The tight end revolution isn't coming—it's already here. And if you've been watching college football closely, you've seen it unfold in real time. Defenses got smaller to keep up with the spread offense, so offenses are fighting back with bigger, faster athletes in heavy formations. The result? Tight ends are suddenly the hottest commodity in football.

This spring's NFL Draft made that crystal clear. A staggering 22 tight ends were selected over seven rounds—the most since 2002. Nine of those players came off the board in the first three rounds alone. Offensive masterminds like Sean McVay in Los Angeles and Ben Johnson in Chicago are loading up on tight ends even when they already have capable options. Why? Because their schemes thrive on 12 and 13 personnel—two and three tight end sets that create mismatches all over the field.

It's a natural evolution. For the past two decades, spread offenses took over high school and college football before making their way to the NFL. Defenses responded by getting smaller and faster to cover more ground. But football is a game of counters, and the next logical move was to get big again. Enter the tight end.

Now the question is: Are we seeing the same shift at the college level? The answer is a resounding yes—and the numbers prove it. Back in 2016, FBS offenses used 12 personnel just 17.6% of the time. By 2025, that number had climbed to 23%. It hasn't been a straight line upward, but the trend is unmistakable, peaking at 24% in 2024. The same goes for combined 12 and 13 personnel usage, which rose from 19.2% in 2016 to 25.2% last season.

But it's not just about how often teams line up with multiple tight ends—it's about how much they're using them in the passing game. Tight ends are commanding a bigger share of targets, receptions, and receiving yards with each passing season. The trajectory is clear: college offenses are leaning on their tight ends like never before. Whether you're a fan, a coach, or just someone who loves the game, this is a trend worth watching—and one that's reshaping the way football is played at every level.