Jeremy Harper Arkansas State Athletics, Arkansas State University, Coastal Carolina, Football, G5, Sun Belt

Is 2026 the Year Arkansas State Remembers the Tight Ends?

In 2025, Vanderbilt ranked No. 1 in the SEC in receiving yards by tight ends (third nationally). This season, new Red Wolves OC Garret Altman, the Commodores’ former quarterbacks coach, may or may not bring that devotion to the receiving tight end to Jonesboro. There is room to increase the stats. Arkansas State ranked fourth in the Sun Belt last season for tight end receiving yards – but Vandy clearly had the position far more involved in the passing game.

Team (2025)TE receptionsTE yardsTE TDs
Arkansas State484353
Vanderbilt811,0767

I’ve coveted an elite, passing catching tight end for Arkansas State since the dark days when Isaiah Likely torched the Red Wolves for Coastal Carolina. We haven’t really enjoyed the long term services of such a TE since Blake Mack. It appeared that Seydou Traore might become that guy, but those hopes and dreams were crushed by The Bag.

Last season, it appeared that the Red Wolves had found a sizable 1-2 tight end punch with the Twin Tylers – Tyler Little and Tyler Fortenberry, the latter leading the room with 294 yards and a pair of TDs. Little, however, was injured early in the season and only had 6 receptions. After Little’s injury, feeding the tight end seemed to be more a surprise move than part of the overall game plan.

Today, Little (6’4″, 245-lbs) is healthy and is joined by third-year Jabari Bush, a 6’4″ 230-lbs who caught ten balls last season. Little and Bush are joined by Josh Burrell (6’2″, 233-lbs), a transfer by way of Florida State and Furman, the latter for which Burrell was named First Team All-Southern Conference after totaling 36 receptions for 290 yards and two touchdowns last year.

An intriguing addition to the TE room is Jaden Hamm (6’6″, 253-lbs), a former 4-star recruit who spent his first three season at Kansas. He’s an enormous target. But he’s spent his entire college career contributing to special teams. Will Hamm be primarily used in blocking situations?

Another guy to keep an eye on is Ezra Burgess (6’4″ 243-lbs), now in his third year. He’s played a handful of downs at TE for the Red Wolves. Can he take a few reps from Little, Bush and Burrell?

In the Butch Jones Era, the tight end has been used primarily as an additional blocker and occasional decoy. Perhaps Altman will take an alternative approach.

PHOTO is mine