The Wisconsin football program entered fall camp with plenty of options at tight end.
Nine practices in, position coach Nate Letton is beginning to get a better idea of how many of them he can actually use.
Wisconsin has spent much of the offseason building an offense under Jeff Grimes that will lean heavily on multiple-tight end personnel. That places additional importance on a room featuring Grant Stec, Emmett Bork, Jacob Harris, Ryan Schwendeman, and others, as well as a fullback role.
For Letton, the encouraging part has been watching several of those pieces begin to establish themselves.
Here were the biggest takeaways from Letton’s fall camp media availability.
Wisconsin believes it has legitimate depth at tight end
Wisconsin relied heavily on Lance Mason at tight end last season.
Letton doesn’t anticipate needing to approach the position the same way in 2026.
“I think we have a number of guys in the room that can play at this level, who help us play at a level where we can go win on a consistent basis,” Letton said. “I know the guys watch these things, so I’m not going to say anybody’s in any place yet. We’ve got a lot of time left in training camp. There’s a lot to prove, a lot to earn.”
That competition becomes particularly important because of how Wisconsin intends to use the position.
The Badgers staff expects multiple-tight end personnel to remain a significant part of Grimes’ offense, meaning having one or two dependable options isn’t enough. Letton believes Wisconsin needs at least four tight ends prepared to contribute on Saturdays.
“We want as many as we can, but I think you have to have at least four ready to play at minimum if you’re going to play in a good number of multiple tight end personnel groupings,” Letton said. “But we’ll play as many as give us a chance to win.”
Redshirt freshman Nizyi Davis has been among the players beginning to emerge. Letton believes the talent has always been there, but improved preparation and habits are allowing it to show up more consistently.
“I think Zyi is a guy who clearly has the talent to do it,” Letton said. “Then he coupled that with the habits and the routine and the process to what he does, and that’s the result you’re seeing.”
Letton wants Wisconsin’s tight ends playing faster and more violently
There is plenty being asked of Wisconsin’s tight ends.
They have responsibilities in the running and passing games and in protection while lining up in different places within the offense. Letton believes that complexity has occasionally caused his players to overthink.
His solution has been to simplify things.
“What I’ve challenged them on is, as an offense and as a tight end group, is to make mistakes but make them fast, make them aggressive, be confident in what you’re doing,” Letton said. “Don’t get out over your skis, just keep things simple, run off the football, be a violent football player.”
That mentality is particularly important in the running game, where Wisconsin expects its tight ends to be an extension of the offensive line as it tries to reestablish a more physical identity.
Stec appears well suited for that role.
Now entering his third season in the program and second in Grimes’ system, the 6-foot-6, 258-pound Stec is coming off a season in which he appeared in all 12 games and logged 200 offensive snaps, catching five passes for 52 yards. Letton believes that experience has helped Stec develop a better understanding of what kind of player he needs to be.
“I think Grant really understands his game,” Letton said. “He’s a guy who’s got to be really, really good at the point of attack for us. And because he’s that, he creates opportunities for himself in the underneath coverage.”
The same emphasis extends to Wisconsin’s fullback role. Letton said Tyler Jansey, who began his career as a linebacker, has brought no shortage of aggression, but the next step is learning how to harness it.
“He’s an aggressive guy. He’s violent, sometimes a little bit out of control,” Letton said of Jansey. “We got no question about you wanting to go knock the crap out of somebody. But now you got to be able to stay on body with people, play with your hips connected on people.”
Wisconsin is still developing its other options
The competition isn’t limited to Wisconsin’s more established tight ends.
Bork has experienced some of the natural growing pains of his second college fall camp, particularly adjusting from the more forgiving schedule of spring practice to stacking demanding practices day after day.
Letton believes he’s beginning to respond.
“I think just that understanding of what it takes to compete and prepare and perform every day for a young guy, struggled with that a little bit early in camp, but it’s starting to get back underneath himself a little bit,” Letton said.
Harris, a Bowling Green transfer, presents a different developmental project after appearing in all 12 games last season, making three starts and finishing with 182 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
At roughly 265 pounds, Letton already shows the movement skills, hands, and spatial awareness necessary to contribute in the passing game. The question is whether Harris can become physical and consistent enough at the point of attack to avoid becoming a situational player.
“Can we make you a three-down all-purpose tight end?” Letton said. “It’s not at the consistency we want yet, but I think he’s certainly made strides showing that he can be that when he’s 260, 265 pounds.”
That’s ultimately what Wisconsin is trying to sort through.
Stec understands his role. Davis is beginning to turn his physical talent into more consistent production. Bork and Harris are developing in different areas, and the Badgers have a fullback role they intend to use.
Letton isn’t ready to establish a depth chart yet. But for an offense that wants multiple tight ends on the field regularly, Wisconsin appears increasingly confident it has enough different pieces to make that work.
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Thanks Dillon. They do appear more talented this year than last year. Hopefully that and the easier schedule will mean 4 or 5 more wins. Almost time to find out!