Tight End U: Iowa's Top TEs to Watch in 2026

The state of Iowa has produced some impressive TEs over the course of the last few years, and this upcoming group proves no exception, as they've proven over this last season that they deserve attention playing at one of the most prestigious and prosperous positions that the state has been known for producing. Today, we reveal 6 TEs that should be on your radar heading into the 2026 season across high school football in Iowa!    While he is ranked as the top LB in the state, Wallace has also played with equal success on the other side of the ball, so much that he could legitimately position himself as a viable TE prospect heading into his senior season. Wallace finished with 40 receptions for 611 yards and 10 TDs during the 2025 season. Wallace's athleticism on the defensive side of the ball translated well on offense, proving reliable both as a checkdown option and to stretch the ball down the field with medium-to-deep routes, continuing to make him the go-to threat for the Regals' offense. The 4-star prospect holds 10 D1 offers, including from premium schools such as Tennessee, Minnesota, and Kansas State, more likely to pursue his skills at LB at the next level, though he continues to make a huge impact for Regina's offense.     While certainly undersized at the TE position, [player_tooltip player_id='2044009' first='Brayden' last='Kennedy'] has been a huge focal point for Pleasantville's explosive aerial attack. Kennedy finished with 512 yards on just 23 receptions (22.3 YPC) and 4 TDs. His size better suits him as a WR, and he has taken reps as an outside receiver, but he has shown versatility in being placed on the line, using his speed to explode off the snap to get by bigger defenders and get open down the seams while showing great balance and ball-tracking ability. Kennedy continues to suit himself as a vertical threat for the Trojans that averaged over 17 yards per completion last season.     [player_tooltip player_id='2085603' first='Westly' last='Cole'] has been a gem for the Knights' offense, earning first-team all-state honors with his performance last season. Cole caught 40 passes for 504 yards and 8 TDs in 2025. Cole could further bulk up over this offseason to match his impressive frame to take advantage of the raw potential that it holds, and his size allows him to excel both on the line and as an outside WR to lob the ball up to in 1-on-1 situations. A physical mismatch on the field, Cole uses his size to his advantage to shake off and outmuscle his opponents, and he also shows an impressive level of speed to beat his opponents on a route over the seam, and to turn short checkdowns into huge gains. Cole is a small-school prospect that shouldn't be overlooked as he enters his senior season.     [player_tooltip player_id='1693550' first='Jevyn' last='Severson'] continues to prove why he is deserving as the top TE prospect of the class of 2028 as he built off a promising freshman campaign to solidify his stance as a premium athlete going forward. Severson caught 23 passes for 407 yards and 4 TDs. Severson continues to grow in size, and with that he's become a dangerous player to go against, with wreckful run-blocking in which he's able to overpower the defender with little effort while also flashing his route-running and pass-catching ability as he's quickly grown into a solid target for Madrid's passing game. Severson already holds 9 D1 offers, and that number should continue to shoot upward over the next two years.     [player_tooltip player_id='1204438' first='Joe' last='Vinyard'] proved to be a strong contributor to one of the most prolific passing offenses in all of Iowa last season. Vinyard caught 40 passes for 464 yards and 3 TDs as the Wolves made it to the 5A semifinal round. While LB is listed as his primary position, Vinyard saw his playing time exclusively at TE last season, where he excelled, using his big frame to full advantage as a potent run blocker and as a solid pass-catcher who showed plenty of athletic flashes with his combination of speed, agility, and balance. Vinyard holds D1 offers from South Dakota and South Dakota State, and with an expected increase in targets next season, Vinyard should see more D1 offers coming his way very soon.     Weston Rosenmeyer stood out in the 8-man league, despite not getting as much volume in receptions as some of the other players on this list, he was able to make the most of it. Rosenmeyer finished with 387 yards and 7 TDs on just 18 receptions (21.5 YPC). Rosenmeyer runs his routes like a WR, and he plays more like a natural WR than as a TE, but Rosenmeyer's role on the LOS worked well for the Golden Bears, using his speed to slip behind the secondary in the flash and create a big play down the field. Rosenmeyer was explosive with the ball in his hands, and he was a big reason why the Golden Bears won the 8-man state championship with a perfect record.

The state of Iowa has produced some impressive TEs over the course of the last few years, and this upcoming group proves no exception, as they've proven over this last season that they deserve attention playing at one of the most prestigious and prosperous positions that the state has been known for producing. Today, we reveal 6 TEs that should be on your radar heading into the 2026 season across high school football in Iowa!