Once considered a big concern, tight end has been anything but for Oklahoma in 2025

Oklahoma began the 2025 season with a giant void at the tight end position. Since Brayden Willis departed after the 2022 season, the Sooners haven't had much production or impact on the offense from the position.

A lack of tight end production is somewhat of an anomaly in an Oklahoma offense, which over the years has featured outstanding performance at the position from names like Steve Zabel, Keith Jackson, Jermaine Gresham, Mark Andrews and Grant Calcaterra, the latter two of whom are still active in the NFL.

Jaren Kanak surprise star for Sooners

After last year's disappointing 6-7 season, Oklahoma lost three tight ends from its roster and was forced to turn to the Transfer Portal to fill the glaring void at the position. Bauer Sharp and true freshman Davon Mitchell left via the portal, while Jake Roberts graduated.

That left redshirt sophomore Kade McIntyre and redshirt junior Kaden Helms as the only tight ends remaining on the 2025 roster, who between them had caught a grand total of three passes in their college careers.

To replenish the depth at the position, OU brought in redshirt junior Carson Kent from Kennesaw State, redshirt senior Will Huggins from Division-II Pittsburg State and John Locke from Louisiana Tech. The three combined had caught just 21 passes in seven total seasons of college ball. To add to the depth at tight end, Jaren Kanak, who played linebacker for three seasons at Oklahoma, converted to tight end for his senior season.

Leading into 2025 fall camp, it appeared that Helms might emerge as the starter at the position, and Huggins reportedly also looked good during training camp. By the time the season opener arrived on Aug. 30, however, it was Kanak who trotted out on the field with the No. 1 offense, and through four games, the former defensive player has acclimated to the position like a natural.

Kanak leads the Sooners in receiving yards with 307 on 18 catches, which is third-best on the team. He has averaged 17.1 yards per catch. That would have led all Oklahoma receivers a year ago who caught at least 18 passes.

The former OU linebacker from Hays, Kansas, led all FBS tight ends in receiving yards through four games and his receiving total so far this season represents 67% of the receiving yards by OU pass catchers all of last season.

During the offseason, Kanak diligently studied the best tight ends in college football and in the NFL as part of his transition process and to learn their traits and what made them the best at the position.

"He was in the building every day," Venables said after OU beat Michigan. "He studied, certainly systematically, (what) we're doing in this system and what he needed to learn, how he could get better mentally. He's been doing really well, and that's coming from a lot of hard work. He's a very talented athlete. His best qualities are just his sheer will and belief in himself. He's got natural strength as well."

So what prior to the start of the season was perceived to be a position of high uncertainty and weakness within the revamped Oklahoma offense has been one of the biggest surprises. And Jaren Kanak is the reason why.

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