an eye on heading into his senior season.