Tight Ends Primed for Breakout Seasons In 2026

The 2025 Tennessee high school football season concluded last week with the East-West All-Star Game, marking the start of preparations for the upcoming season. There's a plethora of young players who got their feet wet this season, and some who took the next step.   I'm starting a new series discussing players at each position who are poised to enjoy breakout campaigns in 2026. The majority of the student-athletes on this list are underclassmen, with one being a rising senior who has shown immense potential.   Next in the series, we have tight ends. I've selected five potential breakout stars to discuss.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/08/ACE9BB59-9D09-4762-BB32-9FF8377541A9.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1864347" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Baylor TE [player_tooltip player_id='1201841' first='Braxton' last='Rein']. Taken by Shayne Pickering, Prep Redzone.</figcaption></figure>   2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1201841' first='Braxton' last='Rein'] – Baylor School   Baylor's rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='1201841' first='Braxton' last='Rein'] is an incredible talent at tight end. He features great size at 6 feet 6 inches tall and 235 pounds, with outstanding traits as a receiver.   He needs to grow in some areas, but what underclassman doesn't?   Rein started for the No. 1 team in Tennessee this season and consistently made plays in critical moments, including the go-ahead touchdown in the state championship.   The 2028 prospect is big, has good hands, impressive route running for his size, the ability to make tough/contested catches and plays with a high motor.   Rein is one of the most talented players in the state, regardless of position. Expect him to have a big junior season with transfer quarterback [player_tooltip player_id='939950' first='Keegan' last='Croucher'].   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/01/99-Jayden-Cannon.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1138254" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: BGA ATH [player_tooltip player_id='902961' first='Jayden' last='Cannon'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='902961' first='Jayden' last='Cannon'] – Battle Ground Academy   BGA's [player_tooltip player_id='902961' first='Jayden' last='Cannon'] is a sleeping giant at the tight end position. Despite sharing touches with two blue-chip wide receivers, he had a solid 2025, catching 21 passes for 299 yards and six touchdowns.   He plays both ways and will be on this list for multiple positions, but I love his upside as a tight end.   Cannon is a good blocker, but excels when the ball is in his hands.   The 2027 prospect is a more compact tight end, standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 216 pounds, but is highly athletic and elusive.   He has good hands, solid route running, is tough to bring down and can make tough catches.   With another year to grow at the position, expect him to have a breakout senior season.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/05/12-Jack-Clinite.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-840842" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Lipscomb Academy TE [player_tooltip player_id='1694360' first='Jack' last='Clinite'] at a Prep Redzone camp.</figcaption></figure>   2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1694360' first='Jack' last='Clinite'] – Lipscomb Academy   [player_tooltip player_id='1694360' first='Jack' last='Clinite'] possesses an impressive skill set and may be the most underrated tight end in the state of Tennessee. He's a bit raw at the position, but the upside is there, starting with his big frame.   Clinite stands 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighs 200 pounds, with long arms that give him a large catch radius. He's also highly athletic and is a fluid mover, two things that college coaches love to see from tight ends.   The rising junior plays with a high motor and is willing to do the dirty work in the trenches, like blocking or helping with outstanding edge rushers.   He has all the tools to be one of the best in Tennessee, and that's what I think he'll do next season.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/05/blewis.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-1675753" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Bradley Central TE [player_tooltip player_id='1260422' first='Brady' last='Lewis']. Photo by Bradley Central athletics.</figcaption></figure>   2027 [player_tooltip player_id='1260422' first='Brady' last='Lewis'] – Bradley Central   [player_tooltip player_id='1260422' first='Brady' last='Lewis'] is another player whom I'm high on because of his physical traits and motor.   He stands nearly 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 230 pounds with a 4.65 40-yard dash, making him a mismatch nightmare for the majority of teams Bradley Central will face.   He's a fluid mover with impressive footwork and explosion for a tight end, along with his blocking skills.   Lewis is impressive when asked to help in that department.   The rising senior is a similar player to Cannon, just with a bigger frame. If he can tweak some things this offseason, he'll be an excellent player in 2026.   <figure class="wp-block-image"><img src="https://prepredzone.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2025/12/Photo-Dec-19-2025-11-07-26-AM.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-2086347" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Smith County TE [player_tooltip player_id='1068717' first='Lucas' last='Cornwell']. Taken by Leah Creasman, Leah Creasman Photography.</figcaption></figure>   2028 [player_tooltip player_id='1068717' first='Lucas' last='Cornwell'] – Smith County   [player_tooltip player_id='1068717' first='Lucas' last='Cornwell'] from Smith County is a massive player with the frame of a Division I offensive tackle in a sophomore tight end's body. He stands 6 feet 7 inches tall, weighing 225 pounds, with a lean physique.   The 2028 prospect caught just seven passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns in nine games this season, but his potential is through the roof with his size and blocking ability.   He's hard-nosed in the trenches, acting as a sixth lineman with how physical and strong he is in the blocking department.   He needs to work on his fluidity and footwork, but once he does, the Smith County tight end will be nearly impossible to stop.   Cornwell has good, strong hands and a large catch radius, giving him the potential of a do-it-all tight end. I'd argue that he has one of the highest ceilings in his class, regardless of position.

The 2025 Tennessee high school football season concluded last week with the East-West All-Star Game, marking the start of preparations for the upcoming season. There's a plethora of young players who got their feet wet this season, and some who took the next step.