Players Mentioned
Sam Lee is only tight end on the roster who's caught a pass for the Rocekts.
Versatility, Experience Define Toledo’s Tight End Room
6/26/2026 10:00:00 AM | Football
TE coach Kory Allen excited about position's potential
Second in a series of position-by-position outlooks for the 2026 Toledo Football team.
TOLEDO, Ohio - When Toledo's tight ends arrived for winter workouts, many of them were meeting one another for the first time.
A new coaching staff, a new offensive system and a mix of returning players and transfers made for a complete reset at the position. Only one of UT's tight ends has ever caught a pass for the Rockets. Over the course of winter conditioning and spring practice, the group began to take shape as one of the team's most versatile position rooms.
"The tight end room has been completely revamped throughout the spring," said head coach Mike Jacobs. "It was one of the positions with the most attention. Coach Allen has put together a group with varying skill sets that will allow our offense to be multiple. I am excited to watch their continued progress"
Early adjustment period
The tight ends spent much of the winter learning a new system together. With no established pecking order in the room, players were placed on equal footing as they installed the offense and adjusted to a new staff.
"I think it's been an all-hands-on-deck group," said associate head coach and tight ends coach Kory Allen. "The camaraderie of the group, the cohesiveness of the group is its strength, and it makes it super enjoyable to coach them."
Senior Sam Lee said that the shared learning environment helped the group build chemistry early in the process. Transfer Jacob Newell, who joined Toledo after previous stops at Arizona State and Akron, said the transition was eased by the coaching staff's approach with a group still coming together.
"For me personally, this staff has been super welcoming," said Newell, who caught 52 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons at Akron. "The way that they've been able to discipline us and really get us lined up and in track with a bunch of new guys, obviously, that can be difficult."
As spring practice continued, the group's confidence grew with repetition.
"Through the winter and spring, God, we have just been crushing it, man," said Newell.
Versatility in the offense
The tight end position has become increasingly important in modern offenses, with players expected to contribute in both the run and pass game. That versatility has become a defining trait for Toledo's crop of tight ends.
"They allow you to be so versatile offensively and multiple," said Allen. "They have the ability to add a gap in the run game, which has to be accounted for. And then also threaten you vertically in the pass game or create space."
That ability is part of the standard at the position.
"It's a mentality," said Lee, who has two career receptions for 40 yards. "You've got to be ready to get down there and block a 300-pound D-end and then, next play, you're out there running a 40-yard seam ball."
During the spring, Allen came away impressed by Lee, Newell and New Hampshire transfer Peyton Strickland's skill to line up in multiple roles and execute a variety of assignments within the offense.
Competition in the room
Depth at the position has created steady competition for playing time. Internal competition has been consistent since spring and will continue into fall camp.
"You can't have an off day because there are people that are very, very capable of doing the job sitting in that room," said Allen.
The standard within the group has risen as a result.
"We have a high bar for ourselves," said Newell.
For Lee, the opportunity carries added meaning. The Toledo native grew up attending games at the Glass Bowl and now plays for the program he once watched from the stands.
"When I was younger, my parents used to get tickets to the Toledo games, so I was always around watching those games growing up," said Lee. "Just getting the opportunity to play here is huge. It's full circle for me."
Outlook
As Toledo moves into summer workouts and prepares for fall camp, the tight end room appears positioned to play a key role in the offense. The combination of experience, versatility and competition has created a foundation the staff believes can translate into production on the field.
"You need that unicorn, you need the guy that can do it all," said Allen. "We feel like we have some of those guys here at Toledo that make us very dangerous and very multiple, where we can really move them around and do the things that we need to do to ultimately put the ball in the end zone."
If development continues through camp, the Rockets' tight ends could emerge as one of the team's most reliable and flexible position groups in 2026.
TOLEDO, Ohio - When Toledo's tight ends arrived for winter workouts, many of them were meeting one another for the first time.
A new coaching staff, a new offensive system and a mix of returning players and transfers made for a complete reset at the position. Only one of UT's tight ends has ever caught a pass for the Rockets. Over the course of winter conditioning and spring practice, the group began to take shape as one of the team's most versatile position rooms.
"The tight end room has been completely revamped throughout the spring," said head coach Mike Jacobs. "It was one of the positions with the most attention. Coach Allen has put together a group with varying skill sets that will allow our offense to be multiple. I am excited to watch their continued progress"
Early adjustment period
The tight ends spent much of the winter learning a new system together. With no established pecking order in the room, players were placed on equal footing as they installed the offense and adjusted to a new staff.
"I think it's been an all-hands-on-deck group," said associate head coach and tight ends coach Kory Allen. "The camaraderie of the group, the cohesiveness of the group is its strength, and it makes it super enjoyable to coach them."
Senior Sam Lee said that the shared learning environment helped the group build chemistry early in the process. Transfer Jacob Newell, who joined Toledo after previous stops at Arizona State and Akron, said the transition was eased by the coaching staff's approach with a group still coming together.
"For me personally, this staff has been super welcoming," said Newell, who caught 52 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons at Akron. "The way that they've been able to discipline us and really get us lined up and in track with a bunch of new guys, obviously, that can be difficult."
As spring practice continued, the group's confidence grew with repetition.
"Through the winter and spring, God, we have just been crushing it, man," said Newell.
Versatility in the offense
The tight end position has become increasingly important in modern offenses, with players expected to contribute in both the run and pass game. That versatility has become a defining trait for Toledo's crop of tight ends.
"They allow you to be so versatile offensively and multiple," said Allen. "They have the ability to add a gap in the run game, which has to be accounted for. And then also threaten you vertically in the pass game or create space."
That ability is part of the standard at the position.
"It's a mentality," said Lee, who has two career receptions for 40 yards. "You've got to be ready to get down there and block a 300-pound D-end and then, next play, you're out there running a 40-yard seam ball."
During the spring, Allen came away impressed by Lee, Newell and New Hampshire transfer Peyton Strickland's skill to line up in multiple roles and execute a variety of assignments within the offense.
Competition in the room
Depth at the position has created steady competition for playing time. Internal competition has been consistent since spring and will continue into fall camp.
"You can't have an off day because there are people that are very, very capable of doing the job sitting in that room," said Allen.
The standard within the group has risen as a result.
"We have a high bar for ourselves," said Newell.
For Lee, the opportunity carries added meaning. The Toledo native grew up attending games at the Glass Bowl and now plays for the program he once watched from the stands.
"When I was younger, my parents used to get tickets to the Toledo games, so I was always around watching those games growing up," said Lee. "Just getting the opportunity to play here is huge. It's full circle for me."
Outlook
As Toledo moves into summer workouts and prepares for fall camp, the tight end room appears positioned to play a key role in the offense. The combination of experience, versatility and competition has created a foundation the staff believes can translate into production on the field.
"You need that unicorn, you need the guy that can do it all," said Allen. "We feel like we have some of those guys here at Toledo that make us very dangerous and very multiple, where we can really move them around and do the things that we need to do to ultimately put the ball in the end zone."
If development continues through camp, the Rockets' tight ends could emerge as one of the team's most reliable and flexible position groups in 2026.
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