Analyzing Kansas football’s tight ends as 2026 season approaches

LAWRENCE — As Matt Lubick reflected recently on the Kansas football team’s progress during fall camp, he highlighted the work the tight ends were doing.

Lubick, KU’s co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach, praised their attitude and work ethic. He mentioned the returners from last season’s team and what they bring to the group. He mentioned the newcomers have made significant contributions, too.

At that moment, Lubick felt the room had four or five guys capable of going into a game and playing. When it comes to the younger guys, they just need reps. Overall, he likes the depth the tight ends have.

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Here are some more takeaways from what Lubick had to say:

Redshirt sophomore tight end Carson Bruhn has continued to work on his pass-catching ability, but it’s not the only reason he’s set to be a factor for the Jayhawks this fall. Lubick also noted that Bruhn is one of the smarter players he’s ever been around, in addition to having great size and practice habits. Bruhn leads by example.

Redshirt senior tight end Jailen Butler didn’t arrive as a transfer from Old Dominion with a ton of production in the passing game from last season, but has been working to show he can be a factor there. As much as the Jayhawks work on tight ends being able to block like an offensive lineman, they also work on tight ends running routes like wide receivers. The summer was, more so, when they worked on the routes, and now that pads are on, they’re developing that physicality.

Like with any position, Lubick is looking for consistency at tight end as the Sept. 4 home opener against LIU approaches. It’s not necessarily about being perfect, but about being able to be trusted to both block well and be a weapon in the passing game. That means coaches determine both through situations in practice where players are put in a position to succeed and through situations where they are challenged, so it’s clear how one responds to stress.

Redshirt senior Leyton Cure and redshirt senior Carter Moses, an Albany transfer, are two other veterans to know at the position. Lubick thinks Moses can do it all, and they’re excited to get him back to full speed. Freshman Kevin Sullivan was another player brought up, and Lubick outlined that Sullivan has a bright future at KU.

Jordan Guskey covers University of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. He was the 2022 National Sports Media Association’s sportswriter of the year for the state of Kansas. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Analyzing Kansas football’s tight ends as 2026 season approaches